Kodak Brownie Starmite

Kodak Brownie Starmite, 1960-1963 image by Nicholas Middleton (Image rights)

Kodak Brownie Starmite II, 1962-1967 image by Steve Harwood (Image rights)

The Brownie Starmite was one of a very successful range of "star" cameras made by Kodak in the early 1960s. It took 12 square 4x4cm (which is the smallest "medium format" size) images on 127 film. The only adjustment was a lever below the lens, giving EV 13 & 14 (marked 'Color' & 'B&W' on the original Starmite; 'Flash' & 'Daylight' on the Starmite II) by adjusting the aperture. The Ev 13 setting is the equivalent of f/11 and Ev 14 is about f/16. It also had double-exposure prevention.

Kodak Starmite with Box image by Sven Hafner (Image rights)

specifications

• Type: compact viewfinder camera
• Manufacturer: Kodak
• Year of launch: 1960 (Starmite), 1962 (Starmite II)
• Withdrawn: 1967
• Film: type 127 roll film
• Flash: Built-in Bulb Flash Socket accepts AG-1 style bulbs
• Lens: Kodak Dakon f/11 (Starmite), Kodak Kodet f/11 (Starmite II)
• Focal distance: 5ft - infinity
• Shutter: Rotary 1/50th or Bulb.

Links

• Kodak Brownie Starmite II manual at Butkus.org
• Starmite II on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand (in French)