Kodak Autotime Scales

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While looking at the offers on the web for VPK cameras, I noticed a newer VPK Autographic with the same ‘Autotime 5224′ on the shutter that I had seen and mentioned in an earlier post regarding my recently acquired non-autographic VPK. Suddenly it clicked ! (I know, I know) I had original, boxed sets in the basement of what I took to be repair/replacement shutter parts in their original boxes. They were part of an auction lot I won in early Spring of this year.

So, it is not a solid fact that non-autographic VPK’s all had this shutter front on them. They may have been original to some or all them, but also probably were available in later years as replacements for the scales in numerics and fitted to autographic models.

These scales were meant to allow amateur photogs to take images by simply matching observable criteria to the settings on the scales. See the images below for more complete information. I apologize for the poor quality of the scale images themselves. I used a scanner for these images.

Non-Autographic Kodak Vest Pocket VPK

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UPDATE – See this posting regarding the Autotime 5227 text mentioned here

I finally persisted and found a decently priced non-autographic version of the Kodak VPKs that I have been purchasing for the Meniscus lens itself. This is a purchase for collecting only. The VPK was sold in two production runs of body styles. According to Internet information, at about production serial number 200,000 the autographic feature was added. There were numerous lens varieties and finishes offered. Two of my autographic models also have plates on the rear indicating they were manufactured in Canada.

Looking at this copy from the front, on the lens is a word – Autotime and the number 5227. Text on the lens plate reads ‘Vest Pocket Kodak Patented Mar 4, 1902 Other Patents Pending’. The rear has no text at all, either on the case or access panel. The serial number on the tripod leg is 190XXX which would put my copy near the end of the non-autographic run. Generally, the consensus is that the original was made between 1912 and 1915 with the autographic introduced in 1915. Of course, there is no access door and stylus holder of the autographic series. A production estimate of 1,750,000 units in all styles is reported.

A quick look on eBay prior to this posting has a seller putting a BIN price of $225 for this model. There is another at $25 starting bid. I am happy with my purchase price

New M42 to EOS Adapter With User Changeable Custom Settings

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CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER ADAPTER INFORMATION ON MY BLOG

Today I received the user changeable adapter. The first hint that it wasn’t the ’standard’ chip was the default f1.4 rather than the f2.0 on the screen.

The directions say it can be used to set aperture value, focal length, calibration for front and back focus, and switch between AF/MF mode. I am only interested right now in the focal length and aperture – but the others I will play with later.

(eBay item #350132914444 – you have to ask for the new chip and pay a small premium for it.)

I quickly programed it by the use of my one right hand and my two left hands, both with two thumbs. In all, I was successful after the 16th attempt (I kept count on a stroke sheet). The first 15 were just getting used to the instructions. I finally got a handle on it when I tried the alternative method of entering the command mode using the AI SERVO mode.

Now I had an adapter set for 65mm focal length (EXIF info only) and f5.6. I mounted the old M42 lens body containing the VPK Meniscus lens and no aperture mechanism. This being the reason I wanted the adapter – the fixed aperture value.

The Sun was almost set, so I was able to shoot in AV mode against the Sun and every other direction and then to top it off, a shot at the side of the house in very dense shade. I shot with RAW and JPG (I was using the XTi).

Last week I did almost the same thing with my earlier f2.0 adapter and one half of the RAW were seriously dark to full black. The results tonight were very well exposed RAW in all shots. The EXIF showed the 65mm focal length, the aperture of f5.6 and the varying shutter speeds. AND it is also a focus confirming chip.

I am very happy overall and I will be ordering two more as soon as the pension check is deposited next week. This adapter is black anodized aluminum.

To prove it wasn’t a fluke, I dismounted the adapter and lens, mounted an AF lens, shot some with it and then remounted the MF adapter and lens. The settings were still there.

Now I have to wait for a decent day to go out and have some fun with this 90 year old lens.

A few new images

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CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER ADAPTER INFORMATION ON MY BLOG

I went out yesterday with the HawkEye 2A lens and the VPK meniscus lens. Both were used via an M42 to EOS focus confirming adapter. I visited the Fairmount Cemetery and the Erie Canal Park, both in Camillus, NY. There are pictures in both pages.

A New Chip Available For M42 to EOS Adapters

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CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER ADAPTER INFORMATION ON MY BLOG

I was looking for an M42 to EOS adapter that the seller would program with a custom aperture. There was one auction on eBay from a Hong Kong seller that alluded to being able to put aperture and focal length in. Using the ‘ask the seller a question’ route, the answer came back that there is a new chip available that allows the user to make changes in both the aperture and focal length information stored in the chip attached to the adapter. The price for the new chip added a minimal cost to the adapter with a generic f2.0. Also it makes slight mention of having an MF/AF option so when set to MF you can take a picture when the green focus LED is NOT lit. If set to AF, then you have to have focus confirmation before the shutter will fire. Of course I ordered one. I have no idea if there is a Nikon version available.

When I get the adapter with the new chip, I am going to try to set it for a focal length of 63mm and an aperture of 5.6. These are the general settings for the VPK meniscus lens. There is no aperture adjustment on the VPK lens assembly I put together. This should alert me, when in shutter priority mode, that the speed is too far afield; if it is, the f setting in the viewfinder of 5.6 will flash. Also, I will make sure it is set to MF in case I try some shots where the auto-focus might not work; as in low light, fireworks, moon images, etc. The focal length is only used as EXIF information.

I’ll put a posting in with my impression of the adapter after I give it a road test. If this works out, I will probably get an adapter for each of my ‘custom built’ M42/Kodak lenses.

A Few VPK Meniscus Lens Images Posted

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I was able to shoot some exterior shots with the VPK lens mounted on my Canon XTi via a focus confirmation M42 to EOS adapter. It was bright most of the time I was shooting, but cold and windy. The shots are in the VPK Meniscus page. The lens flare and softness are very obvious in them all.

CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER ADAPTER INFORMATION ON MY BLOG

I Never Learn

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The Bimat project is off another day at least. Today I went back to my favorite photography store, just to look. Right. I wound up with a set of macro rings for the FujiFilm S1 and three old 135mm lenses to be used as donor bodies for the vintage Kodak lenses I have on the workbench.

I took some images with the VPK Meniscus and the 2A HawkEye lenses. Getting used to focusing lenses that are in themselves soft focus will take some time. Hopefully the next couple days will have some Sun so I can try some exterior shots. The pictures (one from each lens) of the Amaryllis that just now opened in the kitchen window are in the HawkEye and VPG pages.

Vest Pocket Kodak Camera – VPK – First Result

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The first image from the VPK lens mounted on a Canon XTI via a focus confirming M42 adapter has been posted on the page. The forecast here for the next four days is rain, but I will probably try some indoor shots.

Meniscus Images

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Vest Pocket Kodak Camera – VPK – The Work Begins

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Today I removed the lens assembly from the VPK in the worst physical condition. I then disassembled a cheap, old 135mm M42 lens. The lenses, aperture and such met the trash can. Put back together, I have an M42 mount lens that has the twist helical focus system and no optics. Next will be determining where the VPK lens assembly will be positioned to allow infinity focus and I am hoping for some macro capability. According to Kodak information, the VPK has a 72mm focal length. This will hopefully allow for a built in lens hood to help cut down on sun caused flare as the lens has flare all by itself. Also, I hope for the original aperture blades to be operative, The shutter is, of course, useless and will be disabled.

Update March 5, 2009: I have started a page for images using this lens.

CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER ADAPTER INFORMATION ON MY BLOG

Meniscus Images

Vest Pocket Kodak Camera – VPK – The Beginning

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A couple of months ago I ran across a website containing a huge amount of photographs taken both with old cameras and modern DSLR’s with lenses taken from old cameras. The combination I like best is a Canon 350D or 5D DSLR and the meniscus lens from a Vest Pocket Kodak, commonly referred to as a VPK. A meniscus lens is a type using only one lens section, sometimes a single piece of glass and other times two pieces glued together. The one referred to here is uncoated, thus there is lens flare galore. Also it returns simply amazing bokeh !

I won’t go into all the ins and outs and history here, a quick online search will return many websites full of information. Here is a very good place to start:

Galactinus

There are two of these diminutive cameras on my desk. One made in Canada and the other in the USA. The best I can determine, both of these were made between 1915 and 1926 – the entire production run of the autographic version. I will be using an old M42 135mm lens assembly to allow focusing – something the original VPK did not have. As the cameras are very old, I’ll probably just remove the lenses and leave the rest intact as neat looking dust catchers. The meniscus version is identifiable by the apparent lack of a glass lens. The front of the lens assembly is a collar that minimizes the aperture, behind that are the aperture blades, next is the shutter, then finally the lens. If you can see glass at the lens board, it is not the meniscus lens version.

Update March 5, 2009 A page for the images has been started.

Meniscus Images