Amateur Photographer - UK (2021-11-13)

44

FILM STARS

When it comes to medium format roll film,

127 is one to watch, as John Wadeexplains

Testbench CLASSICCAMERAS

Gone but

not forgotten

T

oday’s film enthusiasts tend to fall

into two camps depending on which

film size they prefer – 35mm or 120

roll film. But there is a film that falls

between those two and for which thousands

of cameras were made. They include all the

usual types like single lens reflex (SLR), twin

lens reflex (TLR), viewfinder and coupled

rangefinder, ranging from simple snapshot to

super-sophisticated, from conventional to

curious with image formats that cover

6x4.5cm, 6x4cm, 4x4cm and 4x3cm. The film

is 127. Although discontinued in 1992, it has

by no means been forgotten and is now

available again from specialist dealers such

as Analogue Wonderland. With so many 127

cameras made in so many different styles

over the years, it offers something for

collectors and users alike.

Vest Pocket Kodak

This is the camera that launched 127 film in

1912. It’s a folding design with a lens panel
      that pulls out from the body on scissor struts
      and is supported by a fold-down leg. Early
      cameras had only simple meniscus lenses,
      soon changed to Kodak f/8 Anastigmats.
      Minutely engraved instructions around the
      lens give exposure advice: apertures set
      according to subject matter and shutter
      speeds that suggest 1/25sec for clear
      weather and 1/50sec for brilliant conditions.
      There are also ‘T’ and ‘B’ settings for

The Autographic

Back found on

later Vest Pocket

Kodak cameras The Vest Pocket

Kodak was the

camera that

introduced 127

film in 1912

The colourful Kodak Vanity cameras were based on the newly styled Vest Pocket Kodak Series III cameras

Three typical 127

snapshot cameras,

left to right:

Baby Brownie,

Brownie 127 and

the futuristic

(for 1963)

Brownie Vecta