Kodak box camera

[truls]

I have not been active lately, hope this will change. I think the forum upgrade is exiting!

So I got a cheap $2 Kodak Box camera...


The camera is in good condition, and I would love to take some Pictures also. Can someone tell me how to use this thing?

[Stephen]

Plain "Point and Shoot in bright sunshine", (behind you)......but more seriously.... what film size does it take? To try it use a paper negative, and in bright light a negative image should possible and then contact printed, or scanned to positive.
Most printing paper will do, cut a plain template to fit from notepaper, and use this to cut out a sensitive paper under darkroom safety light.
Older box cameras can be surprisingly sharp for general views and medium distances. Usually they were focused to a hyperfocal distance to maximise the degree everything is in focus. Distant views can be a bit disappointing on sharpness, as the makers assumed family photography like groups of family shots.

[truls]

I will reply my stupid question myself

Here is the setup:


First, one have to pull out the shiny knob at the left side, then open the back of the camera. Take out the inside Box where the film goes. The Picture speaks for itself, how the film is loaded etc. The camera is a Model F - it says nothing to me.


Operation is also simple, when figured out how to:


The left Control at te top sets aperture, large, medium or small. The right Control is the B setting for long time exposure. The shutter is at the left side, I estimate 1/25(?), does anyone know this?

I have found a roll of 120 Fomapan film, will try it out. I dont expect much quality, the lens is one element glass only... It will be fun taking this camera around, no one will know this is a camera - I can shoot relatively undisturbed.

[Stephen]

You are lucky to have apertures, most box do not have them. It should work better than most, and don't worry about the lens, they are small aperture and work quite well. Without a test 1/25 sounds about right, 1/50 at the most. Box cameras were held against the body, the chest, and did not really need high speeds as the pose held it stable, but to test it use a rest or tripod.

Taken, in 1950, on folding Kodak Brownie, but with the same lens type as the Kodak Box.
Stephen.

[pompiere]

According to the 1928 #2 Brownie manual, the normal aperture for snapshots is the largest, the lever all the way in. The medium one is for snow or beach scenes where the sun is very bright. The smallest is for timed exposures, there is a page with examples for various lighting conditions. Keep in mind that film was a lot slower back then. Somewhere I ran across the estimated f-stops for the Brownie: f11,f16,f22. With a shutter speed of around 1/25-1/50 second, you can figure what stop to use for your film speed. Good luck!

[truls]

Thanks for the info! I have ISO 400 film, so maybe I can use this in shopping centers and in cloudy weather. When sunny I think have to attach a grey filter to reduce amount of light.