828 Day

[Philip]

I keep sheepishly waking up after important film-use and alt-film days (most recently Argust 18th but including 110 days and so on) and realising I forgot. Again.

In three days time, 28 August, it will be World 828 Day. I have taken down my Kodak Flash Bantam 828, a marvel of solid, simple technologgy, and have determined to be ready on Tuesday to take pictures with it.

My technique with the Bantam is to respool regular 35mm film on the 828's right-hand spool (I luckily do have two), and -- with the red window on the back carefully light-sealed with tin-foil and sticky-tape -- to tape the end of the film to the (left-hand) take-up spool. All this in the dark, of course.

And then, having already figured out that three half-turns of the take-up spool will go from one frame to another, I'll take pictures.

. . . If I don't forget again!

I recommend it to anyone else with an 828 camera. 35mm is the same width as 828, but your images will spill over into the sprocket area. Here are two pictures I took using my Bantam 828 in 2010:

[alexvaras]

I love that camera, it is sooooo cool that probably this autumn-winter I will go for one, just for showing up is that ektar 5 or 4 elements?

Ops, I mixed up with the Special XD, that's the one I want

I will send you a reminder through flicker Philip.

[Philip]

Mine has the Kodak Anastar f/4.5 48mm lens. From the reflections, I'd guess it's a four-element lens.

Thanks -- I'll probably need the reminder!

[PFMcFarland]

Well, I'm either going to have to dig out my boxes of collectibles, or find that other spool I have loose around hear. I've got a brown Bakelite "Photo Master" with the "Rollax 50mm" lens. At least I know where my changing bag is. Thanks for the reminder.

PF

[Philip]

"If it wasn't for real bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all."


I loaded the film in my Flash Bantam and yesterday carried it with me everywhere I went. I took about eighteen pictures before I started to suspect I had not got the film taped properly to the take-up spool. The film *should* have finished but the winder kept turning . . . Today, August 29th, I took a few more pictures, in failing hopes.

I took the camera into a dark room again and my fears were justified. The film had not even started moving off the supply spool.

In honour of the lost 28th, I will take pictures, hopefully registering them on film, tomorrow, the 30th.

[PFMcFarland]

I did you one better. That Photo Master I was going to use is a 127 camera! I realized my mistake as I was loading it in the changing bag. I tried to get some exposures anyway, but the spools slipped from the tension. There may be one photo, but it won't be framed very well because of the misread of the format. I looked at the inside of the camera back, and there it says in nice raised numbers "4 x 6.5". I've just been too busy to even think about what I'm doing photography wise. That, and getting older fast.

PF

[Philip]

I raise my glass atcha!

[LarryD]

I really feel much better reading this.

[Philip]

Well, there were images on the roll I took in my Kodak Bantam 828. I can't say they were anything more than that. Images.

I posted the result, or at least two frames:

International 828 Film Day results by Felip1, on Flickr

This was Fuji 200 film (shot at about ISO 60 because it expired in April 2001).

It is a lovely camera to use and, when it is not Aug 28th, I think I'll use it again.

Philip

[LarryD]

I will look for another 828 camera. Nice.