Camera Bots

We all have those toys that we fondly remember from our childhood. Birthday presents and Christmas gifts that imprinted on our young psyche. But there are also those toys that we half-remember, that we saw that one time in the window, or at a friends house. Fleeting memories that stick with you that captured your imagination. That’s what my collecting has been these days – trying to figure out what those half-remembered toys of my youth were.

Enter Camera Bots. I know I saw these in gumball machines as a kid, and most recently I had the green camera from the Creatures from The Stars Gumball machine backer.

Here is the full set of Camera Bots, in their original packaging. This would have been stuffed in a gumball prize machine as the display of what you could possibly win for .50 cents.

The copyright says “D.V.S.”, probably come kind of vending machine service. But these are actually knockoffs of a Bandai gashapon line called High Performance Camera Robo Great Photress / グレートフォトラス from 1982. (Thank you SpaceRunaway).

The originals came in earth tones like brown and green, but these knockoffs came in different bright colors. Each robot was available in one of the following colors – red, white, yellow, blue or green.

They don’t have individual names, so I will identify each one by camera type. Keep in mind these came out in 1982, so there won’t be any modern cameras.

1. 110 Camera

This wide camera was very popular in the 80s, I used to have one that I would smuggle into concerts. The transformation is simple, but the arms fall off easily and the legs don’t like to stay extended.

2. 8mm Movie Camera

This one looks like an old 8mm movie camera, maybe a Yashika. It’s molded in white and has a weird antena on top – maybe a microphone? The legs need to be disassembled to form the robot mode. Note that the plastic has discoloring – it’s just crappy plastic.

3. 8mm Film Camera

This is another hand-held 8mm film camera of unknown origin. In this one the entire handle section needs to be removed and reversed to become the legs. I like the little stubby gun-hands.

4. Polariod Instant Camera

This one transforms into a sort of robotic tank fortress. The parts do not like to stay on this one at all.

5. Twin Lens Reflex Camera

This boxy camera has an interesting transformaton with wing-like arms. It does a lot with a compact size.

6. 35mm SLR camera

This is the more traditional style camera that used the 35mm roll film. This one is interesting as the lens splits in half to come off and become the feet. The parts are VERY small.

7. 35mm with flash attachment

Another 35mm camera, this time with a flash attachment. The arm armor is supposed to slide up to reveal the arms, but there’s no friction to hold it in place.

8. Flash Attachment

Saving the best for last, this flash attachment can connect to the yellow SLR camera, but also has a great robot mode. It’s an intricate transformation that results in a cool rolling robot.