What is the oldest functional camera you have?

PaulWA · Dec 23, 2015

My rollei old standard was dated around 1939, has a f3.5 lens and 1/500th shutter speed max.

The fast speeds all seem to expose fairly well, but the slower ones are out - the 1 second times at about 1.6 seconds. Not bad for its age, and I'll get it serviced this coming year so I can get back to medium format.

Got it for forty quid from a charity shop, they said it was broken but they didn't know how to cock the shutter!

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Theo Sulphate · Dec 23, 2015

PaulWA said:
My rollei old standard was dated around 1939, has a f3.5 lens and 1/500th shutter speed max.

The fast speeds all seem to expose fairly well, but the slower ones are out - the 1 second times at about 1.6 seconds. Not bad for its age, and I'll get it serviced this coming year so I can get back to medium format.

I'm looking at some photos of these (model K4 640 from 1939-1941) and can't see how the apertures and shutter speeds are set. The models with little dials between the lenses are the only ones I know.

PaulWA · Dec 24, 2015

Theo Sulphate said:
I'm looking at some photos of these (model K4 640 from 1939-1941) and can't see how the apertures and shutter speeds are set. The models with little dials between the lenses are the only ones I know.

I typod, mine is (I think) a 1938 compur rapid model. There are levers either side of the lens that set shutter speed and aperture. They're stepless. I'll see if I can get some pictures up at some point today.

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canvassy · Dec 24, 2015

Ansco No 1a Readyset Royal, from about 1929-1931. It was a gift from my girlfriend's parents, still has film in it.

kb3lms · Dec 24, 2015

Kodak Model 3 Brownie, dates from between 1907 and 1909. Other than a lot of dust it looks and works like new. All I have to do now is get together some film for it. It has a "found film" inside (Verichrome Pan) that I will develop sooner or later and then I will have both spools and backing paper to use.

jwd722 · Apr 5, 2016

Conley Model 1 4x5 box camera made between 1900 and 1910.
http://www.historiccamera.com/cgi-bin/librarium/pm.cgi?action=display&login=conleybox1

guangong · Apr 5, 2016

1936 Leica IIIa which still sees regulsr use because of pocketability and reliability.

Kyle M. · Apr 5, 2016

That would have to be my 1944 Kodak Medalist but it is out on loan, so the oldest one currently in my posession is my Rolleiflex Automat K4A. The Zeiss Opton Tessar dates to 1951-1953 so I imagine the camera was made somewhere in there.

RalphLambrecht · Apr 5, 2016

Theo Sulphate said:
By functional, I mean operating properly and, if film is or were available, you could make a photo with it.

Mine aren't too old: Exakta VX from 1954 and Ciné Kodak Magazine 16 from the late 1940's.

a 1923 Balka 6x9 box camera with minixcus optic,pinhole apertures and a single-speed shutter;was a hand-me down from my grandmother and my first camera

tedr1 · Apr 8, 2016

pre-WW2 Voightlander Bessa 6x9 roll film camera, this made all the family holiday snaps for twenty years I still have the negatives and am making a book of them.

fotch · Apr 8, 2016

Either the Graflex RB Series D or Zeiss Ikon Tenax I. I suspect the Tenax may be older however, both are in good condition. The Graflex is a favorite for me.

rwhitbread · Apr 10, 2016

I guess my oldest is a No 2 A Brownie B circa 1902. It is functional, but primitive. My signature oldie is a 1939 Graflex Miniature Speed Graphic in in excellent condition. (Complete with roll back and 2-battery flash synchronizer) I just have to find a solenoid mounting bracket. It will be fully functional with both leaf and focal plane flash.

darkosaric · Apr 10, 2016

Lieca III from 1934.

wiltw · Apr 10, 2016

My Voightlander Bergheil 6.5 x 9 plate camera

Cannot date precisely, as I cannot find any cameras exactly like this one with dated photos, but c1930

GRHazelton · Apr 12, 2016

I have a Retina I, f3.5 uncoated Ektar, Compur shutter 1 - 1/300, no flash synch. Shutter sounds good at all speeds! Sadly when I set aside many years ago I somehow left a fingerprint on the lens! Its etched. Other than that its in excellent USER condition, ready to roll!

Alan Johnson · Apr 13, 2016

Leica II 1932 (with later lens). Serial 79xxx. This is one of the first large batch of 35mm cameras made.
It works fine, serviced last year but for some reason they declined to give a guarantee.

Vaughn · Apr 13, 2016

Rick A said:
1901 Century 11x14 field camera.

About the same age. The geared front rise will no longer lock, I have to glue on a piece of wood that fell off in Joshua Tree, the newish bellows are a bit stiff, and over-all the camera is not very solid. But after a day of hauling the 8x10 around and over rocks all day, it was nice to be able to set the 11x14 up in camp for a photo!

Gerald C Koch · Apr 13, 2016

Kodak Box Brownie circa 1930 or earlier. Second oldest an is Argus C3 affectionately known by its users as the "brick."

Paul Goutiere · Apr 16, 2016

skorpiius said:
Kodak No 2 Cartridge Hawk-Eye from 1924/1925
Uses 120 film and has two aperture settings via a slider

Nice pic of Yam.....I go their often.

elcabezagrande · Apr 25, 2016

Rolleiflex 620 from 1932 or 1933.

Kyle M. · Apr 26, 2016

My current oldest functional camera, and the oldest I currently own is a late 30's Pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic with a perfectly accurate focal plane shutter.

inglis · Apr 26, 2016

Wiltw, which lens do you have on your Bergheil?
Looks like the third model according to Prochnow's Voigtlander Report 3 that began in 1928.
He notes that the letter at the beginning of the number on the inside of the door/Laufboden (that swings down) indicates the year, - for 1928, A for 1929, B for 1930 and so on.
I have a green one with the Heliar 105 3.5 from 1930 and a Tele Dynar 200mm lens.

Sabantien · Jul 29, 2016

My Brownie Flash II. 1957-60, and apparently the last of the Kodak box cameras.

Works just fine, and it even has a close up function (I am yet to try that yet, it seems it lets you shoot things 5 feet away instead of 10?).

John51 · Jul 29, 2016

APUGuser19 said:
My brand new Kodak Medalist II. I finally found my forever camera. Actually works quite well.

My camera GAS evaporated once I got my Medalist II. I now have enlarger GAS. I want a Focomat 2 to do the Medalist justice.

AgX · Jul 29, 2016

You are still a lucky guy, as there are not as many enlarger models as camera models.

What is the oldest functional camera you have?

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