Camera Modifications Archives

That time I “half-framed” a cute Kodak Flash Bantam camera (Part 3 of 3)

By Dave Powell / April 18, 2023 / Mods, DIY & Lens Adapting, Processes, Tutorials & Guides, That time I shot with a... / 4 Comments

When Part 2 of this three-part series went online, reader Stephen Meese made a comment that said it all:

“Wait, you experimented with a different film format, AND shot without a meter, AND shot with expired film, AND you’re developing your film using an experimental method? That’s a bold move Cotton!”

He had an impressive series of “ANDs” there… and I added one more! The last time I developed my own film was in 1980, and 43 years on, I seriously needed to relearn the art of slipping 35mm film into Nikkor reels.

That Time I “Half-Framed” a cute Kodak Flash Bantam camera (Part 2 of 3)

By Dave Powell / February 21, 2023 / Mods, DIY & Lens Adapting, That time I shot with a... / 4 Comments

Part 1 of this three-part mini-series detailed how I converted a lovely little Kodak Flash Bantam camera to shoot half-frame images. It was fun and (more-or-less) easier than expected. This part describes what followed– my:

Half-frame winding strategy
Somewhat simple film-loading procedure and
Shooting techniques

That time I “Half-Framed” a cute Kodak Flash Bantam camera (Part 1 of 3)

By Dave Powell / February 14, 2023 / Mods, DIY & Lens Adapting, That time I shot with a... / 10 Comments

I’ve long wanted a half-frame 35mm camera. Doubling one’s images per roll is especially great now that film costs more. I’m an inveterate tinkerer, though, and preferred to convert an inexpensive (but decent) “full-frame” camera, rather than buy a “real” half-frame. But what camera should I tackle? Ideally, it would be:

Pocketable
Well-built
Fully mechanical
Blessed with a nice lens
Easily (and reversibly) converted and
Fun to shoot

Baby’s in Black – Swapping Body Plates on the Autoreflex T3 – By Bob Janes

By Bob Janes / November 8, 2022 / Mods, DIY & Lens Adapting / 4 Comments

The first camera I owned and used extensively was a Konica Autoreflex T3; a real brick of a camera. I was always a big advocate for the T3, and used it extensively for 20 years. In recent years the T3 has started to be recognised as a minor (heavyweight) classic.

About 15 years ago I was able to pick up a copy of the revised nT3 version, which featured split-image and microprism focus aids, a squared off pentaprism and a viewfinder blind. Both cameras featured in my 35mmc review of the Autoreflex T3.

Canon Sure Shot M Mini-Review & Auto-Flash Disable Modification

By Hamish Gill / March 1, 2021 / Mods, DIY & Lens Adapting, Point & Shoot / 6 Comments

Just before Christmas I spotted a rather injured looking Canon Sure Shot M (otherwise known as the Canon Prima Mini) in a second hand shop in town. I’ve looked at these cameras a few times – mostly because they look quite nice and are quite small. This one didn’t look as nice, to be fair, but it was only £5, so I thought it worth a punt. As it turns out, it’s knackered nature would make it the perfect candidate for modifying/hacking it so it would never automatically flash.