Kodak Star, 60 and S30 – One Metropolis, One Movie, Three 110 Cameras

I used to be given my first digicam after I was seven. My grandfather’s Field Brownie. Ever since then, and I’m seventy now, I’ve collected Kodak cameras. The second, which I purchased myself, was an Instamatic 100 which took the 126 sq. format movie cartridge. Within the mid seventies after I was a hard-up pupil Kodak launched the 110 format Pocket Instamatic and the way I lusted after one. Particularly the Mannequin 60 which at launch, based on kodak.3106.web, price $128. Method out of my vary. Since then I’ve acquired many variations together with the 60 and it occurred to me lately that I hadn’t really put a movie via nearly all of them. So was born an concept.

With a quick vacation developing the title arrived first: One Metropolis, One Movie, Three Cameras. The town, Chartres in central France. The movie, Lomography 110 Tiger 200 ISO. The cameras, the 60, a cute little S30 and a really primary Kodak Star. Eight frames every, how tough might that be? After which I encountered the primary downside. The 60 takes a weird-shaped battery known as the kind Okay or 7K31. Apparently this battery hasn’t been made for 25 years. An ingenious eBay vendor has made a 3D-printed reusable adapter that takes three LR43s. I assumed, I can do this, and mine solely has to work as soon as. After many iterations I produced this

It’s a bit tough nevertheless it does the job. Cameras two and three are principally level and shoot so no issues there.

I shot eight frames every day and adjusted the cartridge to the subsequent digicam in a darkish room. As soon as house once more I despatched the movie off for growing and scanning. My pondering right here was that I might use the scans to print chosen pictures myself. Regardless of being warned that they might be 8-bit solely I used to be considerably disenchanted with the standard of the scans, of which there have been solely 23.

Technical sidebar: Wanting on the knowledge buried within the scans I noticed that they have been taken with NOVATEK CAMERA 96660, the one seek for which threw up a dash-cam. Novatek is outwardly the chip-set utilized in a whole lot of motion and dash-cams, typically utilizing the Sony IMZ078 sensor. The exposures have been throughout 1/5s at a hard and fast f/1.8 and ISO50. The sizes diverse barely however have been throughout 6.3 megapixels. I believe it’s protected to say that these negatives weren’t a lot scanned as photographed.

The 60, produced from 1972 to 1976, has a 26mm, f/2.7 Ektar lens focussing with a coupled rangefinder and totally automated publicity with shutter speeds from 10s to 1/250s. It’s well-featured with a cable launch socket and a tripod bush. It has a Magicube socket for mechanically activated flash-cubes The viewfinder in mine is sort of fogged and the rangefinder is out at infinity. It was made in America. Ergonomically it’s fairly heavy and the shutter launch wants a great push. There’s a warning mild within the viewfinder for under-exposure, the double picture rangefinder, a shutter lock and a microscopic battery examine button, these particulars indicating manufacturing after August 1973.

Listed below are a few of the photos taken by the Pocket Instamatic 60

The S30, which was solely produced between 1976 and 1978 has a 25mm, f/5.6 Reomar lens (50mm equal) and a two pace shutter of 1/40s and 1/80s although it’s not clear to me how they might be chosen. The aperture is adjustable with a slider and climate pictograms. I really like the best way the viewfinder telescopes into the physique like a Minox however Kodak missed out on having the motion coupled to the film-advance that means various potential pictures missed on account of not cocking the shutter. It has a hot-shoe flash bracket on one finish. It was made in Germany.

Listed below are some photos taken by the S30

The Star is the latest digicam, relationship from round 1985 and has the least promising specification with a hard and fast 22mm, f/11 Meniscus lens nevertheless it does have three shutter speeds because it incorporates the later film-speed sensing lever within the movie compartment. It has a socket for Flip-Flash bars and a steadying deal with that doubles as a case. It was additionally made in Germany, contradicting Brian Coe in ‘Kodak Cameras’ who asserts the US and Brazil.

Three completely different cameras, three completely different flash attachments. I keep in mind dropping a Magicube in a crowded pub one time and the ensuing a number of flash was fairly dramatic.

Listed below are some photos taken by the Star 110

Let’s be sincere, these aren’t nice pictures. After I shot 110 movie often I solely used Kodachrome slide movie and even had the lovable little projector that was obtainable on the time and I don’t keep in mind the grain being so outstanding or the color rendering so poor. Initially there have been solely 100ASA movies obtainable in 110 format so within the case of the 60 and S30 the 200ASA movie I used could have been overexposed which can be a contributory issue. Nonetheless, mission completed.

Of the three the Star was probably the most nice to make use of with the steadying deal with an important assist and the shutter motion easy and straightforward. Altogether a intelligent design conserving mud out and stopping unintended exposures.

Will I do it once more? Effectively I purchased a two-pack of movie so it will be impolite to not. However subsequent time I’ll get prints.