Lomopedia: Falcon Miniature

9

Introduced in 1939, the Falcon Miniature (also called Falcon Deluxe Miniature) was a 127 film camera manufactured by Utility Manufacturing Company in New York.

Falcon Deluxe Miniature © Coleccionado Camaras via Flickr, Image used under Creative Commons license

Three designs, mainly modeled after the 35 mm Argus A, were made for this classic 1940s camera. It was a simple camera with a Bakelite body, fitted with a 50 mm Graf lens, and had fixed focus, fixed aperture, and a single shutter speed of 1/25 and Bulb mode. However, since it takes half-frame photos and has a compartment for an extra film roll, many camera enthusiasts and collectors seek to add this quirky shooter in their collection.

Photos via Camerapedia

Photos Taken by Our Community Members

Credits: alburnkat

Technical Specifications

Film: 127 film roll
Picture size: half-frame, 3 × 4 cm
Lens: Graf 50 mm
Aperture: fixed aperture
Focusing: fixed focus
Shutter: simple spring rotary shutter, one speed 1/25 +B; setting: Time and Instant, lever on the lens-shutter barrel
Cocking lever and shutter release: by the same lever, on the lens-shutter barrel
Viewfinder: simple optical finder
Winding knob: on the top plate
Flash PC socket: none
Cold-shoe: none
Self-timer: none
Back cover: removable, w/ two red windows; opens by the latches on the sides of the camera
Tripod socket: none
Strap lugs: none
Body: Bakelite
Weight: 148 g
Serial no. none

All information for this article was sourced from Camerapedia and Camera Wiki.

written by plasticpopsicle on 2014-03-27 #gear #lomopedia #review #plastic-camera #bakelite #1940s #half-frame-camera #127-film #lomopedia #falcon-miniature

9 Comments

  1. ihave2pillows
    ihave2pillows ·

    Ha! Looks like this could be the inspiration for the design of the Lomo Rocket Sprocket :-P @plasticpopsicle are you writing the whole lomopedia by yourself? That's an epic project! Respect!

  2. plasticpopsicle
    plasticpopsicle ·

    @ihave2pillows I am convinced that it is the design inspiration for the Sprocket Rocket! Yes, I am currently in charge of this series, and I've been having lots of fun and learning so much from researching and writing about all these analogue lovelies! Thank you so much for your appreciation! :D

  3. alburnkat
    alburnkat ·

    Hello, Thanks for using my photos as an example of this little cutie, but a heads up would have been nice, so I could have enjoyed your article right away. :-) I'm looking forward to shooting with it again soon.

  4. alburnkat
    alburnkat ·

    @clickiemcpete Thanks Peter for making this possible.

  5. clickiemcpete
    clickiemcpete ·

    @alburnkat, you are welcome! :)

  6. clickiemcpete
    clickiemcpete ·

    There were quite a few versions of this and similar designs such as the Spartus Miniature, the Waldorf Mini and many others. Most were made by the same two companies but had different nameplates and sometimes slightly different body designs. With the exception of the Spartus 35 almost all were 127 roll film cameras. They are tons of fun to shoot and my understanding is that a German company will be releasing some fresh rolls of 127 roll film this summer. There is supposed to be a black and white and also a slide film I believe...Ebay is a also a good source for 127 films. There are some Efke rolls sometimes from a seller in Eastern Europe and also some Rollei rolls from an Australian seller. I have bought from both of them and have rolls in the freezer....and there are a couple of rolls of Aerochrome spooled on 127 from Dean Beneci in Germany left on Ebay every week until he runs out.

  7. plasticpopsicle
    plasticpopsicle ·

    Hello @alburnkat, sorry for the late response, and thank you for sharing your Falcon photos with us! Please do let us know how your photos turn out the next time you shoot with it! And thanks for the info as well, @clickiemcpete! :D

  8. grazie
    grazie ·

    I have this and thanks again to @clickiemcpete ! this and the spartus 35 may have been the predecessors of the sprocket Rocket.

  9. iamtheju
    iamtheju ·

    Lomography should make a Sprocket Miniature! A little 35mm square/half-frame camera that still shows the sprockets. It could be like a sequal to the Diana Mini with a smoother shutter and better viewfinder.

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