Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 11 to 20 of 32

Thread: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

  1. #11

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Scarsdale, NY
    Posts
    334

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    Quote Originally Posted by jnanian View Post
    i have my grandparents kodak 3A autographic and at one point searched for the
    combination back. never found one cheap enough though.
    John:

    I guess you don't look in enough trashcans.

    My vague memory of buying this on eBay, probably almost a decade ago, when they were totally unwanted, was that I paid about $25 for it, and was probably the only bidder.

    And, John, I suspect you know me and the trashheap I live in.....of course, I've got another. If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to sell it for $25+shipping. It only has the GG insert, though. You'll have to make your own filmholder.

    Nate: Does having a sheet of film loaded in the holder for fifty years count as use?

    Charley

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    CA Central Coast
    Posts
    613

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    The postcard size was apparently very popular, at least back when you could get plates. I have a 3A Premo and that is stamped into the wood plateholders. I have printed cut film negs of that size as well, and as a kid shot 122 roll film in my grandfather's kodak. When I paid a buncha money for a plate back for the Kodak, I found that the plates and cut film were narrower than the roll film : 122 film is 3 5/8 wide. Awhiile back somebody posted that they own a 3A Speed with film holders - very cool. I have a 3A Graflex but have yet to pursue getting it to fire, so I bought a 3A Compact Graflex from Jim Galli. I have cadded parts to make a sheet film holder and await a time slot for my son to cut the pieces at his work. Graflex made several sizes of roll film holders but the frame length was across the film width- so I need 5 7/8 wide film for the roll holder I have for the Compact- not bloody likely I'll ever get any. kodak's RRs and anastigmats can make some very sharp images and I wish I'da made more when one could.

  3. #13

    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Austin TX
    Posts
    2,049

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    The 3A Kodak was the first camera I ever used. Grabbed it from the dusty attic of my grandfathers farm in Concord MA. in 1942 when I was a little kid. Used it on vacations here and there, with grandads advice, in New England when we were depression and wartime poor kids living on a depression era farm in Lincoln MA. Later I adapted a 4X5 film holder to the back and used another with a hole in the plenum to focus on frosted glass. Pretty crude setup but could be made elegant with a bit of wood working skill. I still have a few old 3A pics taken as early as 1942. Not LF so I don't post them here - although image area is 18 sq. in. so very close to 4X5.
    The other Nate.

    Nate Potter, Austin TX.

  4. #14
    Joe O'Hara's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Marlton, NJ
    Posts
    777

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    Has anyone tried mounting the lens from one of these on a 4x5 camera? It seems it should be able to cover that size, or nearly so.

    The quality of the old contact prints that I have from the 3A that was in my family are very nice. I regret not saving the camera.

  5. #15

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe O'Hara View Post
    Has anyone tried mounting the lens from one of these on a 4x5 camera? It seems it should be able to cover that size, or nearly so.

    The quality of the old contact prints that I have from the 3A that was in my family are very nice. I regret not saving the camera.
    They're perfect for 4x5, 170mm is the average focal length I think.

    Quote Originally Posted by c.d.ewen View Post
    Nate: Does having a sheet of film loaded in the holder for fifty years count as use?
    Charley
    Well, yeah, I guess that does count as long-term use ... expect to see results any time soon?

  6. #16

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Scarsdale, NY
    Posts
    334

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    Quote Originally Posted by Nathan Smith View Post
    Well, yeah, I guess that does count as long-term use ... expect to see results any time soon?
    Gonna have to wait until the 3 feet of snow around here (NY) melts.

    Charley

  7. #17

    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    173

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    I brought a few rolls of 122 film off Ebay, just for the spools and paper backing. I've cut 5" aerial film down, and reloaded the rolls. The only point of this is that you can get pictures out of a Kodak 3A without spending $36 a roll for the stuff from Central Camera. I'm not sure it's worth the effort. I've come to the conclusion that I would rather shoot sheet film in a Speed Graphic than go through the hassle. Having said that, I'm going to try shooting some 5" roll film in a Kodak No. 5 (5x7 format), just to see if I can.

  8. #18

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
    Posts
    5,808

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe O'Hara View Post
    Has anyone tried mounting the lens from one of these on a 4x5 camera? It seems it should be able to cover that size, or nearly so.
    Yes it does, and the results of the B&L RR that is on mine is quite surprisingly good.

    The only limitation is the shutter, and that is mostly a matter of inconvenience. Mine has only one shutter speed, I (instantaneous), which measures at about 1/50. The aperture is in the antiquated US scale and must be cosnidered when setting the exposure.

  9. #19
    multiplex
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    local
    Posts
    5,358

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    you're right charlie, i junque stored dived for 12 years and came up M-T.
    ---
    since it isn't quite large format
    i haven't uploaded the image file from yesterday
    but it came out OK considering we were winging it

    nothing high tech just a paper negative souped in a half-spent home-roasted coffee-based developer

    if you travel to apug, it is in my blog there ...
    i also started a something on wp, its pretty young, but just the same ..
    about coffee, paper and using homemade large format cameras
    nanianphoto.com/blog

    since the weather is pretty cruddy again today and i have bout 2 hours
    on my hands, i'll probably do it again

  10. #20

    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    1,261

    Re: Kodak 3A camera - 122 film format

    I like that idea of simply stuffing a 4x5" sheet of film onto the rails. Maybe I'll try that tonight! The lens on mine is a Rapid Rectilinear, maker unknown, with a Kodak shutter boasting B - T - 1/25 - 1/50 - 1/100 settings, and they all seem to work.

    So - if I stick a sheet of film into a camera originally designed for roll film use, does the resultant image qualify as LF? How about if I took that lens off the Kodak and put it on my Busch Pressman 4x5 camera, and shot another sheet? What's the difference, LF- versus MF- wise?

    Clearly, the format distinctions get muddled with cameras such as this...

Similar Threads

  1. The Film Apocalypse and Proper Freezing and Storage of Film
    By danchan in forum Darkroom: Film, Processing & Printing
    Replies: 177
    Last Post: 14-Apr-2015, 02:03
  2. Psuedo helical focussing - possible?
    By bglick in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 78
    Last Post: 19-Jan-2012, 02:30
  3. A question about large format optics
    By claudiocambon in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 24
    Last Post: 14-Feb-2007, 10:54

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •