Kodak Six-16 and Six-20

Kodak Six-16 & Six-20

Kodak Six-20 image by Jim Grey (Image rights) Manufacturer: Kodak Date of Production: 1932-1936 (Six-16) Date of Production: 1932-1937 (Six-20) Type of Camera: Folding Film Type: 616/620 Roll film Lens: Kodak Anastigmat f/6.3 Shutter: No. 1 Diodak (Six-16) Shutter: No. 0 Kodon (Six-20) Shutter speed range: T, B, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100th (Six-16) Shutter speed range: T, B, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100th (Six-20) Viewfinder: Waist level & folding pop-up

The Kodak Six-16 and Six-20 are folding cameras of the same design that take size 616 and 620 rollfilm, respectively. Their art deco design touches are their distinguishing feature. The camera bodies and lens surrounds feature angular shapes, which differ from other folding cameras of the era whose bodies generally were rounded at the ends.

The Six-16 cost $40 when new. It uses a 126mm f/6/3 Kodak Anastigmat lens. It uses the No. 1 Diodak shutter, which fires at 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, and 1/100 sec, plus T and B.

The Six-20 cost $38 when new. It packs a 100mm f/6.3 Kodak Anastigmat lens. It uses the Kodon shutter, which fires at 1/25, 1/50, and 1/100 sec, plus T and B.

Both cameras sport two viewfinders. The first is a small “brilliant” type attached to the lens assembly that swivels to frame portrait and landscape photos. The second is a gunsight type attached to the camera body.

Kodak Six-16 & Six-20 models image by Rick Soloway (Image rights)

Kodak Six-20 from the front image by Jim Grey (Image rights)

Kodak Six-20 from the side image by Jim Grey (Image rights)

Six-16 Kodak in Brown c.1932 image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights)

Six-20 with original case image by Tarn McDaddo (Image rights)

Links

• Kodak Six-16 user manual at Butkus.org
• Kodak Six-20 at Down the Road
• Senior Six 16 converted in Minh Nguyen’s “Panoramic 612” by luis triguez
• Kodak Six-16 at The Living Image