I’ve come into possession of a rather old camera...

[Tom Pinchenzo]

Hi All,

I’ve just come into possession of an Ensign Model no 1. I’ve worked out how some of it works (which, for a digital native was no easy feat!). It looks like there are three aperture settings: small, medium and large and what looks like a fairly rudimentary focus system consisting of a Portrait and ‘View’ setting (which just sets the lens at different distances from the body. There is also a waist-level style view finder, which it pretty cool. What I don’t understand is how you set the shutter speed (if you can at all!). I presume it takes 120 film. Any other advice about using this little thing before I put some film through it would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Tom

 

[dmb]

You have 3 shutter speeds I=instantaneous (which may originally have been somewhere around 1/30th to 1/60th but you would need to check) B=Bulb which should stay open as long as you press shutter and T=Time which should open on first press of shutter and closes on second press. Not sure if this model took 120 - will see if I can find out.

http://redbellows.co.uk/CameraCollection/HoughtonButcher/AllDistanceFoldingNo1_gen.htm

May be 120 as is 2 1/4 film or 620 - the difference being the spools the site above says E20 (Ensign's own designation) whicw would be 120 with a 2 1/4 by 3 1/4 image. (8 frames per film)

 

[Tom Pinchenzo]

You have 3 shutter speeds I=instantaneous (which may originally have been somewhere around 1/30th to 1/60th but you would need to check) B=Bulb which should stay open as long as you press shutter and T=Time which should open on first press of shutter and closes on second press. Not sure if this model took 120 - will see if I can find out.

Cheers David. I did wonder what that little lever did. They didn’t give you many options in terms of exposure back then did they - one shutter speed and three f-stops!

 

[dmb]

This is the manual for the model after yours

https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ensign/ensign_pocket_camera_2/ensign_pocket_camera_2.htm

You only have the speed 'I' which they suggest is around 1/25th - Apertures are not given number values but black and white film of the era was quite forgiving they suggest large for Normal lighting, medium for bright scenes and small for time exposures. Film speeds around today's 25 to 50 ISO were common and anything faster was premium.

 

[ancient_mariner]

I hate to think how many cameras like that my brother and I acquired at jumblesales in the 1960s, and subsequently 'disassembled'.

 

[Andysnap]

There are a couple of you tube videos on the all distance which are worth watching. It only takes 120 film and you get 8 shots of 6*9cm negatives and it would be a good idea to go into a very dark place and open the back of the camera whilst the bellows are extended and shine a torch into the back to check for light leaks.

Andy