One of the standout features of the Kodak Pony 135 is its ease of use. The controls are straightforward, with a basic aperture and shutter speed dial. Loading film is relatively simple, and the camera’s manual nature encourages photographers to learn the fundamentals of exposure and focusing. This makes it a great educational tool for those new to film photography. (If you can find one.)

Despite its simplicity, the Kodak Pony 135 can produce surprisingly good images. The lens delivers decent sharpness and contrast, and the camera’s basic design means there are fewer elements to go wrong. It’s particularly well-suited for black-and-white photography, where its vintage look and feel can really shine.

Equipped with a 44mm f/3.5 Kodak Anaston lens, the Pony 135 offers decent image quality for its time. The lens is a triplet design, which means it has three elements in three groups. This setup provides good sharpness and contrast, especially when used with Kodak’s black-and-white and color films of the era. The shutter is a Kodak Flash 300 leaf shutter with speeds ranging from 1/25 to 1/300 seconds, plus a bulb mode for long exposures.

The camera uses a simple optical viewfinder for framing shots. Focusing is done manually using a scale focus system, which can be a bit challenging for beginners but adds to the vintage charm of the camera. The depth of field provided by the f/3.5 lens helps in achieving reasonably sharp images even with some focusing errors.

The Kodak Pony 135 is a delightful camera for anyone interested in exploring vintage film photography. Its straightforward design, combined with the nostalgic appeal of shooting with a mid-century camera, makes it a fun and educational tool. While it may not compete with more advanced cameras in terms of features or image quality, its charm and simplicity make it a beloved choice for film enthusiasts.