Brownie Itch

Flying Penguin

Flying Penguin

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Jamie
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Please bear with me if I sound like I'm talking nonsense, but I'm looking to try find out if there are any flaws in my cunning plan... Apologies in advance for the following ramble!

Having come to the game somewhat recently (last 10 years), the entirety of my photographic "career" (I'm being generous) has involved increasingly complicated digital cameras, in fact my only real film experience was one of these beauties as a little kid.

Which goes no way to explaining why I have an urge to get my hands on a Brownie and give it a go. There's just something about box cameras and the physical holding of photos that attracts me to them...

So, back to reality, I can pick up a Six-20 Brownie D (or similar) for under £20 quite easily. I need to make sure I pick up some empty spools (not so easy) and some B&W 120 film (recommendations appreciated) to re-spool. I've got a suitable place to re-spool (windowless under stairs bathroom) but I don't intend to do my own developing, my local shop should be able to handle that.

Is there anything else I need or have missed? Are there any pitfalls I should be looking out for? Am I likely to end up throwing the thing against a wall and cursing the evil people at Kodak and worshipping the digital gods?

I'd appreciate any steer you could provide as to the wisdom of the above (or lack thereof).

Cheers,

Jamie
 
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You'd be easier finding one that takes 120 film, there are plenty box cameras out there.

I've got a Hawkeye, a basic kodak model just before they started faffing with 620 film.

You'll probably not be able to use colour since the simple lenses aren't coated, they're not sharp as we understand it now. They're very simple to use but the shutter speed is quite low and I had trouble hand holding mine resorted to finding something to lean against.

These are the better shots I managed to get from my camera
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49248828@N06/tags/hawkeye/

and this is the camera itself

hawkeye by steveo_mcg, on Flickr


As for film most people recommend a 100 film due to the relatively large aperture and slow shutter, when these things were new that would have been a fast film!
 
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I keep wanting to get more of my old cameras out and working!! just got my Grandpops Polaroid up and working again and it's great. also got a load of 35mm film for my first slr that I am trying to work my way through.

The simplicity of the older cameras is great and they are fun to hold and I expect use!!

Definately scratch that itch!!
 
menthel said:
Sounds dirty. Especially scratching it! ;)
Click to expand...

ooh-matron-with-text.gif
 
Rather than re-spool I just use a 620 spool as a take up roll and trim down the 120 roll the film comes on. I quite like my 620d :)
 
Thanks for the suggestions :)

I'm keen to get a later model Brownie as they seem to be pretty easy to find in working order and at reasonable prices, so how much work does trimming the 120 spool down take? My quick google suggests it's not a sure thing and there are worrying mentions of dremmel tools!
 
You can buy 620 film from here : http://www.photosupplies.co.uk/shop.php?category=620+Film&shopid=02111201

I have never used them so do not know how reliable they are. Has anyone else used them?

You will still need a 620 spool as a take up spool. It seems cheaper to buy a 620 film from photosupplies to get the spool than buy a spool from ebay as they all seem to want £7 upwards just for the spool.
 
The simplicity of a Box Brownie can come as a refreshing change especially if it only has one or two apertures, one shutter speed and fixed focusing ......just load with film, point, and shoot!

Respooling 120 film onto 620 spools is easy enough though i would be tempted to make life a little easier for yourself and pick up a 120 format Brownie.....unless of course you really want the challenge/satisfaction of respooling your own film.

A couple of things to look for:

Some shutter mechanisms have a return spring, others don't.....ie: those with will allow you to depress the shutter release and it will return to its original position ready for the next exposure.

Those without a return spring will release the shutter once on the downward stroke, then again on the upward stroke!!

Try and take a look inside the camera for rust on the film carriage .....not a big deal usually as can be cleaned up but best if you find one in good nick.

The viewers can be prone to fogging, but even without that problem, some are easier to compose with than others.

Tbh you can't really go wrong with any of them.
 
If I wanted easy I wouldn't be looking at Brownies ;)

Well I've gone and ordered a 1947-1953 Six-20 Model E from a dealer at a reasonable enough price, no time like the present and I figure it's better to crack on than spend weekends trawling car boots :)

Thanks for all the pointers, but i've one final question, any recommendations on 120 film brands? I'm going to pick up a couple of rolls of 620 to get spools and test the camera, but I'd appreciate any advice on their relative merits.

Many thanks,

Jamie
 
I nearly like gp3, it's fine till you come to scan it and it's very cheap. Otherwise have a search for film choices in this section there are plenty if recommendations.
 
For something like this, I'd probably pick Fomapan 100 - Silverprint has it at a competitive price. It has a very classic look to it, good value for money and if you aren't developing it, you don't have to deal with the fact that it's incredibly curly!
 
I usually use Fuji Neopan Acros 100 ASA.
Remember to ask the lab to return your 620 reels!
 
Flying Penguin said:
Please bear with me if I sound like I'm talking nonsense, but I'm looking to try find out if there are any flaws in my cunning plan... Apologies in advance for the following ramble!

Having come to the game somewhat recently (last 10 years), the entirety of my photographic "career" (I'm being generous) has involved increasingly complicated digital cameras, in fact my only real film experience was one of these beauties as a little kid.

Which goes no way to explaining why I have an urge to get my hands on a Brownie and give it a go. There's just something about box cameras and the physical holding of photos that attracts me to them...

So, back to reality, I can pick up a Six-20 Brownie D (or similar) for under £20 quite easily. I need to make sure I pick up some empty spools (not so easy) and some B&W 120 film (recommendations appreciated) to re-spool. I've got a suitable place to re-spool (windowless under stairs bathroom) but I don't intend to do my own developing, my local shop should be able to handle that.

Is there anything else I need or have missed? Are there any pitfalls I should be looking out for? Am I likely to end up throwing the thing against a wall and cursing the evil people at Kodak and worshipping the digital gods?

I'd appreciate any steer you could provide as to the wisdom of the above (or lack thereof).

Cheers,

Jamie
Click to expand...


Good luck it can be a challenge to get the best out of these simple cameras...but for me B/W film and "Box brownie" type cameras were all we could afford when I was growing up, so someone would have to pay me to use these cameras again. ;).....and what a relief when colour neg and process finally become cheap :thumbs:

erm passing thought:- no one seems to want to use a disc camera again :lol:
 
excalibur2 said:
erm passing thought:- no one seems to want to use a disc camera again :lol:
Click to expand...

Got several disc camers in working order which i wouldn't mind putting into use......who knows film might come back through lomography like the 110 format has.
 
Asha said:
Got several disc camers in working order which i wouldn't mind putting into use......who knows film might come back through lomography like the 110 format has.
Click to expand...


Well I can't understand the reason why if you own a decent 35mm camera....I would wager any one of my 35mm P&S cameras (bought from 10p to £2) would slaughter the results from a disc camera. ;)
So if you can get decent results like below so cheaply why would anyone bother with very inferior cameras :shrug: I'll never understand :shake:


Nikon AF210 P&S bought for 50p at a boot sale (with finger covering the lens)
CNV00009-800px.jpg
http://

Nikon AF210 P&S bought for 50p at a boot sale
[IMG]http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn172/chakrata/smaller%20pixels%20for%20forums/CNV00014-800px.jpg
 
excalibur2 said:
Well I can't understand the reason why if you own a decent 35mm camera....I would wager any one of my 35mm P&S cameras (bought from 10p to £2) would slaughter the results from a disc camera. ;)
So if you can get decent results like below so cheaply why would anyone bother with very inferior cameras :shrug: I'll never understand :shake:


]
Click to expand...

Nice shots Brian.

It's not just about the result for me tbh, Playing around with all different formats and cameras even though the results may be inferior is what makes photography so interesting imo.
Atm i have film loaded in a number of cameras including a brownie 44A (127 film), an agfamatic 3008 (110 cartridge), 133x instamatic (126 cartridge) as well as having the ETRS, Canon EOS and RZ ready to go if I want to be sure of a quality result.

You may have noticed the Recesky TLR challenge that is on atm??
It's a carp plastic "toy" camera which will likely be prone to light leaks in a short space of time and the results it offers are very marmite but again it's all about having a bit of a lark.....
 
Flying Penguin said:
Thanks for the suggestions :)

I'm keen to get a later model Brownie as they seem to be pretty easy to find in working order and at reasonable prices, so how much work does trimming the 120 spool down take? My quick google suggests it's not a sure thing and there are worrying mentions of dremmel tools!
Click to expand...

I always use a tiny pair of scissors and a nail file. Takes a minute or two to do.
 
Asha said:
Nice shots Brian.

It's not just about the result for me tbh, Playing around with all different formats and cameras even though the results may be inferior is what makes photography so interesting imo.
Atm i have film loaded in a number of cameras including a brownie 44A (127 film), an agfamatic 3008 (110 cartridge), 133x instamatic (126 cartridge) as well as having the ETRS, Canon EOS and RZ ready to go if I want to be sure of a quality result.

You may have noticed the Recesky TLR challenge that is on atm??
It's a carp plastic "toy" camera which will likely be prone to light leaks in a short space of time and the results it offers are very marmite but again it's all about having a bit of a lark.....
Click to expand...


HUh!!!!! I would love to join in the fun more, but it's just not in me esp when I look back at the carp results from my hard earned cash spent on a Bencini comet and Coronet camera :eek:

The whole roll using the Nikon AF210 (in my shots) were good (meaning the camera worked well)....Also picked up a Nikon RF2 P&S for £1 and have taken a few shots at the beginning of a roll before swapping to my Canon A1, so will post these if any good... for information if anyone is thinking of a film P&S.
 
Well I finally got chance to go shoot a roll and, contrary to what I had planned initially, gave home development a go....

Despite underexposing a couple and ruining a couple more whilst trying to get the film into the ****ing spool (you live, you learn), I did get at least one keeper.


ALIENS! by Flying Penguin, on Flickr

It's straight out of the camera, with just a slight crop and inversion and scanned using a document scanner (I'll re-scan it at some point). It may not be technically beautiful, but I love how it looks straight out of a dodgy 1950's B-movie! :lol:

Thanks for everyone's help!

Cheers,

Jamie
 
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Congratulations on your result Jamie:thumbs:....perhaps you now have the bug to keep deving at home.

Look forward to seeing more of your film shots:thumbs:
 
Thanks :)


As for the film/development bug, I've also acquired a Trip 35 to use as an everyday camera. My wife is not best pleased!
 
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