Back in The Box (photos from box cameras)

tunalegs

tunalegs

Pretended Artist
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The thread a bit further down, about suggestions for box cameras, got me to dig out an old box I've had in storage for many years, as well as repair one that's never worked right, as well as acquire three new ones. Now I'm finally getting back some rolls through them, I thought that I'd share here, as well as encourage others to share their shots out of the box.

The old box which I had never used up until now is a No. 2 Cartidge Hawk-eye Model A. A metal bodied box camera that Kodak made as a cheapened version of the Brownie for premiums.

Hawkeye'd Dummies by Berang Berang, on Flickr

hawkeye'd SAAB by Berang Berang, on Flickr

Not at all bad in black and white.

However in color, light leaks and cyan fringing are much more noticeable:

GTO by Berang Berang, on Flickr

Next up was a 2 1/4A Box Form Ensign (with the name Bertha written inside it). This needed some repair. The shutter would randomly jam, so although I tried to use it once about a year ago I gave up and hadn't touched it since. After carefully pulling out the brads that held the front on, I discovered a loose piece of wood was fouling the shutter mech.

Ensign Box Form Camera Shutter by Berang Berang, on Flickr

Greenhouse by Berang Berang, on Flickr

Yota by Berang Berang, on Flickr

This one is a bit tricky to use, the shutter and aperture are such that it will overexpose 100asa film in typical sunlight. There's no smaller aperture to select unlike the other boxes in my collection. Still, looks somewhat promising.

Lasty, and a big surprise for me, was an Ansco Buster Brown.

Lamp by Berang Berang, on Flickr

Nessie by Berang Berang, on Flickr

Assuming the photographer can hold the camera still enough, the results are remarkably sharp! And the cyan fringing is much less apparent than with the Hawk-eye.

Corner by Berang Berang, on Flickr

I look forward to seeing other's shots with boxes.
 
Once I've done some with my Gevaert Gevabox, I'll post them here. I've got a colour film in just to see what the results would look like, though I think I'll be using it for mono mostly.
 
Looking at the pics in this thread, all I can think is:

"Pffft! Who needs Leica, Contax, Hasselblad or Rollielfex?"
 
Taken with my Brownie No.2 Model F, full width crop to pano.
I can't remember the film/developer, if I find the neg I'll note it here.
Scanned by V700 and split tone in Lightroom.

15937266255_69897e5fa1_b.jpg

Kodak Brownie No2 Model F #047 by lynnb's snaps, on Flickr
 
Great images folks. Makes me want to try my 100+year old Brownie. It needs a CLA, which should be pretty simple. :D
 
Here is a shot taken with a Coronet Rex box camera. There were many models and variants of these, mine is probably pre-WWII. One of the challenges of these box cameras is the curved DOF.

U73354I1613930358.SEQ.0.jpg
 
I have an old Kodak No. 2A Hawk-eye Model A but unfortunately, it takes 116 Film (at least that what the take up spool it came with says). I can't find any reference to this Model A on the 'net but it is stamped 'Model A' with first patent date of Jan, 12, 1897 on the film chamber. I think I paid $5 USD at a flea market over ten years ago.

This is a Model B link but there's no reference for a Model A.

I've noticed even Box Camera prices have been going up or are higher than when I remember. If I could find a 120 Film version reasonably priced, I would shoot with one for fun.

Nice images all!
 
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