You may remember from a previous article where I received an Imperial Satellite II from my uncle along with the Satellite I27. With that first review, I said using it was a labor of love, and this experience has been no different. Let me explain.
The Improved Satellite 127
While the II was marketed as being improved from the previous 127 model, there’s nothing that I can see that really is different other than cosmetic changes such as the face plate and colors.
The Satelite II is very simple to use. You push down the plastic lever on the side to take the photo. It will give you 12 4×4 frames on 127 film.
There’s another lever located under the lens that pushes side to side to choose color or B&W. This lever operates the aperture and for B&W you get what looks like f11 and for color you get around f8. This was because back in the 1960s color film was very slow and therefore needed more light.
The top of the camera has a connection for a bulb flash not unlike the one you’d use in the Diana camera.
My Experience with the Imperial Satellite II
A couple years ago now, Kelsey and I went on a bike ride in our neighborhood and I brought the Satellite II along. It’s a plastic camera so I barely felt it hanging from my shoulder as we rode and I stopped to take snaps along the way. It was a breeze to shoot with.
However, this film curls like the hair on my head and was impossible to flatten on my 120 film holder. I even ordered special made holders from Italy for 127 film, but they did nothing to take these stubborn curls to task. However I managed to scan some of the photos by taping them to my flatbed Epson scanner.
My Results with the Imperial Satellite II
I can’t say I’m too happy with these results, and I even contemplated not sharing this review at all because I know it’s the film that is the issue not the camera. However, as always, I like to be up front with my experience.
The photos have several issues. First, the color film (Rera Chrome 100) above is obviously expired and is under exposed. That being said, the sun was setting so I’ll give it the benefit that maybe there wasn’t enough light. Normally, I would need to over expose the film but there is not any settings on this camera to do so.
Next, the monochrome film below appears to be, from my past experience, damaged by moisture. This film was also expired, so I don’t know if that affected the exposure at all.
There appears to be light leaks all down the sides of the rolls. I can’t tell if it was from the camera or the film, but there wasn’t any leaks with the color film.
I processed this roll in Kodak HC-110B, but it sat in the tank for a few days before I could process it.
The photos are out of focus because the film was so curly it was most likely not sitting flat behind the lens.
There are also mottled lines all over the photos which I have seen before on a roll of expired Fomapan that was in my refrigerator. I learned that moisture could cause this from improper storage. My guess is that I didn’t allow it to come to room temp long enough before going outside, and the humidity did this. However that part is a guess.
Final Thoughts
Despite these ugly marks on my photos, I wasn’t going to use another $13 roll in this camera. I am satisfied with the results I have for the purpose of this article. I wish I could have provided you with better examples, but I’ve been completely transparent about the circumstances. That way when you go to shoot with yours, you won’t make the same mistakes and you can prepare accordingly.
The main theme with these simple cameras is that it gives you that snapshot look of a family album from the 1950’s and 60’s. You’re not going to get great quality photos from a camera like this. You will get a certain look and will need to keep that in mind when going to shoot with it.
However, you won’t get the crazy look I got. This is just badly damaged film. You will get the out of focus, haziness that these cameras tend to give. The thing it has going for it is that the negative is larger than a 35mm frame. Which can get some good shots if you have a good roll of 127. Probably your best bet would be to cut your own roll from a 120 roll of film.
It is a monetary decision you would have to decide on for yourself, whether it is worth it to you or not. Otherwise the camera is a nice decoration from mid 20th century life.
What do you think? Would you shoot with the Satelite II? Have you ever used 127 film and scanned it? Leave me some tips on how you did.
Until next time, stay motivated and keep shooting.
I shoot a couple rolls of 127 each year in my Kodak Brownie Starmatic. I often shoot expired stock but lately have been shooting the fresh Rera Pan films. I don’t love the film’s look, but at least it doesn’t suffer from degradation.
Have you seen anything like I had here in my Rera pan? And don’t scan it yourself or send it out?