C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile35mm Compact
Robot IIa1951
- Format
- 35mm
- Mount
- robot-bayonet
- Years
- 1951–1953
- Weight
- 375 g
- Shutter
- 1/25s – 1/500s
The Robot IIa (1951) is a spring-motor-driven 35mm camera producing 24×24mm square frames on standard 35mm film, manufactured by Otto Berning & Co. in Düsseldorf, Germany. It is a transitional model: mechanically close to the prewar Robot II (1938) while incorporating minor postwar refinements, and sharing production overlap with the Robot Star (1952) that would succeed it.
Reference
Find film for your Robot IIa
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Fuji Superia 400
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Before you buy used
- **Spring motor** — wind fully and fire a sequence of 8–10 frames; the motor should drive smoothly through without jamming.
- **Shutter speeds** — test the full range; postwar focal-plane shutters can drift after decades of storage.
- **Robot cassette requirement** — confirm film loading method; standard 35mm cartridges may require an adapter.
- **Lens bayonet** — verify lens mounts and unmounts without play.
- **Provenance** — small production run; verify model designation through body markings (IIa should be marked on the top plate).
About this camera
The Robot IIa was the short-lived postwar bridge between the wartime Robot II and the polished civilian Robot Star — a transitional spring-motor 24×24mm camera produced in small numbers in the early 1950s.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What film does the Robot IIa use?
- The Robot IIa shoots 35mm film.
- What lens mount does the Robot IIa have?
- The Robot IIa uses the robot-bayonet mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Robot IIa offer?
- The Robot IIa's shutter speeds range from 1/25s to 1/500s.