Changes: Kodak Pony 828/135

Revision as of 02:52, 21 May 2008

The Kodak Pony cameras are a series of Bakelite bodied small format cameras designed by Arthur H Crapsey for Kodak. They were slotted into the Kodak lineup between the roll film Brownie and the 35mm Signet series. Like the Brownie series cameras, the Pony cameras lack rangefinders and have simple viewfinders. Like the Signet series, they feature Kodak's better glass lenses, the 3 element Anastons and the four element Anastars (all with front element focusing). Also like the Signets, they have variable speed (except for the Pony II), manually cocked Kodak synchronized shutters. A shutter release/film advance interlock (with bypass switch) prevents double exposures. They all use 35mm film (again, like the Signets), though, technically, the Pony 838 uses roll film, albeit in 35mm width. Knobs are used for film advance and rewind. Similar Pony cameras, with Angenieux lenses, were made by Kodak France.

Pony 828

Production: 1949-1959
Film format: 828
Shutter: Kodak Flash 200 1/8 - 1/200
Lens: Kodak Anaston 51mm f/4.5 - f/22

The Kodak Pony 828 was the first Kodak Pony. Its 3 element front element focusing lens is mounted in a rigid lens mount. It has a film reminder dial on the top cover.

Pony 135

Pony 135
first model, 1950-54

Production: 1950-1954
Film format: 135
Shutter: Kodak Flash 200 1/25 - 1/200
Lens: Kodak Anaston 51mm f/4.5 - f/22

The Pony 135 is similar to the Pony 828. It uses the same lens/shutter combination mounted on a tube that can be collapsed into the camera body when not in use.

Pony 135 Model B

Production: 1953-1955
Film format: 135
Shutter: Kodak Flash 200 1/25 - 1/200
Lens: Kodak Anaston 51mm f/4.5 - f/22

The camera's front panel is embossed with the words "Model B" in script. Other differences from the first model are apparently minimal.

Pony 135 Model C

Production: 1955-1958
Film format: 135
Shutter: Kodak Flash 300 1/25 - 1/300
Lens: Kodak Anaston 44mm f/3.5 - f/22

The Pony 135 Model C features a faster shutter and a shorter focal length lens in a rigid mount ala the Pony 828.

Pony II

Production: 1957-1962
Film format: 135
Shutter: Single Speed
Lens: Kodak Anastar 44mm f3.9 EV 9.5 - 15

A very enigmatic camera, the Pony II utilizes Kodak's higher quality Anastar lens (4 elements in 3 groups, similar to a Tessar but with the rear element group reversed) in a rigid mount, but has only a single shutter speed. The lens lacks traditional f/stops, but instead is marked with EV or exposure values. The top mounted film reminder dial of the Pony 135 models is replaced by a holder on the camera's back providing a place for Kodak film EV cards.

Pony IV

Production: 1957-1961
Film format: 135
Shutter: Kodak Flash 250 B, 1.30 - 1/250
Lens: Kodak Anastar 44mm f/3.5 - f/22

This camera was the zenith of Kodak's Pony line. The rigidly mounted lens is similar to the Pony II, but is nearly one-half stop faster. The four speed (plus bulb) shutter is calibrated in the more modern scale (1/30, 1/60, 1/125, and 1/250th second). It is the only Pony model to feature an accessory shoe. The camera back mounted film card holder is similar to the Pony II.

In a well intentioned but probably unsuccessful attempt by Kodak to avoid scaring the customer with technical details, the top of the lens mount is marked with somewhat unique lens numbers (3.5 to 9 in half steps) and shutter numbers (5 to 8 in whole steps). These numbers are related to EV (exposure values) numbers in that summing the lens and shutter values in use provides the EV number of that particular setting. That EV number can then be referenced to the (now rare) EV cards for each Kodak film type or to an appropriately marked exposure meter. Fortunately for all concerned, conventional shutter speeds and f/stops are somewhat inconveniently displayed on the underside of the lens mount. Engraved upside down, they can be read by rotating the lens towards one's self while holding the camera at chest level. Their use while the camera is mounted on a tripod is problematical, to say the least.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The Kodak Pony cameras are a series of amateur small format cameras designed by [[Arthur H Crapsey]] for [[Kodak]].
+The Kodak Pony cameras are a series of [[Bakelite]] bodied small format cameras designed by [[Arthur H Crapsey]] for [[Kodak]].
-They were slotted into the Kodak lineup between the roll film Brownie and the 35mm Signet series. Like the Brownie series cameras, the Pony cameras lacked rangefinders and had simple viewfinders; like the Signet series, they featured Kodak's better glass lenses, the 3 element Anastons and the four element Anastars (with front element focusing), and had variable speed Kodak synchronized shutters (except for the Pony II). They all used 35mm film (again, like the Signets), though, technically, the Pony 838 used roll film, albeit in 35mm width.
+They were slotted into the Kodak lineup between the roll film Brownie and the 35mm Signet series. Like the Brownie series cameras, the Pony cameras lack rangefinders and have simple viewfinders. Like the Signet series, they feature Kodak's better glass lenses, the 3 element Anastons and the four element Anastars (all with front element focusing). Also like the Signets, they have variable speed (except for the Pony II), manually cocked Kodak synchronized shutters. A shutter release/film advance interlock (with bypass switch) prevents double exposures. They all use 35mm film (again, like the Signets), though, technically, the Pony 838 uses roll film, albeit in 35mm width. Knobs are used for film advance and rewind. Similar Pony cameras, with Angenieux lenses, were made by Kodak France.
+==Pony 828==
+{{Flickr_image
+|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/373874708/
+|image= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/373874708_16d33468b0.jpg
+|image_align= right
+|image_text= Pony 828
+}}
+* Production: 1949-1959
+* Film format: 828
+* Shutter: Kodak Flash 200 1/8 - 1/200
+* Lens: Kodak Anaston 51mm f/4.5 - f/22
+The Kodak Pony 828 was the first Kodak Pony. Its 3 element front element focusing lens is mounted in a rigid lens mount. It has a film reminder dial on the top cover.
+{{br}}
 ==Pony 135==
-* Production: 1950-1954
-* Film format: 135
-* Shutter: Kodak Flash 200 1/25 - 1/200
-* Lens: Kodak Anaston 51mm f/4.5 - f/22
-==Pony 135 Model B==
 {{Flickr_image
 |image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmysmith/81294254/in/pool-camerapedia
 |image= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/43/81294254_bca82f77a2_m.jpg
 |image_align= right
-|image_text= Pony 135<br>first model B, 1950-54
+|image_text= Pony 135<br>first model, 1950-54
 }}
+* Production: 1950-1954
+* Film format: 135
+* Shutter: Kodak Flash 200 1/25 - 1/200
+* Lens: Kodak Anaston 51mm f/4.5 - f/22
+The Pony 135 is similar to the Pony 828. It uses the same lens/shutter combination mounted on a tube that can be collapsed into the camera body when not in use.
+{{br}}
+==Pony 135 Model B==
 * Production: 1953-1955
 * Film format: 135
 * Shutter: Kodak Flash 200 1/25 - 1/200
-* Lens: Kodak Anaston 44mm f/4.5 - f/22
+* Lens: Kodak Anaston 51mm f/4.5 - f/22
+{{br}}The camera's front panel is embossed with the words "Model B" in script. Other differences from the first model are apparently minimal.
 {{br}}
 ==Pony 135 Model C==
@@ Line 24: / Line 43: @@
 * Film format: 135
 * Shutter: Kodak Flash 300 1/25 - 1/300
 * Lens: Kodak Anaston 44mm f/3.5 - f/22
+{{br}}
+The Pony 135 Model C features a faster shutter and a shorter focal length lens in a rigid mount ala the Pony 828.
+{{br}}
 ==Pony II==
 * Production: 1957-1962
 * Film format: 135
 * Shutter: Single Speed
-* Lens: Anastar f3.9 EV 9.5 - 15
+* Lens: Kodak Anastar 44mm f3.9 EV 9.5 - 15
+{{br}}
+A very enigmatic camera, the Pony II utilizes Kodak's higher quality Anastar lens (4 elements in 3 groups, similar to a Tessar but with the rear element group reversed) in a rigid mount, but has only a single shutter speed.  The lens lacks traditional f/stops, but instead is marked with EV or [[exposure value]]s.  The top mounted film reminder dial of the Pony 135 models is replaced by a holder on the camera's back providing a place for Kodak film EV cards.
+{{br}}
 ==Pony IV==
 * Production: 1957-1961
 * Film format: 135
 * Shutter: Kodak Flash 250 B, 1.30 - 1/250
-* Lens: Anastar 44mm f/3.5 - f/16
+* Lens: Kodak Anastar 44mm f/3.5 - f/22
+{{br}}
+This camera was the zenith of Kodak's Pony line. The rigidly mounted lens is similar to the Pony II, but is nearly one-half stop faster. The four speed (plus bulb) shutter is calibrated in the more modern scale (1/30, 1/60, 1/125, and 1/250th second).  It is the only Pony model to feature an accessory shoe. The camera back mounted film card holder is similar to the Pony II.
-==Pony 828==
+{{br}} {{br}}
-* Production: 1949-1959
+In a well intentioned but probably unsuccessful attempt by Kodak to avoid scaring the customer with technical details, the top of the lens mount is marked with somewhat unique lens numbers (3.5 to 9 in half steps) and shutter numbers (5 to 8 in whole steps). These numbers are related to EV ([[exposure value]]s) numbers in that summing the lens and shutter values in use provides the EV number of that particular setting. That EV number can then be referenced to the (now rare) EV cards for each Kodak film type or to an appropriately marked exposure meter.  Fortunately for all concerned, conventional  shutter speeds and f/stops are somewhat inconveniently displayed on the underside of the lens mount. Engraved upside down, they can be read by rotating the lens towards one's self while holding the camera at chest level. Their use while the camera is mounted on a tripod is problematical, to say the least.
-* Film format: 828
-* Shutter: Kodak Flash 200 1/8 - 1/200
-* Lens: Kodak Anaston 51mm f/4.5 - f/22
-{{Flickr_image
-|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricksoloway/373874708/
-|image= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/373874708_16d33468b0.jpg
-|image_align= left
-|image_text= Pony 828
-}}
-The '''Kodak Pony 828 and 135''' were similar cameras - for [[828 film|828 roll film]] and [[35mm film]] - designed by [[Arthur H Crapsey]] for [[Kodak]].
-The 828 version was in production from 1949 to 1959, and the 135 from 1950  to 1961<ref>[http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/aa13/aa13.pdf Kodak.com's History of KODAK Cameras]</ref>.  There were several style revisions over these periods.
 {{br}}
@@ Line 62: / Line 74: @@
 == Bibliography ==
 === Original documents ===
-* Brian Coe, ''Kodak Cameras - The First Hundred Years'',  Focal Press, 1951
+* Brian Coe, ''Kodak Cameras - The First Hundred Years'',  Hove Foto Books, 1988
+* Original Kodak user manuals for the Pony 135 Model B, Pony II, and Pony IV
 [[Category:Bakelite]]

Changes: Kodak Pony 828/135

Revision as of 02:52, 21 May 2008

Contents

Pony 828

Pony 135

Pony 135 Model B

Pony 135 Model C

Pony II

Pony IV

References

Links

Bibliography

Original documents