Topic: What's your favorite 127?

[jharr]

Having just acquired 100' of 46mm film in the Share The Film II thread, I am now in the market for a 'better' 127 camera. Obviously, the Baby Rolleiflex and the Yashica 44 set the high standard for quality (and price). On the other end of the spectrum is the 'tribe' of $5 Kodak Brownies that take 127 film. Those are generally plastic p/s viewfinders. They are fun, but not always the highest quality. So I am kind of thinking of a mid-range 127 like the Bilora Bella. You know something with variable focus, aperture and shutter. Experiences? Suggestions?

[Bryan]

Though I've only put one roll through it I do like the Baby Rolleiflex, the problem is getting a good working one.  I don't think anyone repairs them anymore and they are not easy to DIY.  I have looked at a few others that caught my eye but have not tried them so I don't know how good they are.

Bencini Comet III
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Bencini_Comet_III

Ferrania Rondine
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Rondine

[Sandeha Lynch]

PeterR might be the person to ask.  I think he's fixed up quite a few of them.

I'd certainly use a 'baby' if I didn't have to faff with the film - and you have the film!

[jharr]

I saw a Bencini for sale. It does appeal on account of it's 'unique' looks, but still fixed aperture with only 50 and B shutter speeds is only a small step up from the Brownie Starflash I'm sporting today. I don't know, maybe I will just cave and get a Yashica. 127 was such a weird format that it seems it wasn't taken very seriously.

[Late Developer]

I don't think I've ever owned or used a 127 camera.  However, I saw a beautiful, grey baby Rolleiflex and, given a bit of spare dosh and ready access to 127 film, I could be persuaded to buy one as a sibling to the grey 3.5T I picked up not long ago.

[Kai-san]

I have never owned a 127 camera, but the coolest looking of the kind must be the Kowa Komaflex S. Just look here:

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Komaflex-S

I have no idea about availability or pricing, but I understand there were issues with reliability. And it has a round red mark!

[Francois]

I must admit that the ratio between really good vs. brownie like cameras in that format doesn't make things fair.
I do have a few of them but not much experience.
I did use a Coronet 3-D and must say that it is a lot of fun despite all its flaws like fixed focus at 9 feet, no flash, no bulb, no tripod socket and only 4 images per roll (something that also makes it the most expensive of all to use).

I also have a Zeiss-Ikon Baby Box which is somewhat interesting in a sense as it looks like a tiny black box and is smaller than many 35mm cameras I have.

[Bryan]

There are the VP Exaktas but they seem rare and kind of expensive.

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/VP_Exakta

[Pete_R]

Though I've only put one roll through it I do like the Baby Rolleiflex, the problem is getting a good working one.  I don't think anyone repairs them anymore

Well as Sandeha kindly pointed out - I do.

[Bryan]

Though I've only put one roll through it I do like the Baby Rolleiflex, the problem is getting a good working one.  I don't think anyone repairs them anymore

Well as Sandeha kindly pointed out - I do.

Sorry Peter, I didn't realize that, good to know I have somewhere to send it if the need arises. 

[AJShepherd]

I have a few low-end 127 cameras, and I have to admit I prefer the Brownie Reflex to the Brownie 127, but last year while I was clearing out my Dad's house I came across the old Kowa Kid, which I should like to try out except the red filters on the back got damaged, so I need to put something to replace them.

I did really look into getting one of the 127 baby Rolleiflexes, but at the prices I saw I wasn't sure I'd ever shoot enough 127 film to justify it.

[Flippy]

The original Kodak Vest Pocket camera will produce really good results! The problem is finding one with a usable bellows. There's also the Baby Ikonta which can usually be found in decent shape for low prices.

On the low end, the Imperial Satellite is the coolest of the cool. It's actually decently sharp in the center, but the corners get jolly blurry. I also like the Indo Impera.

[jharr]

I did really look into getting one of the 127 baby Rolleiflexes, but at the prices I saw I wasn't sure I'd ever shoot enough 127 film to justify it.

That's the thing, right? I love the idea of a $130 Yashica 44, but I have 100' of free film which comes out to about 24 rolls. Then what? It's a beautiful camera, but I don't really have any shelf queens and I don't ever pay $11 for a roll of film. So that's why I'm looking for more of a mid-range than an investment.

[Urban Hafner]

My favourite is the Primo Jr! A Japanese copy of the Baby Rolleiflex. My copy was acting up so I decided to sell it in the end. I also built this a few years ago and I'm still on my first roll. If you fancy a pinhole camera I can send it to you.


Kodak Brownie 127 pinhole by Urban Hafner, on Flickr

[jharr]

PM sent! Thanks Urban!!

[Nigel]

I have a Coronet Victor that belonged to my grandfather I'm very fond of.

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Coronet_Victor

I have always fancied a Baby Rollei though and now I know Peter can repair them that may become my target for the upcoming Photographica!

[Terry]

I love the Yashica 44s.  And I've got some very cheaply off the evilbay.  (Cheapest was $30.  Guy thought it was broken because he didn't realise that you have to cock the shutter separately from winding the film.) Skulking pays off if you're patient enough.  Of the cheap and cheerful cameras, I like the Bencini Comet, if only for its half-frameness.  The Rondine is just an Italian rethink of the old box Brownie and has almost no parts that could go wrong.  But it's been a while since I saw either of those two for sale on the aforementioned website.

BTW, I think Ken Ruth (Bald Mountain Cameras) may be the only one left who works on baby Rolleis this side of the pond.  I sent him one about ten months ago, though, so don't go down that road if you're in a hurry.

Edit: WHOA!  there are several examples of both Comets and Rondines over at that other place right now.  And James, a full roll of 127 amounts to a bit over 2 feet of film, so you should get 45+ rolls out of that 100-footer.