Kodak Pony 135 Model C

This little gem of a camera I got when I picked up a box of Kodak cameras. From a 126 Instamatic, to Brownies, and other various folders. I actually got two of these little babies. The thing is, only one works. The other camera only seems to work at 1/300s, while all the other speeds are frozen, which is too bad.
This is a fun camera to use, and goes by "Scale Focusing" where you set the focus distance on the front element ring, set your Aperture, shutter speed, cock the shutter, and release. Very simple operation, and very light in hand.

The simple design means that they could mass produce these cameras with very little cost involved. The Anaston 3-element coated lens is actually very sharp, and provides good colour rendering, and contrast. Wide-open it is quite soft, but is fairly sharp toward the center of the lens. At ƒ/8 the lens really comes into its element, pardon the pun, and is very sharp. The shutter operation is very simple, and is set by turning the ring behind the front lens element which sets the shutter speed from 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300, or Bulb.  The flash connection is a Kodak off-camera SYNC connection with an adapter for a standard PC-connector, which is shown in these photos.  The left side of the camera holds the film cartridge, as well as the re-wind knob.  Beside the rewind is the Film Identification wheel, but the films listed on the wheel are long since discontinued, but have Kodachrome, Royal Pan-X, etc.  Located on the right side of the camera is the take up spool, film advance knob, film frame counter and indicator, and shutter release button.  When you take a photo, you cock the shutter, which is a lever located on the left side of the lens, above the flash sync connector, then press the shutter release when you have your photo composed and focused.  After taking the photo, you still cannot advance the film until, like on the Argus cameras, you press a lever, located on the back left, which allows you to advance to the next frame on the film.  This is not double exposure prevention, but prevents you from accidentally winding passed the next frame.  If you decide to, you can take as many photos as you'd like on the same frame just by re-cocking the shutter, and releasing it.

Once the film is finished, there is a tab beside the film advance switch, which you must hold in, and believe me it really sucks to hold it in, and rewind the film back into the canister.

Once the film is rewound, you slide down the locking lever on the right side of the camera, and the entire back comes off so you can remove the film canister or load a new one.

The camera itself is lightweight, and made almost entirely of Bakelite plastic, with some metal around the lens mount for stability.
The camera does have a very lovely Ever-Ready (I say Never-Ready) leather case, which is quite attractive, and gives the camera an even more "timey" feel to it.

"Chain Monkies" - Kodak Pony 135 C
Kodak Anaston 44mm ƒ/3.5
ORWO UN54+ 100ASA Film
Kodak HC-110 (B) - 11:00

Nonetheless, this is also a similar camera to the one they have talked about multiple times on the Film Photography Project, now cue Pony sound-byte.

So check them out! 


Quick Tech Specs;

Kodak Pony 135 Model C
Kodak Anaston 44mm ƒ/3.5 Triplet Lens
35mm Film Camera (Frame size 24x36mm)
Kodak Flash-300 Shutter.  1/25s - 1/300s +B
Scale Focusing Camera w/focusing as close as 2.5'

If you have one of these cameras, or another film camera, check out the Film Photography Project anyway, as they have film for that camera for sale, and have some of the best prices for Kodak Film! 
Heck, you can even buy a camera from them.

Whether it's 35mm, 110, 120, or even Instant!  They sell both the camera, and the film!
Check them out today!

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!

Canon Digital Rebel XS

"Canon Digital Rebel XS dSLR" w/17-85mm ƒ/4-5.6 USM IS
Taken on Canon A-1 35mm SLR - 50mm ƒ/1.8 FD - Polypan F 50ASA @ ASA 6
Developed in HC-110 Dil. H 9:30 @ 20°C

The one camera I have doesn't get the same recognition as my film cameras, nor my dSLRs.  The Canon Digital Rebel XS is a very impressive entry level dSLR.  Using the same digital sensor as the Canon EOS 40D (a professional series dSLR) it has remarkably clean, clear, sharp, and detailed images.
I really enjoy using the Rebel XS because of its small size, and ease of use.  There are some aspects to the camera I'm not a fan of.  The pop-up flash, well, I've never been a fan of pop up flashes, or on-camera flashes in general.  The body also feels unbalanced when using larger lenses, such as the 17-85mm ƒ/4-5.6 USM IS lens, as seen attached in above photo, or the 75-300mm ƒ/4-5.6 USM II lens that I also have.  It feels very unbalanced, and cumbersome.  Perhaps if it had a battery grip, it might be a bit easier to handle.

"Canon Digital Rebel XS dSLR" w/50mm ƒ/1.8 EF II
Taken on Canon A-1 35mm SLR - 35-70mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 MACRO FD - Polypan F 50ASA @ 6ASA
Developed in HC-110 Dil. H 9:30 @ 20°C

Other things it's missing is a PC port, although it's consumer dSLR, it's not important.
The buttons are also not in the greatest of locations.  The ISO button, located behind the quick jog wheel, is hard to remember where it is located, and the AE-LOCK and AUTOFOCUS POINT SELECT buttons are easy to confuse with each other.
One of the nicest things about this is the built in Diopter correction, which is amusing, as I have one other camera with a Diopter correction built in, but it's more than 60 years old.  My Fed2.
Sure, the 40D has it, but most dSLRs today have it, whether it's Nikon, Pentax, Canon, Sony, etc.

Other than that, it's a very nice camera to use, and even the starter lens it comes with (EF-S 18-55mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 IS) is a decent lens.  It's quite sharp, contrasty, and has nice coatings to reduce flare.  A well constructed lens considering the cost of the lens.

Originally I purchased this camera in hopes of eventually moving on and opening up a portrait studio, but now I'm  starting to look more toward the side of doing Realty Photography.

Until next time, keep those shutters firing!