Keystone k-50 (1949)

[Jennifer Turnbull]

I just spent 20$ on a keystone k-50 16mm camera, it lacks a lens and magazine. I was wondering if anyone knew where I could buy a 16mm magazine that is compatible with the camera? and where to get 16mm film. all help is greatly appreciated. :)

[Dom Jaeger]

They stopped making 16mm magazine cartridges years ago, but some companies reload new stock into old magazines:

 

http://www.alangordon.com/s_filmcam16_mags.html

 

or re-sellers (sometimes at discount rates):

 

http://www.javaphoto.com/filmpage.html

 

You're a bit limited in stock choice because the magazines require double perforated film. They're also only 50 feet capacity, which even stretched out by filming at 16 frames per second will only give you 2 minutes.

 

I don't know for sure, but it's a good bet the camera takes standard C-mount lenses - they screw in with a 1 inch diameter thread. Plenty on ebay, though they're often wildly overpriced. It's often far cheaper to buy an old camera with a lens attached.

 

Keystone mostly made fairly low quality cameras, aimed at the cheap end of the amateur market. It's likely your camera's spring motor will slow down as it runs down, among other possible issues. (Though it might also run perfectly - I'm constantly amazed by how well some of these old spring-driven machines still work..) But considering the cost of film, processing and transfer (several times what your camera cost just for 50 feet), it might be wiser to spend a little more on a much better quality camera, like a Bolex H16, Bell & Howell Filmo 70 or Cine-Kodak K-100. Or even a Krasnogorsk K3. Still pretty cheap 16mm wind-ups and very retro-cool B) but using 100 ft spools and much more likely to give a good result.