Kodak Pony 135 Model C Test

[br1078lum]

Fixed the shutter, and took it for a spin.  Ilford FP-4 Plus 125.  Sunny-16 Metering.  Commercial developement and scans.  Spotting and cropping only in PSE8.

Started out on a used Mack truck lot owned by a friend of mine, then a place that restores old cars.  Next, the Ice House renovation down on Winchester Street. And finally, along the Roanoke River Greenway.  Took three days to finish this roll, as the weather turned bad on the first day, and it rained all the second.

This is a very easy handling camera, but I had to get in a rythm of winding the film and charging the shutter after each shot, or I would forget where I was at in the process, and make a double exposure (two on the early part of this roll).  And I miss the ability to use filters and a hood, as there isn't anywhere to put them!  But the coating on the lens makes up for a bit of that, the front element is somewhat deeply set, and Ilford FP-4 has decent contrast.  Still, glare can be a problem.  The camera is light enough, and the action on the shutter release smooth enough that one can hold it in the left hand for a portrait orientation, while using the right hand to block the sun.  And it has an exposure guide on the lens barrel, which is a big plus.

Some samples:


Christmas Tree Crane #2 by br1078phot, on Flickr


White Grille by br1078phot, on Flickr


The Lot by br1078phot, on Flickr


Big Merc by br1078phot, on Flickr


Ice House Renovation #2 by br1078phot, on Flickr


Rock Up Close by br1078phot, on Flickr


Retaining Wall by br1078phot, on Flickr


Sun Glint On Rapids by br1078phot, on Flickr

And the complete set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7699588@N07/sets/72157628492642301/

PF

[Julio1fer]

I like the grille and the last one - that lens is quite decent at the apertures you used.

Those old cameras have a lot of juice left in them!

[lesged]

Phil,

Very nice series. Sun on the rapids is my favorite, by far.

[melek]

Somewhere buried in my many bins of cameras is a nice little Kodak Pony 135. These photos always inspire me to get my butt out there and shoot.

[Murphy]

These are pretty shots. This camera works better than I would have expected.

[br1078lum]

Thanks, all.  I really like the lenses on these older Kodaks.

PF

[radiophoto]

Hey, really nice job, Phil.  I got a Pony 135 from Glenn Thoreson a couple years ago but never used it -- I ended up giving it to a girl whose mother was buying a camera from me.  I hope she used it.

[Murphy]

Note to self: ... pick up a Pony C next available opportunity!

[br1078lum]

Note to Dave:  These also suffer from the same affliction that AGFA/Ansco cameras have, the dreaded focusing freeze.  I was lucky in that I didn't have to bath mine in Ronsonal to get it open.  But a little dab of lithium in a couple of spots cured that.  Should be good to go for another couple of decades.

PF

[LarryD]

OK all cleaned up and ready to go.


Same Pony by inetjoker, on Flickr

[br1078lum]

Hey, I've also got one of those, and the 828 version.  But they're just for show.  Let me know if you figure out the EV system on the Pony IV.

PF

[LarryD]

EV system is easy you can google it just like I did.

[br1078lum]

Yeah, but would I ever remember it?  And I just had a look at the photo again of the box of cameras, and it turns out it was a Pony II, not IV.  And the other camera is an Argus A-Four.  I bought the box for the Ansco Memar that was in it, and just forgot about the others.  I think the Pony II has a crack in the body, and the Argus was missing something, as I recall.  At least the Model C is now working.  I never did get the lens to seperate on the Memar, and it turned out the front element is coated with something that I have not found anything to remove it with.  I kind of gave up on Ansco's after that.

PF

[BurninFilm]

The Kodak Pony IV is a great camera, and you are missing out if you are passing on using one due to the EV system. At close range and wider apertures, it tends to blur the edges of the image. But, close it down a little and take pictures at general "snapshot" distances, and it renders images beautifully sharp, with decent contrast and color. Plus, if I remember right, there is a traditional shutter speed and f-stop scale on the bottom of the lens barrel.

I've used both... the Pony C definitely has a nice lens, but the Anastar on the Pony IV is a treat.

[br1078lum]

The Kodak Pony IV is a great camera, and you are missing out if you are passing on using one due to the EV system. At close range and wider apertures, it tends to blur the edges of the image. But, close it down a little and take pictures at general "snapshot" distances, and it renders images beautifully sharp, with decent contrast and color. Plus, if I remember right, there is a traditional shutter speed and f-stop scale on the bottom of the lens barrel.

I've used both... the Pony C definitely has a nice lens, but the Anastar on the Pony IV is a treat.

Thanks, I'll remember that if I run across one.

PF