After a period of delving, first into late 20th century consumer cameras, then early box cameras, followed by a simple point and shoot (P&S) I finally came across this Panasonic model which raised numerous questions about its origins. Its relative obscurity added to the mystery – I first wrote about it here.
It is a very well specified camera with auto-wind, -exposure, -flash and -focus. The lens is a 7 element, 6 component, 35-70 powered zoom and there is optional date imprinting. There are several modes available for the more experienced. Basically, though, it can be used as a simple P&S.My earlier article goes into more detail.
Round two
In the course of my first run with it, the finder stopped zooming and refuses to budge off 35mm (confirmed against another camera). This was accompanied by some grinding noises so something had gone amiss. It also seems to have produced a light leak, a diagonal stripe appearing across the top right corner of the image so the leak is at bottom left of the film gate. The stripe varies in brightness so is presumably affected by how long the camera is in strong light. The brightest examples show some gearing that can be seen in the bottom left corner of the film gate. It needs checking whether this occurs with it powered up. The zoom setting didn’t seem to make any difference at this point.
Having grown up in the 1940s with “make do and mend” following WWII, I had decided that the finder could be worked around using the frame lines as guides so just a mask was needed to combat the leak. This I made from the thin black interleaf paper from a 5×4 film package and seems to be working in most situations. The corner is trimmed because it was catching on something and I have subsequently trimmed back the edge.
Testing, testing!
To be reassured all was well now I did a test. With the remaining film from a roll of Rollei Superpan 200 loaded (the first length going into a 110 stripped to 16mm) I took several shots, each followed by a few minutes of sun bathing, powered up and down. There are only a couple of frames affected. Both are in portrait format and with a low sun over my left shoulder. There is nothing when zoomed to 70mm so I conclude that my modification is mostly effective and only at 35mm zoom, in portrait format and in very specific conditions will there be any problem.
The very slight remaining light leak only visible in portrait format and at the wide angle zoom setting.
I took these test shots with the camera on auto everything. Interestingly, the flash fired sometimes but not always when expected and the date is imprinted on all frames but one. There is considerable flare with the sun low and in front of the camera.
More results
These are from the remaining frames:-
A nice rendering with the sun more to one side,
Comment
I am very pleased I have been able to almost completely cure this particular problem with this very capable little camera. I need to work on the viewfinder hack though.
Even though I try not to accumulate cameras I shall keep this on the strength to use when I want to pop one in my pocket.
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