in need of a hand held camera

[ww2photographer]

i am a ww2 british reenactor and am also doing a war correspondent setup sorta thing, i have a canon 4000d has a normal camera but for the sake of authenticity i am trying to find a ww2 (repro if possible) camera.
any suggestions on this?

[patterson]

How about a period correct camera and really peg authenticity meter? I work at a railroad museum and there are at least two members who are photographers that work with vintage cameras. They also do their own processing and developing. They’ve produced some great photographs that give the originals a run for their money. Food for though.

[ww2photographer]

Thanks for the tip. Do you know what websites/shops I could find them?
The reason I'm looking for a repro is that (as with a lot of other stuff) it tends to be cheaper.

[patterson]

I’ll ask my friends at the museum, but I’d research what kind of cameras were used in the 30’s and 40’s to start. Then, maybe look to eBay to get an idea on prices. The Kodak “brownie” comes to mind, but I’m not sure how good they were.

[patterson]

I spoke with my friend. He’s been heavily into photography for at least fifty years. He owns several vintage cameras and is well versed in their use. He’s gone over to digital because it’s easier and the options are endless. Older methods require lots of experience to master and they limit the user in number of exposures. They also require a large amount of time in camera operation and processing. In short, it’s a hassle. That’s his opinion.

The Kodak “brownie” box camera was a basic camera. It was a camera anyone could use. Think general purpose.

War correspondents used a couple of camera types that required more skill.
1. 35mm roll film type. Kodak Medalist and Leica Rangefinder are two popular examples. The Leica is a German camera and was widely used by the media prior to the outbreak of the war. They would still be a very commonly used camera regardless of what side you were on. The roll film type 35mm cameras were popular because they were very mobile as well as quick and relatively easy to operate.
2. 4x5 graphic types. Some iconic photos like the flag raising at Iwo Jima and images of D-day were taken with this type. These require the most skill and impose the greatest limitations on the user. Low number of exposures, set up, film changes, and very sensitive processing are but a few factors.

An easy comparison between the 35mm and the 4x5 graphic is like comparing an M-1 Garand to an 1858 Enfield muzzle loader.

A serviceable Leica 35mm can be found around $300-$500 and the film is still available as well as processing services. Kodak Medalists are still around as well, but they are described by my friend as “fussy” and film may be more difficult to source.

The recommendation is to go with a digital camera such as Fuji X100 series camera. It looks like a Leica 35mm Rangefinder, so from a distance, it won’t stand out. It has a fixed lens and you can use either the view finder or the screen. Price new $1200.00 USD. My friend owns one and bought a nice leather case for it. He swears by it and has been approached on several occasions by people asking if it was a vintage camera.
If you’re looking to portray an army photographer, it may be an entirely different story. US Army photographers, say Army Signal Corps, would have been using government issued equipment. I would imagine that would be much more restrictive in creating your impression.

[ww2photographer]

thanks for the information, i may start to invest in the vintage-looking camera then seeing as that looks to be the best option for me.

[fusilier1944]

The russians made a Leica copy branded as Zorki. They are all over eBay for reasonable prices. Significantly less than an original, German Leica. You could even get a parts camera or stripped body & hide a point and shoot digital camera inside.

[RISER]

Argus A2B are popular. Not too expensive. 35mm

camera-wiki.org/wiki/Argus_A2B