I have used cameras that were build in the 50s, but then it was still
the 50s when I used them.  Ok I used them somewhat into the 60s as
well.

My camera was a cheap TLR that was really only good for BW film, it had
one of those dark red windows on the back to show you what frame you
were on.  If I remember right it was a 6x6 camera, I know it took 120
film in any event.  about the only prints I got from it were contact
prints, very small.

At this point in time there is no way I would want to use and old
Instamatic, but I am glad you are having fun with it.

Scott

Took these last weekend on a ride on my new bike with a late 1940's 35mm
welti folder using some out of date 200 speed kodak print film. The first
was from the blue ridge parkway in NC, the second from deals gap/lake
fontana near Tenn/NC border. With some better film would get even better
results as the little camera has a zeiss tessar lens. I'm not sure how well
an instamatic worked even when new?

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/937049/ninja5.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/937049/ninja8.jpg

I have a old Kodak Brownie put away some where, ever tried to find film for
that, found it at a salvation army thrift store, it seemd to still work,
with flash bulb unit also with it, paid a dollar for it, never could find
film for it, local camera store was unable to find any, thought it would
have been fun to try it out, but alas no film, but I am keeping the camera,
may be worth something one day.

My brother took me white water rafting on the Colorado 5 years ago.  I
took a trusty SRT 101 and got excellent results.  I even have some
mercury batteries in the fridge....LOL

Eventually, as digital technology improves, everyone will be taking
perfectly exposed photos (which is not to say 'perfect photos'),
there'll be trillions of them on display on the Web and lots of
amateurs, as opposed to mere gadget nerds, will get bored and return to
old equipment and film, if there's any still around. Of course they'll
have to learn how to expose without TTL metering, focus manually, zoom
with their feet and maybe even process their film, but that will be all
the fun.  Photography will be challenging again. Think of it -- no dust
on the sensor, no batteries, no flimsy construction, no thousand-dollar
3.5-5.6 zooms.

I carry a Canon IIIA in my briefcase. With its 50mm F1.9 collapsible
lens it's as small as a point & shoot. No meter, no battery, no flash
synch, impossible film loading, a dim viewfinder for my aging eyes, but
a joy to shoot.

RRJ