Ansco Color Clipper

This month's camera is the Ansco Color Clipper. This example was in excellent condition. It came with the original box that included the case, strap, and flash unit. I love the look of this medium format (120 film) camera. The metal body is painted moss green with a wrinkled paint finish. The lens portion of the camera collapses back into the camera when not in use. The shutter release bar is anodized red. The lens can be adjusted for zone focusing. On my example, turning the focus ring doesn't feel like it's doing anything. There's not a lot of resistance but the photos I've taken have proven to me that it is actually focusing (or not focusing as the case may be!). The only other control is the color or b&w selection below the lens.

The camera is very basic. You load the film, set the camera for either color or black & white film, extend the lens (by pulling out on the side indentations), compose your shot, focus, and depress the shutter bar. The bar remains collapsed until you wind to the next frame. It's designed to do this as a way to prevent double exposure. I like this feature. If you are into double exposure photography, you can easily lift the shutter bar back up and this will allow you to take a second exposure on the same frame.

I've had this camera for awhile. I think it's fun and easy to use. I can tell you that the flash is pretty harsh and lead me to create the hashtag #flashbulbsendfriendships. It's blinding. I stocked up on plenty of old flashbulbs so I can offend people for quite some time. Just be aware that using this camera with the flash instantly turns you into that crazy person with an old timey camera. (Note: I didn't end up using the flash unit for any of this month's pictures. But I carried the flash unit around with me just in case.)

Despite its lack of controls, I really like the simplicity of this medium format camera. The fact that you only need to remember to set your focus means that you can quickly compose and snap your photo. Although I'll admit that I'm pretty deliberate when I'm taking pictures so I'm just as comfortable with a "complicated" camera.

I shot these pics on expired Kodak VR-G 100 film from 1988. Processed at home using the Unicolor C-41 Kit. Scanned on an Epson V550 scanner.














Next month's camera: Ansco Titan 20 folding camera

introduction

I knew it was a bad idea to count up the number of film cameras I own. I thought I had maybe 12 and had a great idea of using a single film camera each month for an entire year. As it turns out, I actually own 18 vintage film cameras. 

So I've decided to spend the next year and a half using these cameras and sharing my results here. I’m not setting any rules regarding film (black and white? color?) or how many pictures I can take in any given month. My only rule will be that I will only carry one single camera for the entire month.

The Line-Up:

Manual Cameras:

Agfa Solinette

Agfa Isoflash Rapid C

Canon Demi EE17 (half frame)

Medium Format:

Ansco Color Clipper (w/flash)

Petri

Ansco Titan

Franka Solida III

Zeiss Ikon Ikoflex 1b

SLR’s:

Sears TLS

GAF L-17

Konica Autorex (full and half-frame)

Rangefinders:

Olympus XA

Konica Auto S

Chinon 35 EE II

Vivitar 35ES

Yashica Electro 35 CC

Ricoh 500G

Fujica 35 EE

I will try to mix it up from month to month but—due to the disproportion of certain camera styles—this won’t be mathematically possible. Actually, I think I’ll shoot these cameras in alphabetical order because it’s a pretty good mix that way.