ISO Question.

[alapin]

I am looking at modifying a Ansco Readyflash 620 film camera. There is no way to adjust the ISO. This is a late 50's or early 60's basic fix len camera. So the question is, How will this effect the photos? Seeing that I will not be able to set a film ISO. In other words if I use differ films with differ ISO's what do you think will happen. Or does it matter, since this camera was unable to adjust ISO anyway.
I know this may sound a little(Little he said) strange.

Alapin

[heartseye]

ISO's were quite slow by todays standards.......The camera was likely designed for around 80 iso.......but the shutter has likely slowed since those years.....so put 100 iso in it and all will be fine....Bob

[kgphoto]

If you can adjust the aperture and shutter speeds, then it won't matter. just use a light meter and run a test to calibrate the camera. I am unfamiliar with this model. IF it is a fixed exposure camera, then I wouldn't bother with it.

[alapin]

Heartseye, I agree with you on ISO somewhere around 80 and iso 100 would be good. I haven't used this camera since early 70's. Took many of pictures with it, but can't remember what iso was for the film. Hoping to be able to use any iso.

kgphoto, aperture and shutter basic old type. That mean aperture is a hole roughly the size of f8 in the wall and the shutter is a small metal plate covering it. Pull shutter lever down and plate moves out of the way.

Am looking into opening aperture hole to around a f1.4 to f2 size and adding a round wheel with varies size holes for f stops, so I can set aperture. Shutter a whole different problem and I may have to leave pretty much as is, working on it. Lens is plastic will change to a 1:2.0 or 1:4.5 lens.

Here a a image of the camera.

[kgphoto]

alapin,

Thanks for sharing the pic and increasing my education. I guess for a fun project, it is OK, but I am more about the highest quality picture possible.

I once bought a POlaroid 110B camera and took several good pictures using type 55 film that give a positive and a negative before I mounted the Rodenstock lens it came with on a lens board and used it on my first 4x5 until I could buy more lenses.

I have a friend in Northern California who is always using old cameras like the Diana and homemade pin hole's to get different effects.

[heartseye]

lol....if you enlarge the opening further, the image quality will go from poorish to utterly vile. Could be interesting!!! Cheers, Bob

[alapin]

kgphoto

I agree with you on seeking the highest quality picture. I will then use one of my 35mm or medium format cameras. This is just a fun project for these old and golden years, which I am enjoying.
Thanks for your responses.

heartseyes

If I don't enlarge the opening, when I install the wheel with the f stops cut out in it, there will not be enough light to expose the film correct. I am using the shutter, a piece of metal, to cover the openings. The wheel with the f stops will allow me to set the aperture. The only problem is how I will set the speed of the shutter.
Thanks for your responses

[kgphoto]

I think Hearteyes point is that the relatively small aperture provides the most sharpness possible with that camera. Due to the plastic lens it will only get softer as you open up.

[alapin]

kgphoto

My fault, I fell to mention that when I change the lens, to f1.4 or f2.0, it would be a glass lens and not plastic. What I am trying to do is take a fix aperture and shutter camera and made it manual.

[blumesan]

Either you have a sentimental attachment to this camera or a burning desire to test your abilities to convert a sows ear into a silk purse. If the latter then, IMHO, your time would be better spent beginning with something that would better reward your efforts. There are lots of oldies but goodies floating around that a talented craftsman could convert to really good shooters.

[alapin]

blumesan

You are right that I do have a sentimental attachment to this camera. You are also right in that there are lots of oldies but goodies which would be better rewarding of my efforts. This is just one of several cameras I am working on.

This is one of the first cameras I every own. This camera along with a Brownie were the means by which I got into photography more than 50 years ago. This sows ear has provided many of, not spectacular, good photos.