These are the Kodak Bantam f/4.5 and Kodak Flash Bantam, two miniature strut folding cameras, making eight 28x40mm negatives on 828 roll film, manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company between 1938 and 1953 While I wouldn't normally review two cameras simultaneously, these cameras should really be considered two examples of the same lineage, with improvements made over time.
The Kodak Bantam series, and importantly the history of the 828 film format begins in 1935 and was aimed to correct some of the deficiencies of the 135 film format we are familiar with today.
Kodak launched the 135 film cartridge alongside their German made Retina folding cameras in 1934. The concept of using 35mm double perforated motion picture film for still photography was not new. Leica and Contax cameras were already using it, but required photographers to reload metal cassettes from motion picture rolls in a darkroom, which limited the user base open to these cameras.
What Kodak's 135 format brought to the market was prepackaged, disposable cassettes loaded with film, which meant anyone could use cameras designed for this film, not just those who could bulk load. Their cassette system was also backwards compatible with Leica and Contax cameras, further opening up the market.
However, Kodak themselves were quick to realize that the 135 film format had issues. Firstly, the dual row of perforations, necessary for transporting the film through a movie camera or projector, were a waste of space and potential negative size in still photography. Second, the lack of backing paper necessitated a complex and costly advance and exposure counter mechanism and wasted film at the beginning of the roll when loading. Third, the long length of the 135 film cartridge (up to 36 exposures) took consumers a long time to utilize, frustrating those who wanted their photos processed sooner.
Former Kodak Limited managing director, Charles Z. Case, took up the issue, and working with the same 35mm unperforated stock, came up with what Kodak would adopt as 828 film.
Case's film utilized a metal spool and backing paper, much like 120, 620 and 127 formats then in use. The length of the film was limited to eight images, and the negative size was increased to 28x40mm. 30% larger in area than the 24x36mm negative of 135 film. Cleverly, one perforation was retained on the top edge between each frame which allowed for a very simple automatic frame spacing mechanism.
828 film was launched alongside the original Bantam cameras in 1935. The name Bantam was taken from the breed of chicken, a breed known for being smaller in size but punching above their weight. (Cock fighting was a more acceptable social activity at this point in history.)
Two models of cameras were initially released using the same Bakelite case, a model with a doublet f/11 lens for $5.75 ($126 in 2023 dollars) and an example with a triplet f/6.3 lens for $9.75 ($214 in 2023 dollars). This favored comparably to the contemporary Kodak Retina, which cost $57.50 ($1260 in 2023 dollars), albeit with the Bantam having a more limited feature set.
Kodak would go on to introduce more Bantam models to bridge the gap in features and cost between the initial Bantams and the Retinas. This would culminate in their premier camera, the Kodak Bantam Special with rangefinder, Compur-Rapid shutter, fast Ektar f/2.0 lens and body designed by Walter Dorwin Teague and Associates. However, this camera exceeded the price and feature set of even the original Retina models.
Next down in the line from the Bantam Special was the Kodak Bantam f/4.5, a capable camera in its own right, introduced in 1938 at a price of $27.50 ($588 in 2023 dollars). Let's take a look at this camera:
The Bantam f/4.5 is a strut folding, scale focusing camera. The body has some art deco inspired styling, with an angled geometric body, and contrasting black enamel and polished alloy body features. It's constructed of mostly aluminum alloy castings and covered with pebble grain black leather.
This camera has an Anastigmat Special front element focusing lens with a focal length of 47mm and a maximum aperture of f/4.5. This lens is a Kodak Tessar derivative and of quite good quality. As this is an early example of the camera, this lens is uncoated. Late postwar examples will have the same lens but magnesium fluoride hard coated, or Lumenized in Kodak's vernacular. These can be identified by the Ⓛ marking around the lens mount. The lens is quite deeply recessed in the mount, forming a pseudo lens hood and reducing flare.
Most of the controls are located on the front of the lens board. Here you can change the shutter speed from T, B and 1/25th to 1/200th, adjust the aperture from f/4.5 to f/16 and change the focus from infinity down to 2.5 feet.
When collapsed, the Kodak Bantam f/4.5 is a very compact and transportable package, measuring 4 5/8" x 2 5/8" x 1 1/2" (118 x 67 x 38mm) and weighing just 11.5 ounces (325 grams).
From the top, most of the remaining controls can be observed. On the left, we have the film advance knob. Found just to the right of it on the front of the body is the button which releases the lens board, causing it to spring forward under tension to its extended position. In the middle of the body is the folding Galilean viewfinder, which is quite bright and easy to use. The silver button on the front left is the body mounted shutter release and behind it are two screws for the option of mounting an accessory cold shoe. Finally, the two screws on the far edges of the body are removable, and allow the mounting of optional strap swivels.
The only other control is found recessed just behind the lens board, and is the shutter cocking lever. Cleverly, lens board can be collapsed with the shutter cocked or uncocked, but the shutter can only be released when the lens is forward in the taking position.
The back of the camera is fairly sparse, but we have the film viewing window and release button used for film advance. Notably, the window is green rather than the more common red. Most 828 films were panchromatic upon introduction, so a red window would offer no filtering advantage. Green was chosen because the human eye is more sensitive to green light, allowing for a darker window while still allowing the user to see the frame number.
The film loading procedure on an 828 camera is unique but quite simple. The backing paper is first attached to the takeup spool and the back closed. Then the user just needs to wind the film advance knob. Once the first frame is reached, a lever inside the body will detect the notch in the frame, and lock the film advance, with the first frame number being visible in the green window.
Thereafter, the user just need press the silver button and wind on the film and it will automatically stop at the next frame until the roll is finished.
The back is opened for loading and unloading by a simple sliding latch on the side of the body.
The bottom of the camera has a 1/4" tripod socket on one end, occupied here by the original filler screw.
Finally, the camera has two folding feet. A small one which allows the camera to sit level horizontally, and a larger one which allows the camera to sit level vertically. These would be used for time exposures without use of a tripod.
Civilian production would be halted in April of 1942, as all production capacity was utilized for the war effort. Being a popular camera, the Bantam f/4.5 would resume production in 1946, now with coated optics.
In 1947, the camera would be revised by adding internal flash synchronization via an ASA bayonet connection and re-released as the Kodak Flash Bantam. The list price was $50.00 ($675 in 2023 dollars). The original f/4.5 would be discontinued the next year in 1948.
The Flash Bantam largely retains the same feature set and external styling of its predecessor. However, the body has taken on more rounded sides and the lens board has increased in width to conceal the ASA bayonet flash contact.
The external dimensions retain the same as the Bantam f/4.5, but the weight has increased to 12.5 ounces (355 grams).
The lens now says Kodak Anastar, but don't be confused, this is the same lens as the Anastigmat Special on the Bantam f/4.5, only the trade name has been updated.
The ASA bayonet flash contact is now concealed on the right side behind the lens board. The shutter is M-synced for flashbulbs up to 1/100th of a second.
The only other change to the camera was removing the two folding foot supports, replaced with a single fixed peg for keeping the camera level horizontally.
The Flash Bantam would remain in production until 1953, being replaced with the fixed body Bantam RF camera.
Despite its modest specifications, this camera design was quite successful, remaining in production for 15 years (with a 4 year gap).
My experience goes back a way, as both of these cameras entered my collection fairly early on.
My first experience shooting was with the f/4.5 model, and I had acquired an old stock roll of Plus-X 828 film. Unfortunately, the age of the film combined with some mishandling from the lab I used resulted in some issues, but I'll show the results below:
The dust and scratches are pretty obvious, but I included these photos nonetheless as examples of how using expired films are always a gamble, and how variable different labs can be. This is why I largely moved away from outside processing and do more home processing now.
Not wanting to let these photos be the best representation of this camera's performance, I spooled some 35mm Ilford FP4+ off a bulk roll and onto some 828 backing paper, and took another trip out:
I also wanted to try out the Flash Bantam, and loaded some Fuji C200 to make use of the coated Anastar that this camera possesses:
Shooting with these cameras was an overall pleasant experience. They are so similar that there really isn't any perceivable difference, unless you are using flash.
The small size and light weight make them extremely portable, you can throw them in a pocket and take them almost everywhere. The 4 element tessar derived lens is quite sharp, but I would prefer the later, coated example if I were seeking out a shooter. The folding Galilean finder is bright and easy to use.
There's no rangefinder, although the 47mm lens on a larger negative gives similar results to a wider lens on a 135 negative, so it really isn't necessary with a maximum aperture of f/4.5. The shutter is a bit limited with a top speed of 1/200th, so I would recommend films no faster than ASA 200, with 50-100 being the most suitable.
The biggest handicap of these cameras is the use of 828 film, and its general lack of availability on the market today. Specialized vendors carry it, but the price is high per roll. Fortunately, being 35mm wide, you can reuse the spools and backing paper with ordinary 135 film, as I did here. The tradeoff is that you loose a bit of the image area, but it does give a pleasing semi-panoramic effect. 120 film can also be cut down, but this is more difficult.
These aren't cameras I often reach for, but I'm beginning to think I should do so more. Despite being smaller than most 35mm cameras, the image size is larger. Their capability and compact size allow them to punch outside their weight, making the name Bantam quite fitting.
Comments
Post a Comment