Shoot with the 1912 Kodak Vest Pocket Camera!

Michael,

I see you have shot with a Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic. I have one that a friend gave to me after he cleaned out his attic and I want to try using film in it. I'm a bit confused as to how to do it. Which film do you use? These are the 127 films I have:

- Kodak Kodacolor Gold 200, ISO 200, expired 1989/1990

- Kodak Verichrome Pan, B&W, ISO 125, expired March of 1980

Since they are expired I've read around the Internet about the whole one stop per decade ISO compensation thing. However, there are no manual controls on this camera for me to compensate the ISO, right? How do you manage to get such beautiful photos out of this camera? And when using expired film how do you shoot it? This is all new and confusing to me and I don't want to ruin the film due to improper use of the shutter speed and aperture options in the camera.

Carlota

above image: The 1915 Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic  is a "vest pocket" folding camera advertised as "The Soldier's camera" during WWI. It was manufactured by Kodak from 1915 to 1926. One of the most significant features was the "autographic" window on the camera back a feature invented by Henry J. Gaisman. By sliding a small door open, the photographer was able to inscribe some information about the picture through the backing paper, directly onto the film using a metal stylus —a distant ancestor to today's "day / date" modes in some electronic cameras. It had a Kodak Anastigmatic f/7.7 lens.

Image shot 4/15/2010
Mt Calvary Cemetery, Butler NJ
1915 Kodak Vest Pocket Autographic camera
1/50th / f11
Bluefire Murano 127 film (film is cut from bulk rolls of Kodak Portra NC 160 by Bluefire Labs, Canada)

Image © 2010 Michael Raso Photography

Hi Carlota,

You should be fine with the film that you have. It is expired and therefore unpredictable but they should yield an image.

You can buy new 127 film from The Frugal Photographer ( http://www.frugalphotographer.com/cat127.htm )

The Kodak Vest Pocket Camera (that I own) has two shutter speeds (25, 50 plus Bulb) and five f-stops (f7.7, f11, f16, f22 and f32).

Without a light meter use the Sunny 16 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunny_16_rule ) rule to expose your shot. I usually don't but you can overexpose your film one-stop if the film is expired.

Don't worry about ruining any thing. With a camera this old (the Vest Pocket was made in 1912!) and expired film there is always a risk that your exposures won't come out.

Blue Moon Camera ( http://www.bluemooncamera.com/ ) in Oregon will gladly process your film.

Best and please keep in touch!

below: FPP's video on 127 film.
 

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