plastikcam.com       Kodak Brownie


The Kodak Brownie is a very basic point and shoot camera for 4x6cm pictures on 127 film, 8 pictures per film. It was launched in 1952 and produced in England. It was very popular in England, millions were made, but few were exported. There were 3 models over the time, the first (1952-59) and the second (1959-62) made from thick black Bakelite type plastic. The third model was a complete re-design and a relaunch from 1965 to 1967, made of gray plastic and 4x4 format.

This camer is from the second series.

To keep costs down, Kodak used simple plastic lenses, often branded "Dakon" lens, a name that they previously used for simple shutters.

Its main features are:

Plastic
meniscus "Dakon" lens, F11, focus free
Shutter 1/40, rotary, no double exposure prevention
Size 133 x 78 x70 Weight  242 gr.

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Original pouch.

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Camera and pouch.

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Camera front. Lens, viewer.

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Camera back. Viewer and red window.
If you really want to use the camera, put a piece of scotch over the red window except when you advance the film.

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Camera top. Film wind and
shutter release.

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Camera bottom. No tripod socket, wouldn't make sense with 1/40 single speed. Opening screw.

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Film compartment with curved film plane to avoid vignetting from the simple plastic meniscus lens.

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Film insert, seen from front.

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Film insert with curved film plane.

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Housing with shutter.

These are the ultimate basics of a roll film camera, focus free, single shutter speed and F11 fixed aperture. Point and shoot only. If you choose the right film, ISO 200 in general and ISO 100 on very sunny days, you can shoot outside photos that look o.k.. The rest will be "Lomo" style. Seen the price of 127 film I would probably not run a roll through it. It came with a plastic camera lot, so I had it for free. It's more an item for collectors although there are still many of them around.

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