Modern Photographer tries 100 Year Old Kodak Brownie Camera

[@primtones]

I think it's more interesting to photograph newer things with old cameras, making the photos anachronistic.

[@juliocesarpereira4325]

Agreed.

[@olitography]

@@juliocesarpereira4325 A couple of people have said that, and its a good point, ill grab a Brownie and some other super old cameras and do some shots in London or similar for new video.

[@onedoorfilms]

I agree, I thought that was what he was going to do. Would have been so much more interesting... alas

[@olitography]

I Made the video Check out "Photographing a Modern city with vintage cameras"

[@therealAZLN]

I’m the opposite. I like taking photos of things that don’t tie themselves to any one time period. That way it could plausibly be from 1923 to 2023, and the mystery is part of the art.

[@one4allall4one91]

I love anything vintage. These cameras always intrigued me. They did to photography what modern day personal computer did to every day user. They made it accessible to the population.

[@pdtech4524]

Nice results, interesting video, I'm very much into retro photography and old cameras.

[@jamescottrell8578]

I remember looking through my grandparents photo albums of life in Boston in the early 1900's, and thinking how cool it was to see Boston grow from a small town to a Huge city. My childhood photos show small attractions around New England that haven't existed in decades, I'm 51 tomorrow, and it's amazing to me how much everything has changed. I wonder what my grandchildren,and their grandchildren will see.

[@toonman361]

Regarding the number and window issue, I'd suggest this. Make a tick mark with a sharpie on the left side of the backing paper, directly across from the printed 1. Now, make a second tick mark across from the printed number 2. Your hand drawn mark could be a number 2 rather than a tick mark. Now, close the camera and set the film to the hand drawn 1 tick mark. Take your picture and advance the film till you see your hand drawn 2. Make note of how many turns you made. Use that number for all future film advances in that camera. It should avoid frame overlap. Love the pictures BTW.

[@olitography]

I tried that after, I’ll do that for the next video, it could be really helpful,

[@CoroaEntertainment]

0:12 It was probably a tense time for them. Hitler had been invading different countries up to that point. Then he invaded Poland on September 1st 1939 (the official start of of the war). Two days later Britain declared war against Nazi Germany. Those pictures show us the peace before the storm. Sad. :-(

[@nessuno1948]

Beautiful car, more than beautiful lady and wonderful camera.........I am old enough (1948) to remember look alike cameras or maybe this same model too.

[@olitography]

Brownie or Morris? 48, you've made it to your third act, always the best.

[@SchardtCinematic]

I have an old Brownie Camera but never quite knew how to use it. Thank you for making this video

[@threefingersfolly6044]

Very cool, my grandmother gave me a Brownie when I was about 10, takes me back !!

[@olitography]

Did you ever use it?

[@threefingersfolly6044]

@@olitography Yes, we were very poor then, so to get my mom to buy film, and develop, was difficult, but I cherished that camera, for many years.

[@beedslolkuntus2070]

@@threefingersfolly6044 So Sorry :( I hope you are doing better today

[@threefingersfolly6044]

@@beedslolkuntus2070 Yes, much better now days, that was 50 years ago. if you get a chance, check out my youtube channel, thanks !!

[@mitcheverett9564]

three fingers folly no she didn’t

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Good video guys enjoyed that cheers. I have a Houghton butcher ensign that takes 120 which I’ve tried once with actually encouraging results. Definitely needs the red window covering with gaffa tape as much as possible.

[@ItsIdaho]

I would go through all this mess for just a picture, I love my Grandma's old 70s Polaroid which I still use, the film is quite expensive though.

[@zachmueller2912]

I reloaded a brownie 2A 116 camera from 1917 with 70mm color motion picture film a few years ago, first I covered the window with black electrical tape to prevent light leaks. Then I measured how many turns it takes to advance a full frame (i dont remember how many turns it took off the top of my head) and I always turned it 1 extra time to be safe. I developed the C41 myself and the results were surprisingly good. The only downside is you need a tank that can fit 116/70mm so i had to look around at old tanks online. The 2nd downside (possibly an upside if you like it) is since the film i used was for a 70mm movie camera, it has sprocket holes that overlap the top and bottom of the image. It kind of gives it a cool effect but the actual usable image size is not that much bigger than 120 anyway with the holes. It was still a fun experience.

[@olitography]

That’s sounds fun, I’d love to try it, however for me getting my hands on imax film, short ends etc. Might be tricky, finding motion picture film right now is hard.

[@Alpha8713]

I have one of those cameras, but have never used it for lack of 116 film. I never knew that it could be used with 120. Nice job! Now I need to try mine.

[@olitography]

It sort of can’t be as the numbers are on the wrong side for the window, but there are things you can do

[@michael32A]

Hi, Where 116 is 70mm wide, that's still used for aerial photography and IMAX format cinematography, so adventurous folks can bulk-buy and re-spool those onto 116 spools and either make their own backing paper or re-use an old original 116 backing paper. Ilford make HP5 in 70mm format once a year provided a minimum order quantity is met, where participating retailers can take orders up to 1st June for delivery 6-8months later, but, without checking, my memory says it's ~£250 for 50feet, and again you spool it and find a backing paper yourself. Finding a developing tank wide enough, or a specialist processor, is then the next challenge! They _do_ exist though. I'm weighing up options for my Great Uncle's 2A Folding Brownie, hence diving into this.🤔 So the above is the theory, but - disclaimer- not put it into practise myself.

[@MrHans818]

The oldest camera I have is the Kodak 3A autographic that my father would had bought about 1920 or so. He traveled the US for vaudeville in 1923 and had photos he took on the SS George Washington, and travel the US and Canada. I have a collection of vintage cameras and vintage movie cameras on display i guess you would call and office/man cave. I also have my wife's father's who would be well over a hundred now had a Kodak ball bearing EK camera from the same era. quite a bit smaller than my father's. I am glad I found this channel.

[@defconzero]

I have that exact camera, really wanna get some film into it. Also have the exact camera from the video as well, and want to get some film into it as well.

[@criticalhard]

The 1900s was a genius era, a time that saw many changes omg last century was humanity's peak.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Wow! That's cool! Its kinda going back in time!😎👍

[@groupcaptainbonzo]

My brother was given one of these in the 60s.when he got bored with it. I inherited it from him. Mine took 620 film. That was the beginning of my life of abject poverty, and the endless tech chasing , which led to my present state of lunacy 😀 I loved the light meter. As if anyone would have thought of that at the time 😄 The image quality was, I recall, very high.

[@definitely_notme4112]

Wow! That thing belongs in a museum. I’ve seen the original camera at the Eastman House

[@watson_skippy6746]

Great content! I really enjoy your vintage camera veideos

[@SchardtCinematic]

I also like taking modern photos with my Canon Rebel G 35mm film camera. Modern as in my kids on thier lap tops or playing Nintendo Switch or watching TV on the 46 inch screen. Stuff that looks out of place on grainy 400 speed film as if it was taken in the 1970's or 80's. But using a Brownie to do that is even more intriguing to think about now.

[@LIBICU812]

Thanks for sharing the shutter speed and aperture openings. I have this same camera but didn't know the settings.

[@catey62]

love your video, well done. and yep, when I saw you were going to use 120 film in a 116 film camera I thought you'd have a few issues..they still turned out well none the less. and good idea to buy some newer Brownies that take 120 film, I have a couple myself that I've shot with and if your'e careful, you can get surprisingly good pics with them that have a nice vintage feel. I also have shot with a 1936 Zeiss Ikon folder that uses 120 film, and that had got some good shots too.( it was the camera that got me into shooting film a few years ago ) a little tip to help stop light getting through the red window is to pop a piece of black tape over it, and lift it when you need to advance the film. I did that, and have never had an issue with light getting in then. 🙂

[@olitography]

That was my first attempt back at KZbin it’s embarrassing now, but I did do a video on super Ikonta with the lessons learned from this

[@henryathurmanjr]

Great work!!! i'm looking forward to seeing the 50's Brownie camera pictures! Let me know when that video is available to view.

[@grazryan]

Loving that grungy vintage look

[@deronhanson5454]

I own a brownie camera that my mother gave me-it was her's, handed down from an Aunt in the 1940's, if i remember correctly-my mother was born in 1938-I even have the flash for it-ended up getting an associates in Digital Imaging & Design Technology-never thought about playing with the camera until seeing this video

[@Rkolb2798]

I love the Dance routine at the end 😊

[@Rkolb2798]

Charleston if I’m correct

[@peterchen9763]

I have a 116 Brownie and an older Kodak Bullseye that was made for 101 film. The way around the problem is search online for the formula and use turn counts for each exposure instead of the window. Modern film is a lot more sensitive so you need to tape the window as well. The lens on these cameras were not coated so you should never shoot into the sun light to avoid flaring. I got similar results the first time I used my Bownies, but soon I figured out at what distance the photos stay in focus. I have adapters for my 101 and 116 cameras, but now I use my 120 Brownie most of the time because I don’t enjoy the hassle of guess work. Best of luck with your new 120 Brownie.

[@olitography]

The new one gave good results, it’s the how to successfully use a brownie video. I would still like to avoid having to count turns, maybe a gate 😷, but will beat that damn camera at some point

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

It may seem to some like the process of loading and using the film on this camera is a very cumbersome, and by today's standards it certainly is. But by early 1900's standards it was a HUGE improvement. Ever seen those old movies where the photographer is loading plates in the back, sliding out the cover and holding up the flash tray? That was basically how it was done before then. (Now of course it's laughably simple: Whip out your cell phone and tap the screen - instant gratification and, more importantly, instant feedback on the quality of the image)

[@djolley61]

Or having to go into your tent and create the emulsion with chemicals and hurry and take the picture while the plate is still wet!

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@djolley61 Yep! We've got it made nowadays. There were no rolls of film back in the day that could hold 15000 pictures like my cell phone!

[@darkcustomxxx7252]

@@JustWasted3HoursHere Cell phones..15000 pictures and every one of them crass...

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@darkcustomxxx7252 The camera doesn't make the picture: The photographer does.

[@darkcustomxxx7252]

@@JustWasted3HoursHere you're right, its definitely the photographer.... evident by the majority of typical junk phone pics. Holiday selfies in front of landmarks or pictures of fucking dinner or of what they're drinking.... "ok everybody, do a duck face for the camera.....!!"

[@psi9000]

Lovely! I can’t wait to see the next video with the 1950’s brownies, hahaha!

[@olitography]

Thank you, it’s up. Glad you liked it

[@larryphilby4918]

I had (and still have) a Brownie similar to that one. It never occurred to me until I watched you load it that the average person today would have no idea how to do it. Sort of like watching kids trying to use a dial telephone.

[@1L6E6VHF]

Several years ago, one of my nieces was visiting, and she wanted to watch TV. She came back and said she couldn't find the POWER button, in my 24" Emerson black-and-white TV (the POWER switch was built-in to the volume control).

[@davidgifford8112]

As I watched I thought the numbers won’t aline on a 120 roll for a 116 film frame. That said a great little vid, thanks for sharing.

[@olitography]

You were correct, eh everybody’s gotta learn sometime:)

[@shelliecarlson7015]

Jittery Pixel has a work around that I'll be using on my Agfa Ansco No. 2 that I'll be shooting today. My review and loading is at Comfortably Blind.

[@davidgifford8112]

olitography my experience, playing with these old camera’s is that the number window coloured plastic is not an effective if using 400ISO of higher and more problems with modern colour film. I stick with medium to high grain B&W as it produces something like a 70-year old photograph. Best of luck.

[@LIBICU812]

The way I did it once was when I was loading the film I measured the number of turns on the winder for a mark on the paper to get from the start edge of the frame to the other edge and then slightly more. It worked okay for a hack.

[@moviestudioland]

Had one of those. It worked very well

[@MeStevely]

I seem to remember the little window exposure counter on the camera I had was red, which seems to indicate that it was designed for orthochromatic film rather than panchromatic. Good luck with finding ortho 120 film these days.

[@olitography]

I don’t need luck, I have gaffer tape.

[@dlittlester]

Mine is red too.

[@darrelq1806]

Ilford manufacturers Ortho Plus 80 and is brand new production currently in both 35mm & 120 formats

[@erwindegroot8760]

Ilford makes orthographic film.

[@dinesjoe]

beautiful pictures

[@charlesweaver8302]

I had one of those cars in 1967.

[@MrNurserob]

Make sure when buying adapters for the ends of the 120 film reels that you buy strong ones- like literally ones with “strong” in their description- the reason being that you (like me) will get halfway through shooting your roll of film, having a great time, pleased with the subjects you chose to shoot- and the film will stop reeling with the winding reel. What’s happening is the resistance is building on the reels and suddenly the cheap, soft, wax-like plastic on those adapters gives way and won’t reel any further. Now you’re in a position where if you have a darkroom, I guess you can salvage your roll of film, but if not, you’ve gotta pull open the camera (ruining your film) and start over. The cameras are inexpensive and available, cleaning and fixing them isn’t too hard, but there’s a bunch of grifters out there (because of course) who want to try and cash in on your interest in trying out an antique camera, while selling you garbage. Be careful buying those adapters- it’ll save you film and money.

[@AREKU]

Lovely video! Found it through KZbin's Recommended. I like you're style, and will now subscribe. Keep up the good work!

[@ianmills9266]

I've seen a video about box brownies that said to put the 120 on a different spool so the number is on the correct side when in the camera. I'm going to try it and let you know

[@olitography]

How did it work out?

[@ianmills9266]

@@olitography haven't gotten around to it yet

[@shelliecarlson7015]

There is a couple of 3D print programs on Thingaverse to print spacers to run 120 rolls in a 116, 616, D16, PX-16 cameras and Jittery Pixel has a count sheet for frame spacing. I have a review and loading video at Comfortably Blind under Agfa Ansco No. 2. Very similar cameras.

[@aperture8usa66]

Easier than using tubular spacers and just as effective is to simply wedge a small piece of styrofoam on both sides of the film roll. Styrofoam from a coffee cup or a packing peanut will do just fine. It will keep the film stable when you reinsert the cartridge back into the camera body. As another alternative, there are 3D printed adaptors which can be purchased to convert your 120 film to fit in a 116 camera. There's an assortment of many other adaptors for film conversion, too. While I have some of the adaptors myself, I still tend to use the styrofoam wedges. They are so easy. Cheers!

[@olitography]

Ove mostly moved onto 3 printed adapter since this video

[@garthac]

It would be great if you have used a black and white film stock that is popular during the time. Most films during that time were Orthochromatic unlike the moder emulsions today that are have Panchromatic emulsions. Recntly there are several major film manufacturers that have release fresh Orthochromatic films both on 35mm and 120 formats. Using these films you have been period appropriate to both the camera and the over all photo shoot plan.

[@peterr.7429]

Fantastic video, well done

[@oldschool8432]

This brownie takes better pictures better then a lot that pitchers iv seen on KZbin

[@lukavukmanovic8473]

You can try to put masking tape over the film gate to make the film gate 6x6 so images don't overlap

[@olitography]

I build a gate mask in some of the other videos, it’s a good shout.

[@christoguichard4311]

The best box camera to buy is a Zeiss Box Tengor. Great lens and high Zeiss quality. Also worth trying some of the Zeiss Nettar or Ikonta folding cameras which all take 120 rollfilm and come in three different frame sizes.

[@olitography]

I found a Zeiss Ikonta in the box of old cameras

[@ikoyDaPnoy]

Keep doing videos related vintage photography/videography & legacy glass. This never grows obsolete.

[@olitography]

I have a box of old cameras maybe 20, my father and I acquired. We always said we’d try them to together, but never did, so I’m going to work through them on this channel.

[@ikoyDaPnoy]

@@olitography Can't wait! Very exciting. I have old Minolta, Nikon, & Canon lenses that I adapt to my Sony a7. One day, I decided I wanted the original cameras they were design for. So I bought the Minolta SR-T 101, the Canon FX, & the Nikon F. I eventually fell in love with the Canon 7 rangefinder but now I've gotten obsessed with the One Step & One Step 2 along with the MiNT TLR.

[@deadlycreature3359]

I saw some of these at an antique shop the otherday. the prices I couldn't see because they were in a showcase. I had to be somewhere else soon, so I didn't get to ask the worker how much they were. I might go back soon and explore the 3 floor antique shop and ask about the vendors cameras. I sawa nice germam camera also at another booth, but I noticed that it had 3 or 4 big scratches or cracks on the zoom lens and they wanted 35 bucks for it usa. t did have t's case though. interestng experiment about your camera test and seeing how it over lapped. to bad they don't make that film anymore, so it wouldn't make you use some hacks to fix the overlapping issue. i do have a Fuji square camera that I like. sometimes the pics come out darker then I like though. my kodak star got coroded so I plan to buy a cheap reliable 35mm cam again. it's been over 20 years or more since I last used film. it's time to come back again into it. how do I avoid red eye in people and pets? I used ro keep getting red eye in photos 35mm

[@olitography]

The overlapping issue is due to numbers on the back of the film, you can get round that by using. A gash roll and counting the number of turns it takes to move one frame. Those cameras are not expensive worth a try.

[@angelopark4826]

7:35 Where did you buy those 1950s Brownies? They look identical to prewar ones.

[@olitography]

EBay, but the dates based on their serial numbers

[@LIBICU812]

That's a 'Bonney & Clyde' camera. Google it. A Brownie camera with exposed film in it was left behind in a hide out when they had to make a quick get away and those pics were processed and are now famous photos.

[@scottparis6355]

A girl who can Charleston! She's much too good for you.

[@Astyanaz]

You could also take a picture at every other number, or every number and a half. This would leave blank spots, but may work better.

[@larsbliss2728]

You found one of the problems using 120 in a 616 camera. The other is film curl. With clean lenses and the correct film photos can come out very sharp and nice. The "vintage" look most times is from a broken camera. Properly functioning cameras with the correct film does not look so "vintage". I use many box, 35mm, medium format, and large format cameras. Digital isn't as fun to me since i have and love my darkroom. Sitting on a computer fixing everything in post is quite boring.

[@olitography]

Kodak brownies now I’ve used a few are, never crisp or sharp, but I’ll take that note on some other cameras, a gate mask will help with the curl. WiiOS I rather be in a darkroom? Depends if I’m on job no, if I’m doing this kind stuff maybe.

[@paulm4258]

How do you take the film out after you have finished with it? Manually respool In a bag???? That's crazy. Is that what they did in the 1900s?

[@olitography]

I just take it out normally do it in a dark spot though as the camera has no spring tension, and the roll is usually wound quite loose and can fog at the edges

[@1L6E6VHF]

I'm wondering how you loaded a camera with Provia (a color reversal - or slide, film), and got monochrome transparencies back. I shot two rolls of Kodacolor II in a Kodak 2A Brownie in 1982. Did the same with one roll in 1983. That roll had an ominous white (not yellow) band around it - "Kodak will not manufacture this product after 1983" 😥

[@olitography]

Did I say provia in the video? It was Porta I used, which is C-41 there was a bw slide film but I don’t remember the name. Sadly I never used Kodacolor. But Brownies aren’t expensive, a gate mask will fix the white bands.

[@1L6E6VHF]

@@olitography I misread the label as Provia. The printing was at a very obtuse angle, so I misread it. I'm an E6 shooter.

[@neilpiper9889]

My first camera was a box brownie, my first car was a Convertible 1937 Morris 8. What a coincidence

[@olitography]

Brilliant, the Morris was my fathers first car.

[@lunawroblewski]

My grandma found one at a swap meet for $2 USD and got it for me. When she got home I asked her if she saw any old camera's and she pulled out a brownie. I lucked out, my model specifically was made between 1926 and 1934 and uses 120 film. My grandma said the guy didn't realize they still make film and that's why he sold it for so cheap. She didn't know either but I'm happy she got it anyway lol

[@olitography]

Wasn’t $2 the original price? Enjoy shooting on it.

[@CARdasians]

great job amazing thanks

[@yardleycampos200]

Hey boss, the video part where your out shooting - was recorded on film or did you edit? If it is film, what camera were you using?

[@olitography]

Canon 5d I used resolve to make it look a little bit like film,

[@XricheeX]

I saw this one secondhand and wanted to know what the photos would look like now im here

[@olitography]

sadly not the best, but that was my first try with a really old camera, but i went back and did another video on how to successfully use a Kodak Brownie and it all worked out great

[@pavitrajain8311]

This great content for youtube

[@olitography]

Thank you

[@scratchedisc]

His voice reminds me of one of those tutorial narrators from the 1900 or something.

[@PrinceWesterburg]

I can hear lomographers smashing their plastic lens cameras and crying - the results stand, totaly character ad period feel! :o)

[@sililtatchu]

Is kodak m35 is a lomography camera?

[@olitography]

I think the difference between a Low mo cameras and a god awful camera is the person using it

[@bananamustard1151]

the problem with adapting 120 to 116 is that the paper doesn’t fully encompass the whole space of the spool so you can get light leaks

[@defconzero]

If you're respooling 120 film onto a 116 spool, yes, but not if you're still using a 120 spool as normal

[@olitography]

I think you mean that because the films effectively suspended it gets light past it? So a gate mask might be order? I'm researching it with all the helpful comments people have left on this video

[@defconzero]

olitography Im not an expert but i have done some research, and if you adapt 120 film to a larger film size using an adapter (could be one of those 3d printed ones that snap onto the ends of the spool and make it longer, or the sketchy way like with a sponge or something), you should be fine, since the 120 film is still on it's spool. If you go into a dark room and respool 120 film onto a 116 spool, there would be extra space on the spool where the film doesn't cover, so there could be light leaks when you take it out of the camera. Not even sure if you were replying to me, lol, but i thought I'd try and help out :)

[@defconzero]

There are 120 to 116 3d printed adapters on ebay for $5-$15 depending on the seller. There are many more sizes too.

[@olitography]

@@defconzero thank you i'm looking into that as there are a lot of older cameras i have that i want to try

[@scottparis6355]

First, clean the lens. Second, a photography teacher in 1939 would have told you to never, never shoot into the sun, because flare will destroy the picture.

[@olitography]

It’s a way of shooting I use at work on an almost daily basis, so that’s something I guess a modern photographer learns when handed a brownie

[@mjoelnir58]

@@olitography Not a good idea with an uncoated lens.

[@DarylSawatzky]

See, for years we've been told 'Don't shoot into the sun'. And then as lens tech got better and better we said 'Rules are meant to be broken', and now we say 'who made up that stupid rule anyways?'. Thanks to Oliver and KZbin we know know that Brownie lenses were often plain window glass, and sometimes plastic, and even todays cheapest plastic lensed Lomo camera can run circles around a 100 year old brownie.

[@scottparis6355]

@@olitography 1939 camera, 1939 rules.

[@AmayHamidi]

So I can still buy a 1999 DSLR can produce a good photos too.. 👍👍👍 The most important is a person behind the camera, yeah 🤗🤗🤗

[@olitography]

Sort of true, Nikon D70 D90 extra wernt that great but a Canon 5d Mk1 is still well worth it

[@davidhigginbotham5451]

Moving the window to the other side is NOT the only way to solve the overlapping image issue. Simple unspool the film in a dark room and then draw lines from the right side numbers to the opposite side to serve as guides when advancing the film, then spool back up and load your freaking box camera.

[@jackpotsearlytapes]

Love the music

[@mkshffr4936]

Love the car!

[@MichaelSeneschal]

Nice video

[@mackenlyparmelee5440]

I have the hawk-eye no. 2 model "A" from around 1916, and let me tell you, between the model A and the later F model, they came a long way. The A model is a dog to shoot and the shutter release will try to cut your thumb off If anyone is considering one of these early bix cameras, I highly suggest a later model, so a higher letter in the alphebet besides A.

[@olitography]

They are all the best thing I’ve used and the worst, I did get better with them after this video but they are both a challenge and a delight

[@richardhall6034]

Hi from the UK very interesting I have a couple of dozen 35mm film cameras and some 8mm movie cameras that I got from boot fairs all in working order for as little as £10 plus lenses filters flashes from £1

[@petepictures]

And you also had the images cropped horizontally , because of the narrower film.

[@olitography]

A little bit, not as bad as the numbers issue

[@stfn35]

who is still watching in 2020

[@Whiskers132]

The film number window is red. That was fine for slow Orthochromatic film that is not sensitive to red light. Panchromatic film will be fogged, as you found.

[@olitography]

Black wrap or tape is so much help there

[@Whiskers132]

@@olitography Yes, but you still need to see the numbers. Maybe it would be better to work out a 'blind' system. Like, say, 3 turns of the film winder. Whatever works. You may not get the maximum number of negatives on the roll, but wast due to that is better than waste due to overlap.

[@olitography]

@@Whiskers132 "I have a cunning plan" if i gate mask the camera to 6x6 the numbers will correlate once again, the problem is then the view finders. Any ideas there?

[@Whiskers132]

@@olitography Mask one view finder window to a square. With square format you'll only need 1 view finder. I'd use the top one (portrait mode) as the camera feels better that way.

[@Whiskers132]

You will still have the problem of fogging through the red window. Maybe a black tape covering which you move to wind on and then stick back between shots.

[@kamlesh8818]

Great I want to ask some questions.

[@olitography]

Ok

[@shelliecarlson7015]

Comfortably Blind (me) just posted a video on the Agfa Ansco No. 2 that is almost an exact copy. I haven't finished my roll of Ilford yet because this cold is kicking my butt, but probably will today. Jittery Pixel has a work around for the overlapping frames. Please give it a watch.

[@raphcaswell-jones932]

I have a 1919 card stock Brownie 2.

[@olitography]

Awesome you should try it out

[@the215sean]

Nothing says early/pre 1900s like posing but not smiling for a photo lol

[@aayazahmed5389]

Inter-war period was great

[@scottparis6355]

Most importantly, where did you get that car????

[@olitography]

It was my fathers he asked me to look after it when he died, so I did.

[@scottparis6355]

@@olitography So it's the same car that was in the original pictures? Amazing and beautiful.

[@olitography]

It’s not the exact car, it’s the same make and model

[@robvancamp2781]

I thought you sent the Brownie back to Kodak, who would reload the film and return the camera and your photos to you..

[@olitography]

i wasn't around when Brownies were a thing, but it would seem odd to only be able to shoot one roll at a time

[@willapicton8768]

take pics indoors betr lighting for that camera . 🙂

[@nelsonmaranonjr.537]

I don't know why but I like the past than the present.

[@olitography]

Right now, I think the past sounds pretty rosey

[@Pantheragem]

I have a Kodak Brownie that was my Grandpa's. It is marked "Kodak fiftieth anniversary 1880-1930". That would have made him 7 or 8 when he got it. My understanding is that Kodak gave them away to kids between certain ages at drug stores. Being 1930, it was the only way he would have gotten a camera.

[@olitography]

I read that they were aimed at kids, (named after a kids cartoon etc) and it was a good way to get kids or rather there parents buying film.

[@aeromodeller1]

They were tan colored and had an embossed gold anniversary seal on them. My dad had one. They were to be given to children who were 12 years old in 1930, born in 1918. My dad was born in 1917, but the camera store gave it to him anyway. The purpose was to get children interested in photography and buying film and processing.

[@Pantheragem]

@@aeromodeller1 This is what I read as well. He may well have gotten it from one of his siblings. Or, the store may have just given it to him anyway. 😁

[@Otokichi786]

The hand held exposure meter is far more complex to use than the 120/116 Brownie camera!

[@olitography]

Should I do a video on that? I never leave home without it.

[@Otokichi786]

If you have a "SmartPhone," there are light meter apps that can (partly) replace the continuois/electronic flash exposure meter. (I don't have one) If I wanted to load up Ye Olde Leica IIIa with, say, Ektachrome 100, a Minolta Flashmeter IVF would be part of the kit.

[@olitography]

There not expensive now, the apps are no better than say sunny 16

[@johnbautista8629]

What are the aperture stops on it?

[@olitography]

16/22/32, I think its in this video, but its defiantly in the How to Successfully use a Brownie video,

[@johnbautista8629]

olitography thanks so much, I’ve been wanting to shoot with my brownie

[@craigconway4093]

Awesome :)

[@olitography]

Thank you

[@bilonggrisimmeri]

Please, never butcher an old camera. However, why not re-use that first 120 backing paper by marking up the left side with correctly spaced frame numbers? Measure the gate, to check frame advances the correct amount. In the darkroom, attach film from a fresh roll to backing paper, taping it in place last. Not difficult. Finally, put a deep red gel, plus a blackout disc over the window. History note: fixed diameter f-stops on movable strip or disc are called Waterhouse Stops.

[@olitography]

Waterhouse stops, wow you learn something new everyday. Thank you, the tests with the 120 Brownies went fine, so no need to remark the numbers.

[@bilonggrisimmeri]

@@olitography I was thinking the lens on your 100 year old Brownie might create a different vibe? I love sharing stuff about photography, having studied commercial, scientific and medical photography at college and done that for my job. I'd love to see some colour negative work from your 100 year old Brownie.

[@bilonggrisimmeri]

@@olitography P.S. Am guessing your 100 year old Brownie originally took a 620 size roll film. There was an even wider rollfilm with paper backing, but not sure what it was called. Smaller rollfilms were 127 and even a paper backed 12 exposure 35mm film exclusively for the Kodak Bantam Colorsnap camera. There could have been more rollfilm sizes prior to WW2.

[@DaveZaniboni]

Couldn't you just mark the right spots on the left side of the film roll rather than move the lens?

[@olitography]

You’d have to do it in perfect darkness, I’ve found a solution though, that fixes all 116 to 120 conversions, I’m gonna try it next week.

[@jaimemolina7219]

I see the intention and I think is worth doing.... but why should you photograph "old" looking subjects?

[@olitography]

Sorry same as the above reply, ill grab a Brownies and some other super old cameras and do some shots in London or similar for new video, thank you for the input.

[@tomguojie]

lucky man. he has an old camera and an old car.

[@FlyingCrow]

I'll bet no one that used a Brownie had a light meter.

[@rnman99]

You had to be more careful with a film camera, knowing you had limited exposures.

[@TTatitalks]

Love 6:26

[@captainjohnh9405]

Once you get the technical issues worked out, test how the average mom or dad would would do with it. Why not take someone who knows nothing about photography (as most of the Brownie buyers would have), and pretend you are their very helpful salesman. Go through the instructions, expand on them all you want to, give them a couple rolls on the house, and send them on their way. Preferably do this right before they take a vacation,

[@olitography]

If we get to go on Vacation again soon ill do that, its just that my mum and uncle know how to use these old cameras better than me

[@blekfut5763]

These camera faults do not explain the distastrous developing and terrible scans.

[@B3D5X]

Shame about the results. There are tons of cheap brownies out there- just find another. That was funny you took meter readings for a camera with no adjustable settings.

[@olitography]

Brownies are what they are, I trained in Cinema as well as stills, i do get some flack for the meter, but ilil put together a tutorial on how to use one properly. As a lot of people don’t seem to understand, the camera setting are just fine tuning for exposure. Understanding the light your working in is key and for that you need to use a meter.

[@GreenLightMe]

All that for nothing? Why not just try to find unused film from the early 1930s?

[@olitography]

Wasn’t nothing at all, it’s a process. Film from the 1930s would be useless.