Vintage Camera #038 – Zorki 4 Posted on 31st January 20261st March 2026 by Laurence Zorki 4 The Zorki 4 is another Soviet-era camera, manufactured in quite large numbers between 1956 and 1973. It was manufactured by Krasnogorsk Mechanical Works (Красногорский механический завод). This camera is very similar to the Zorki 3S but with the addition of a self timer. I spent several days in Poland recently and had to think carefully about my choice of cameras. Continue reading “Vintage Camera #038 – Zorki 4” →
Vintage Camera #032 Posted on 27th December 20231st March 2026 by Laurence Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie I’ve had this model of Folding Brownie camera for many years; I’ve posted about it previously and I’ve used it previously, it didn’t go well. Recently though, I bought one on eBay that seemed to be in much better condition in the hope that I might get some better results. Continue reading “Vintage Camera #032” →
Vintage Camera #026 Posted on 25th May 20221st March 2026 by Laurence Zorki 1 Type C Next out to play from my camera cabinet is one of several Soviet era cameras I bought. This is a 1953 Zorki 1 Type C. If you’ve seen my Pearl River post, you’ll be both pleased and unsurprised to learn that this camera is not as bad as that. Continue reading “Vintage Camera #026” →
Vintage Camera #017 Posted on 31st March 20221st March 2026 by Laurence Pearl River 6×6 TLR Kicking off my efforts with the latest batch of purchases (New year, new…resolution?), which incidentally didn’t stop at 22, I went out with a Pearl River 6×6 twin lens reflex. Loaded with trusty HP5+ film I duly went ahead and took a few shots, all onto the same frame, before I remembered that I need to wind the film on each time. Continue reading “Vintage Camera #017” →
Vintage Camera #005 Posted on 26th May 20121st March 2026 by Laurence Canon AE-1 Program I’m taking a bit of a liberty calling this camera vintage, it’s not even as old as me…well the one I have isn’t anyway. The AE-1 Program was introduced in 1981 as the successor to the AE-1, its key difference being the ability to set both the shutter speed and aperture automatically. Mine was purchased by my parents in 1982 (no doubt to take embarrassing baby pictures of me), but I first got to know this camera when I began private photography lessons and eventually went on to complete an A Level in photography. I used this camera through most of my A Level studies, developing the films (mainly Ilford HP5, sometimes FP4) and making prints myself. I enjoy using this camera and have achieved some great results with it.
Vintage Camera #030 Posted on 30th April 20121st March 2026 by Laurence Kodak Retina IIs The second in my series of posts about vintage cameras is a Kodak Retina IIs. It was produced between 1959 and 1960, and has a Xenar 45mm f2.8 lens with a Synchro-Compur shutter. Around 20,000 of these cameras were made in its short production life. This camera is known as a Coupled Rangefinder camera, which essentially means that when you look through the viewfinder you see two images from different lenses, by adjusting the focus, it brings the two images into line to create a single sharp view in the camera. Being coupled, it means you can read the distance from a wheel around the lens. Kodak Retina II S The camera uses 135 film, the standard 35mm film. It was somewhat easier to get this camera working, and I’ve now got an Ilford HP5 film in it and have started carrying it around with me, so the results of this should be published very soon.
Vintage Camera #031 Posted on 19th March 20121st March 2026 by Laurence Kodak No. 2 Folding Autographic Brownie I have gained a number of old cameras from various sources, so I thought I’d write a short series of posts, each highlighting them, and maybe I will be able to inspire others to do the same. Continue reading “Vintage Camera #031” →
