Difference between revisions of "Kodak Brownie Hawkeye"
(redone the layout and added/edited down some text for formatting and redundancy, put the camera date thing in a table. added links from the flickr group and from the brownie flash page. Added images from the brownie flash page.) |
(added more information on using 120 film, modification, new links and references. Kodak Brownie Flash page now redirects here.) |
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'''[[Viewfinder]]:''' Waist level finder | '''[[Viewfinder]]:''' Waist level finder | ||
| + | '''Tripod socket:''' No | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Cable release thread:''' No | ||
|} | |} | ||
| − | The '''Brownie Hawkeye''' is a [[Bakelite]] camera taking 6x6cm images on [[620 film]], made in the USA and France by [[Kodak]], between | + | The '''Kodak Brownie Hawkeye''' is a [[Bakelite]] box camera taking 6x6cm images on [[620 film]], made in the USA and France by [[Kodak]], between 1949-1961<ref>[http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/aa13/aa13.shtml Kodak.com History of Kodak Cameras]</ref>. There were also examples labelled "Brownie Fiesta" and "Brownie Flash". The original design did not have a [[flash sync|flash facility]], but the Flash model was added in 1950 and called the "Brownie Flash" in France and the "Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash" in the USA. Earlier models of the camera have a metal film advance knob, later models have a knurled plastic knob. |
| + | |||
| + | The shutter has an instant setting but the precise speed is unknown, it is thought to be between 1/30th and 1/50th of a second. | ||
| − | * Produced: May 1949- | + | * Models Produced: |
| − | * | + | ** Non-Flash Models: May 1949 - November 1951 |
| + | ** Flash Models: September 1950 - July 1961 | ||
| + | *Original Price: <ref>[http://static.photo.net/attachments/bboard/00V/00VBu7-198453584.pdf U.S. Camera - November 1954 - Photo Equipment Guide]</ref> | ||
| + | **Camera: $7 | ||
| + | **Flash unit: $4 | ||
=== How to tell when a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye was made === | === How to tell when a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye was made === | ||
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</table> | </table> | ||
| − | If your camera, for instance, has the letters CARM, that means it was manufactured in 12/53. | + | If your camera, for instance, has the letters CARM, that means it was manufactured in 12/53. Kodak used 13 4-week periods to divide up each year |
| + | <ref>The article [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Fixed_Calendar#History International Fixed Calendar] at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikipedia] notes Kodak's use of this quixotic calendar reform scheme.</ref>, so those numbers would translate to the 12th 4-week period of 1953 (sometime between the latter half of November through the beginning of December). | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Using 120 film in the camera === | ||
| + | There are a few methods for this, some easy than others, most common listed here. | ||
| + | * The Hawkeye can fit a 120 spool in the film side and still have the camera close, but a 120 spool will not fit in the take up side. If your camera came with an original empty 620 spool then you can use 120 film in the camera providing you use a 620 spool for the take up side. Some people have reported this method can make advancing the film a little harder, so if you have this then it is normal. | ||
| + | * This is the same as the previous method but involves trimming excess plastic of the 120 spool with some scissors or nail clippers to make it fit better in the film side of the camera.<ref>[http://www.kurtmunger.com/kodak_brownie_hawkeyeid149.html Brownie Hawkeye flash review - Section four: modifying 120 film to use in the Hawkeye.] at Kurt Munger's [http://www.kurtmunger.com]</ref> | ||
| + | * If you have a few 620 spools you can re-spool 120 film on to 620 in a dark room or a film changing bag <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=B3TnTWFlOos 620 Film: How to use 120 film in your 620 camera] by [http://filmphotographyproject.com/ The Film Photography Podcast] on YouTube</ref> so that you can use only 620 spools with no issues. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Modifying the camera === | ||
| + | The camera can be modified to have features it lacked when produced, the most common ones are adding a tripod socket and a thread for a standard cable release <ref>[http://mconnealy.com/vintagecameras/hawkeyeflash/page2.html Modifying a Brownie Hawkeye Flash with a tripod socket and cable release] by Diwan Bhathal</ref> to make bulb exposures and portraits easier. Less common are adding strap lugs/rings to facilitate using a neck strap, <ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/f6point3/4923300358/ Hawkeye Conversion Project] by Pete Lutz on Flickr</ref> and modifying the camera to use a modern electronic flash unit. <ref>[http://www.cwclemens.com/ConvertingBrownie/BrownieFlash.html Converting a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye to Electronic Flash] by Charles Clemens</ref> | ||
| + | |||
<br clear="all"> | <br clear="all"> | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
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== Links == | == Links == | ||
* [http://www.flickr.com/groups/browniehawkeyeflash/ Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash Group] on Flickr | * [http://www.flickr.com/groups/browniehawkeyeflash/ Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash Group] on Flickr | ||
| − | * [http://www. | + | * [http://www.kurtmunger.com/kodak__brownie_hawkeye_cleaning_instructionsid107.html Kodak Brownie Hawkeye cleaning instructions and owners manual page] at Kurt Munger's [http://www.kurtmunger.com] |
| + | * [http://dodgeburn.blogspot.com/2008/12/photographer-interview-eric-j-henderson.html Interview with a professional photographer who uses only the Hawkeye Flash] | ||
* [http://www.davidrichert.com/brownie_hawkeye.htm Brownie Hawkeye] images at several angles and photos taken with it by David Richert | * [http://www.davidrichert.com/brownie_hawkeye.htm Brownie Hawkeye] images at several angles and photos taken with it by David Richert | ||
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/kodak/html/brhawkeye.php Brownie Hawkeye] on [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand | * [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/kodak/html/brhawkeye.php Brownie Hawkeye] on [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand | ||
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/kodak/html/brownie_flash.php France Pathé Brownie Flash] at Sylvain Halgand's [http://www.collection-appareils.fr] | * [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/kodak/html/brownie_flash.php France Pathé Brownie Flash] at Sylvain Halgand's [http://www.collection-appareils.fr] | ||
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[[Category: Bakelite]] | [[Category: Bakelite]] | ||
Revision as of 14:16, 1 December 2011
| Kodak Brownie Hawkeye | ||
|---|---|---|
Manufacturer: Kodak Date of Production: 1949-61 Type of Camera: Box Lens: Single Element Meniscus Focal length: 81mm Aperture: f/15 Shutter: Rotary Shutter speeds: Instant or Bulb Viewfinder: Waist level finder Tripod socket: No Cable release thread: No |
The Kodak Brownie Hawkeye is a Bakelite box camera taking 6x6cm images on 620 film, made in the USA and France by Kodak, between 1949-1961[1]. There were also examples labelled "Brownie Fiesta" and "Brownie Flash". The original design did not have a flash facility, but the Flash model was added in 1950 and called the "Brownie Flash" in France and the "Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash" in the USA. Earlier models of the camera have a metal film advance knob, later models have a knurled plastic knob.
The shutter has an instant setting but the precise speed is unknown, it is thought to be between 1/30th and 1/50th of a second.
- Models Produced:
- Non-Flash Models: May 1949 - November 1951
- Flash Models: September 1950 - July 1961
- Original Price: [2]
- Camera: $7
- Flash unit: $4
How to tell when a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye was made
If you ever wondered how old your Brownie Hawkeye was, Kodak used a system whereby its manufacture date can be ascertained. If you remove the back of the camera, on the underside of it, where the exposed film spools go, you will find four letters printed in silver. These letters correspond to dates, using Kodak's code word "CAMEROSITY":
| C | A | M | E | R | O | S | I | T | Y |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
If your camera, for instance, has the letters CARM, that means it was manufactured in 12/53. Kodak used 13 4-week periods to divide up each year [3], so those numbers would translate to the 12th 4-week period of 1953 (sometime between the latter half of November through the beginning of December).
Using 120 film in the camera
There are a few methods for this, some easy than others, most common listed here.
- The Hawkeye can fit a 120 spool in the film side and still have the camera close, but a 120 spool will not fit in the take up side. If your camera came with an original empty 620 spool then you can use 120 film in the camera providing you use a 620 spool for the take up side. Some people have reported this method can make advancing the film a little harder, so if you have this then it is normal.
- This is the same as the previous method but involves trimming excess plastic of the 120 spool with some scissors or nail clippers to make it fit better in the film side of the camera.[4]
- If you have a few 620 spools you can re-spool 120 film on to 620 in a dark room or a film changing bag [5] so that you can use only 620 spools with no issues.
Modifying the camera
The camera can be modified to have features it lacked when produced, the most common ones are adding a tripod socket and a thread for a standard cable release [6] to make bulb exposures and portraits easier. Less common are adding strap lugs/rings to facilitate using a neck strap, [7] and modifying the camera to use a modern electronic flash unit. [8]
Gallery
|
| with flash fitted image by John Kratz (Image rights) |
|
| Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash model image by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights) |
|
| Manual cover image by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights) |
|
| Early non-"Flash" Hawkeye lacks flash sync attachment sockets image by cyanide45 (Image rights) |
|
| Brownie Flash (France) model image by photoli2009 (Image rights) |
|
| Brownie Fiesta name variant (see other Brownie Fiesta models) image by photoli2009 (Image rights) |
|
|
|
|
Kodak Brownie Flash variant | ||
References
- ↑ Kodak.com History of Kodak Cameras
- ↑ U.S. Camera - November 1954 - Photo Equipment Guide
- ↑ The article International Fixed Calendar at Wikipedia notes Kodak's use of this quixotic calendar reform scheme.
- ↑ Brownie Hawkeye flash review - Section four: modifying 120 film to use in the Hawkeye. at Kurt Munger's [1]
- ↑ 620 Film: How to use 120 film in your 620 camera by The Film Photography Podcast on YouTube
- ↑ Modifying a Brownie Hawkeye Flash with a tripod socket and cable release by Diwan Bhathal
- ↑ Hawkeye Conversion Project by Pete Lutz on Flickr
- ↑ Converting a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye to Electronic Flash by Charles Clemens
Links
- Kodak Brownie Hawkeye Flash Group on Flickr
- Kodak Brownie Hawkeye cleaning instructions and owners manual page at Kurt Munger's [2]
- Interview with a professional photographer who uses only the Hawkeye Flash
- Brownie Hawkeye images at several angles and photos taken with it by David Richert
- Brownie Hawkeye on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand
- France Pathé Brownie Flash at Sylvain Halgand's [3]
