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ferny
06-06-2010, 02:37 AM
Got myself one of these now.

http://www.visibleimage.net/optical/hardware4/images/bencini%20comet-s.jpg

Loads of them around and it cost me less than £5, including postage. It arrived in a jiffy bag and when I started to play with it I found the focus doesn't work properly. So within half an hour of having it in my hand it was apart to find out what was up. I expect to be able to sort it out. If I can't, well, it was only a fiver. :)

Bencini Comet S, 127 roll film camera, c1950

The Bencini Comet S is a handsome but very simple camera made almost as a single aluminium casting and mirror polished. It takes 16 frames sized 32 x 40mm on 127 roll film and originates from Milano, Italy. The controls are limited to focus and the ability to swap the shutter from instant to B settings, the aperture being fixed. The Comet S was made in at least two styles with the name on the front or top as in our example, which shares much commonality with the Comet II. The camera came with a screw in lens cap, probably fairly essential as the shutter assembly is fairly sloppy and light is likely to leak past. This camera was donated to the collection in April 2006 by Mr. F. R. Garvock.

Body No. N/a
Shutter, over centre self energizing, I (approx 1/50th), B only
Lens, Single meniscus Focal length approx 60mm and f/7
http://licm.org.uk/livingImage/Bencini_Comet.html

Terri
06-06-2010, 09:30 AM
ha! Sounds like the Italian Holga!

ferny
06-08-2010, 03:43 AM
Pfff, Holga???

Actually, it seems to take nice photos;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steevithak/sets/72157613109247270/


I popped into the local camera shop and asked about 127 film. Apparently you can't get it now. He seemed surprised when I told him I'd found a site selling two brands.

Anyhoo, I found out the focusing was ****ed. On inspection the thread for the lens was stripped, bent and knackered. So a new one got made. Just about to put it back together.

Matt Needham
06-08-2010, 08:54 AM
There is info on who is making new 127 film and who is cutting down other brands to that size on the wiki page. Scroll down to production. I think you'll find most labs consider it discontinued, although it should fit in the 120/220 cassettes that the processing machines use (at least if they are the same as back when I was working in a lab 10+ years ago). If the lab uses reels to develop you'll be out of luck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/127_film

Another link

http://toybox.twisted.org.uk/~moondog/127/

ferny
06-08-2010, 11:17 AM
Cheers, Matt. I'll take a proper look later.

Here's where I was going to get mine from;
http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=229
and;
http://www.silverprint.co.uk/ProductByGroup.asp?PrGrp=2263

It'll be b&w so I'm going to develop it myself. Postage is a bit of a bitch though so I might pop into their shop next time I'm in London which should be in a couple of weeks. Unless I get lucky and get sent to that area of London and I'm able to nip in.

Terri
06-08-2010, 07:48 PM
Pfff, Holga???

Well, it does come right out and mention a sloppy shutter and light leaks, so sure. :big grin:

But I agree your biggest challenge will be working with the film. If you've got a nearby source, that's great! I'm curious to see what this little guy will give you.

ferny
06-10-2010, 12:39 AM
Foocked thread making the lens wonky;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/bencini/jpeg-1.jpg

New thread in place (four start thread) and old insert;
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v153/ferny/darkroom/bencini/jpeg-4.jpg

Jeff Jarboe
06-10-2010, 11:24 AM
also

http://www.macodirect.de/

http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/

ferny
06-11-2010, 12:18 AM
Excellent, Jeffy, Jeffy Jeffintons. How did you find those?