35mm camera half frame conversion. Updated with photos.

I recently picked up a Vivitar IC 400 Focus free camera at a thrift store for $2. I was planning to use its huge viewfinder for another project but as I was taking it apart, I noticed I can easily convert this camera into a half-frame camera! I’m a big fan of half-frame cameras so I ended up keeping the camera and sparing it from destruction. I haven’t tested the camera yet, but in theory it should work. It should work with any other camera with a similar design.

Step 1 Taking it apart.

Take the Vivitar IC 400 camera apart. On the back of the camera, there are two screws on the left holding it together. After removing them you can take apart the front and back of the camera’s case by pulling it apart from the left side.
Remove the film counter dial and the viewfinder housing. All we need is the film advance wheel. Be careful to not lose the spring under it.

Comments

[vonnchow]

sorry for asking this dumb question, but could you further explain on how i could make those plastic pieces from a DVD cover? thank you!

[RoboRay]

Just updated it with new photos.

[Nano_Burger]

Wow, I really like this! I have no particular need to save film, but I like the idea of having 72 exposures without changing film.

It is nice to see someone taking time to figure this out and document it so clearly.

Do you think it would be possible to modify this or any other toy camera to be able to switch from half frame to full frame and back on the same roll?

[RoboRay]

Thanks! It should work on other simple cameras with similar design. Some cameras only use gears and that makes it impossible, unless you know how to change the gear ratios. I opened the walgreens forever camera and the design is different. It's possible to convert it to half-frame, but it would require a lot of work and timing. You would also need to add to tiny pegs and also change the shape of the shutter cocking lever. I don't think that camera is worth all the work. I checked out your instructables and they're great! I wonder if your vivitar wide and slim can be modded too, it looks a lot smaller than my camera!

[thearchitect]

Fantastic mod! Well done and documented! Thank you!

K.