A few weeks ago I acquired a 1954 Kodak Brownie Bull’s-Eye camera from a local seller. It’s actually the second Bull’s-Eye camera that I own. The first in black Bakelite plastic (pictured above), the second is featured in my You Tube video below.
The camera takes 620 roll film, has a fixed 1/50th Sec Shutter at f11 and was “designed by Arthur H Crapsey (who also designed the highly successful Kodak Brownie Star series). The body featured an eye-level viewfinder and a large shutter-release button on the front vertical edge, in front of the winding knob. It was available in black (with light-gray winding knob, focus & shutter-release)- from 1954-1958, or a beige color (called "gold", with black controls) from 1958-1960”
-http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Kodak_Brownie_Bull%27s-Eye
I took a bit of a gamble by loading and shooting with a roll of Tower black & white film that expired in October 1963. Tower was Sears and Roebucks “house brand” film. Al Kaplan on Photo.net said (of Tower film) – “I think that the (Tower) B&W film is most likely made by Gavaert, a Belgian company. They merged with Agfa towards the late 1960's. They made a film of about that that was widely available under private labels.”
-http://photo.net/black-and-white-photo-film-processing-forum/00KCYv
above: John Fedele shooting our Kodak Brownie Bull’s-Eye video on his iPhone. Tower 620 film (image shot 11/17/2010 – film expired 10/1963)
above: Staples in Wayne, NJ. Shot the same day on the same roll of Tower 620 film
Please don’t think that the images captured on the extremely expired Tower film represents the image capability of the Brownie Bull’s-Eye. Experimentation with other film stocked yielded brilliant 6x9 photos as seen below.
above: Film Photography Podcast video editor Joe Kolbek. Kodak Brownie Bull’s-Eye camera / Kodak Ektachrome 100 plus
above: Grace Chapel First Reformed Church / Kodak Brownie Bull’s-Eye camera / Fujicolor HR100
Images © 2010 Michael Raso
My Flickr Photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelraso/
Buy a 620 film camera…they’re fun!
Looking for 620 film? Write to me via e-mail:
FilmPhotographyPodcast (at) gmail.com
About The Film Photography Podcast
Launched in October of 2009, the Film Photography Podcast is a 90 minute, bi-weekly Internet radio program, exploring a wide range of topics relevant to the experienced and aspiring photographer using film as a medium. Hosts Michael Raso and Duane Polcou enthusiastically dissect and debate the pros-and-cons of film formats, do-it-yourself techniques, digital technologies, and vintage and contemporary cameras and accessories in a thorough, informative and casual manner. Regular features include Camera tests and reviews, “book of the month”, interviews, a listener-generated Q&A, and film-related giveaways.
Produced in the United States, the Film Photography Podcast is broadcast around the globe via iTunes and direct stream from http://www.filmphotographypodcast.com
