Скачать или смотреть Purma Special 127 Film Camera Review and Tutorial

Purma Special – A Unique 127 Film Camera

The Purma Special is a fascinating 127 film camera from the late 1930s, designed with simplicity and innovation in mind. Manufactured in Aberdare, Wales, between 1936 and 1951 (with a pause during WWII), this compact camera was an entry-level model aimed at young photographers, particularly members of the Brotherhood of British Scouts.

This lightweight camera features a Bakelite body and one of the earliest uses of clear plastic in a camera component—the viewfinder lens. The Purma Special lacks an integrated light meter and flash synchronization, reinforcing its status as a basic but functional photographic tool.

One of its most unique elements is the gravity-armed shutter, an engineering marvel that determines shutter speed based on the camera’s orientation:

Holding the camera level results in a default 1/150th second shutter speed.
Tilting the camera downward increases shutter speed to 1/450th second as gravity aids the mechanism.
Tilting the camera upward slows the shutter to 1/25th second, as the mechanism works against gravity.

For a deeper dive into how this ingenious shutter works, check out the detailed drawings in the Mike Eckman article linked in the video description.

The Purma Special was one of the first two cameras produced by Purma Cameras, alongside the Purma Speed. It was distributed by R.F. Hunter and marketed as a simple, fun-to-use camera. The square 3x3 format meant users didn’t have to worry about image orientation when selecting shutter speeds. Despite its simplicity, it boasted a Beck f/6.3 lens, a mid-tier lens from a respected British manufacturer.

Production continued until 1951, when the Purma Special was succeeded by the Purma Plus. Purma ceased operations in 1959.

To load film, insert a 127 film roll, ensure proper threading onto the take-up spool, and advance until the first frame number appears in the red window. Since the Purma Special was designed for orthochromatic films, green window inserts were included to prevent light leaks when using panchromatic film. If you don’t have these, covering the red windows with tape when not in use is recommended.

The lens is fixed-focus from 12 feet to infinity, but original accessories included auxiliary close-focus lenses for portraits and macro shots. These attachments allowed for:

18-inch close-ups
3.5–5.5 ft portraits
5–7.5 ft mid-range portraits
A later 24-inch close-up lens (potentially post-WWII)

Additional accessories included a lens hood, contrast filters (yellow, blue, and green), and a shutter-locking lens cap to prevent accidental exposures.

Operating the Purma Special is straightforward: advance the film, compose through the viewfinder, and press the shutter release. Since the camera has no focusing controls, ensuring proper subject distance (12 ft or more) is crucial.

To create a double exposure, simply press the shutter again without advancing the film. While this isn’t a built-in feature, the manual film advance allows for creative multiple exposures.

The Purma Special remains a unique and historically significant camera, offering a glimpse into early compact photography and the clever engineering of mid-century British cameras.
(NArrative written by AI)

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Video Index:
0:00 - Intro
0:08 - Purma Special Tutorial Walkthrough Video Manual
7:02 - Tips for using the Purma Special
10:27 - Purma Special Features – Top
10:59 - Purma Special Features – Front
11:11 - Purma Special Features – Back
11:21 - Purma Special Features – Bottom
11:34 - Purma Special Feature – Inside
12:12 - Loading and Unloading Film in the Purma Special
16:50 - How to Read Lens Markings on the Purma Special
18:01 - Taking a Photo with the Purma Special
19:44 - Taking a Double Exposure with the Purma Special

References:
http://www.vintagephoto.tv/purma.shtml
https://retinarescue.com/purma.html
http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/sit...
https://www.analog.cafe/r/purma-a-spe...
https://mikeeckman.com/2021/06/purma-...
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publi...
http://www.artdecocameras.com/cameras...
https://casualphotophile.com/2021/04/...
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Purma#:~:...
McKeown, James, McKeown, Joan. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras 2005/2006. McKeown, Grantsburg, Wisconsin, 2005.

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