I just got one today and have been reading up on the net about them. But I want to know what some of you do for film and stuff. I read about adapting or re-rolling different types of film. Mine is a 2A model C, which is from the late 20's early 30's. This seems to be in working order, just need to clean the lens. I hope to have it ready this weekend for pioneer days in Old Shasta, the early car club shows up and many people dress the part. They should be perfect subject matter for an old camera. So tell me the fun you have with old cameras.
I think Kodak Brownies used a**** other things Kodak 120. This is 70mm format film. Good format and good film but Brownies have lense and exposure limitations. Have fun.
I got a bell howell (two twenty) 8mm camera if anyone wants it. you pay shipping. FREE. pm me if interested.
there is a local guy named Tim Pipe that does" early press "type photography with a couple of brownies he has even managed to get a regular style electric flash rigged to his. ( as opposed to the "explodin bulb"variety.) I will try to get in touch with him and send you his info.his stuff always looks nice.
The coolest camera I have is a Korean war era Navy LF camera made by Besseler. I found it in an antique store in Houston near the ship channel when I was working for Zeiss back in maybe 1998 or 1999... very cool. Had all of the accessories, and the original case, but the ground gl*** holder was broken. Even had about 20 film backs! Pretty cool stuff. I've not shot much with it, as I don't have an enlarger for that size film (4x5), but it's a great camera to take out and inspect from time to time. I really like my TLR's too... they are a hoot, because no-one really knows what they are, and when you're looking straight down, no-one suspects you're taking their photo! Ben
The Brownies used 620 film, similar to the 120 film but no longer in production. I have a couple of Brownies that I modified to use the 120 film. Here's what I found out. 1. You need to use the original 620 metal film spool for take up. Keep it and re-use it for the take up spool. 2. I have found that 400 asa film works best (without flash) for the fixed shutter that the Brownie uses. I have used 100 asa film with the flash (original style flash) but it's still under exposed a little. I have been wanting to adapt a modern flash to mine, but haven't done that yet. It's cool to go to a show and have a vintage camera to take pics with. r
the 2A model C uses 116 film doesn't it? I have used 120 in my six 16 before, made film spool adapters from a dowel rod, and a cardboard cutout with a window the size of a normal 120 exposure frame in the back of the thing so only that much of the film was exposed...yer kinda screwed as to how many frames you've used though, unless you modify it with another lil orange or red thingy on the back to see how much film you've used... something else that's fun to do, but a lil time consuming? Use b&w print paper for film, expose it for a few seconds as it's about ISO 2 or somethin like that, process it, either scan it into your computer and make a negative of the negative....or make a contact print.. those old box cameras are a blast, man! I want to see what you come up with, whatever you do with it thats one of mine...
Last time I ate Brownies some-one had a camera.....damn funny pictures they were....Damn Brownies.....
A fun camera I picked up for super cheap on ebay is a Polaroid Land Camera from the 50's. Takes the pull apart type film...it's a little messy but it's really cool to take party and vacation photos with. Always draws a croud when you pull out the camera with the bellows...even takes good photos! b
I have a Kodak Duaflex IV. It is the style where you look down into the camera to see the view finder. Is anybody famaliar with these? I believe it uses Kodak 620 film.
The 2A model C Brownie use 116 film. Here is some more info: http://www.boxcameras.com/rhe2a.html http://www.geh.org/fm/brownie/htmlsrc/mE13000360_ful.html http://www.eastman.org/fm/brownie/htmlsrc/brownie_idx00001.html http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/aa13/aa13.shtml
I have bunches of old cameras that I use. I use an old camera called a Foldex 20 to roll 120 film onto 620 spools. It can use both types, they are on ebay a lot for under 20 dollars.
My camera does use 116 film, and I have 1 correct spool so I should be good to go by just making spacers for the 120 film. This is a no flash model so I will be sticking to outdoor shots. I mostly have outdoor only photography experience anyway, till recently I didn't have a flash for my 35mm cameras. Of course I have not scanned in my cool 35mm b&w photos so you guys don't know what I can do. You've only seen my car show general digi pics. Completely different beast. Here is my only scanned pic taken with my Minolta with Kodak color process b&w.
yeah, I've got one of those too...not sure, but I think you can use 120 in it, some of the 620s you can use 120 in, some of them you cant.. the differences between 620 and 120 spools, the 620s are old and made of metal, and a lot thinner on the ends, not sure if they ever made plastic 620 spools or not, the 120 spools you buy with film on them these days are plastic, and definately thicker on the ends, and slightly bigger around too, but like I said before, some cameras will take them, and some wont. In any event, the other difference could cause a headache..the lil holes in the ends of the spools? the 620 was made for a camera that had a smaller piece that stuck in the end to turn it, where the 120 has a bigger hole, and will probably bind up like a ****** with the detents screwed up... im having trouble finding 127 film for my baby brownie, used to order it from a guy who imported it from europe, but I lost his address and cant find him anywhere online anymore. as much as I like the brownies, I finally bit the bullet and shelled out the cash for a nice rolleicord IV, it's vintage..early 50s, and still works like a dream...but, I still like using my box cameras. btw purple, nice photo
I'm not sure what years 2 of my 35mm's are, is ther a site that tells? That pic was with the Minolta SRT101 with a 50mm lens, also have a 300mm lens. My other 2 are a Ricoh TLS 401 with a 50mm and an 85mm-205mm, and my 1979 Olumpus OM-1 with a 50mm, 100mm, and an 80mm-200mm lens. Also a few filters I've never used, a bounce flash, and a nice leather bag. I have only $105 invested in that stuff and $22 for the Brownie. I bought a roll of 120 film today, fuji color. I chose color for the first roll because they can develop it right at the store, b&w gets sent out for a week. I need to make the roll larger to be like the 116. I think a few fender washers an a couple of screws should do the trick, tap right into that new plastic roll. Or I can go to my wife's uncle's cabinet shop and have him turn a couple spacers that I can pop into the rolls holes. My wife told me her grandpa had a camera in his closet, it might still be there. Said it was a wood box. I know he has a lot of old stuff there, I just got from him his automotive electrical text book from his college cl*** in 1951, a couple of 1949 Life mags, and an old peep mirror.
i kind of collect old cameras, movie cameras (8mm & 16mm so far), projectors and i even have a "hollywood" editing kit (with splicer). i got some of my stuff from my grandparents, some i bought and some were given to me because people knew i liked them. i think i got the bug from my grandfather, i remember him with the super 8 and cameras all the time. i think i've used about 2 of my cameras, i just like cleaning and repairing them (as much as i can). here's a few pictures of some of them, i also have the Polaroid Land Camera and some others not pictured.
Check out this web site: http://www.jandcphoto.com/ They can probably get whatever you need. Bill www.thepicturemaninc.com
I got 2 brownies both 50s era. I use them to antagonize my big sister ) long story). They actually take a good pic if you know your limitations and work within' em. A box camera is a box camera any way you slice it.
Hey man, thanks a lot for the heads up on the website. Went to it and they have the 620 film for sale. Unfortunately the shop is closed and they won't be back until the 18th.
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