Best simple Box camera in 120 Format

[paniolo]

Hello Photographers,
is there any kind of overview about those box cameras? like the kodak brownie or Agfa Clack?
I would like to add one of those to my collection but it should have at least some simple manual controles like shutter speed, focus and f stop. Like a classic folder, just without the folding stuff. 😉

Any hints?

 

[johannielscom]

Zeiss Ikon Box Tengor came in various guises. The black one with the Art Deco front (black triangle-pointed frame both top and bottom) often has three aperture settings and three distance settings. Shutter speed is always approx. 1/30th.

Very nice camera. I'll link a picture, hold on

 

[seany65]

Several mebers will mention the kodak box brownie No2.

I've got a Gevaert Gevabox, which according to the manual that I have (which shows flash connections underneath the camera which my actual camera doesn't have), has an 'M' speed of 1/50, but when I compared mine to a ricoh 500gx I thought the speed looked more like 1/30, it has three apertures of f8, f11 and f16 and 3 indexed focusing distances on the front of the lens housing although focusing the lens shows that any distance can be used form 0fficially 5 feet to infinity. It is also made of metal rather than cardbaord etc. This does mean that many of them are quite rusty. Multi-exposures are very easy with it, just press the shutter button again and perhaps again and again. I don't know how mine performs yet.



Click on the pic to see a bigger version.

 

[tunalegs]

Read this thread, lots of different options there: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158962

And don't even try to start asking questions about viewfinder magnification.

 

[02Pilot]

I'm rather fond of my Ilford Craftsman. Two speeds plus B, two aperture settings, helical focusing. Great big bright viewfinder, too.

 

[Austintatious]

How about an Argus 40 ?

argus 40 by Carlos Yashinon, on Flickr

Adjustable speeds & aperture, zone focus. Even a tripod mount and cable release shutter.
Made for 620 film but you can alter 120 to fit, you need a 620 take up spool however.

 

[Muggins]

In all honesty, if you are after adjustments on things like shutter speed, do you really want a box camera? Most of them were built to be cheap and simple tools that anyone could use (well, anyone with decent eyesight, as you'll find with a few of the waist-level viewfinders!).

That said, there are options with at least some of those. The No2 Brownies (I have several Model Fs and a Model E) come with Waterhouse stops at about F11, F22 and F32, and are my personal favourites results-wise for box camera photography.

The Model E is on top, there's also a 127 Model 0 in there.
Box Brownies by gray1720, on Flickr

There's also the All-Distance Ensign which has everything you ask for except the shutter speed adjustment, though I've never got as good photos out of it as the Kodaks.

All-Distance Ensign by gray1720, on Flickr

Adrian

 

[paniolo]

Hello guys,
thanks for your replies. Maybe "box" was not the right term for what i was looking for exactly.
I would like to have something like a "better" Holga. The Lens IQ doesnt matter, i just want a compact body with some controles and f stop range from about 3.5 to 16.
I had a Rolleiflex 3.5 once and realy liked it, but well, it was big and heavy. Right now I am using an old Zeiss Ikon folder without RF, works well and I realy like it, but I would like to have exactly the same thing without bellows.

 

[zuiko85]

Hello guys,
thanks for your replies. Maybe "box" was not the right term for what i was looking for exactly.
I would like to have something like a "better" Holga. The Lens IQ doesnt matter, i just want a compact body with some controles and f stop range from about 3.5 to 16.
I had a Rolleiflex 3.5 once and realy liked it, but well, it was big and heavy. Right now I am using an old Zeiss Ikon folder without RF, works well and I realy like it, but I would like to have exactly the same thing without bellows.

F 3.5 !?!? Really?
That's not just a 'better' Holga, you are into TLR territory in medium format there. Just get a nice clean Yashica, a model D should be fine. Even the very early model A would do. They are compact and simple. Not cheap, but available on the big auction site.

 

[02Pilot]

Yeah, anything with available apertures larger than about f/8 moves you out of box camera territory and into the realm of the TLR. Lubitel, Voigtlander Brilliant, that sort of thing might suit your needs.

 

[jsrockit]

If you liked the Rolleiflex 3.5, go for a Rolleicord this time... it is a lighter and stripped down version of a Rolleiflex. If that is still too heavy, maybe a Lubitel 166+.

 

[zuiko85]

At a flea market I chanced upon a Agfa Isoly III (although nowhere on the camera is it identified as such). This was a top of the heap one at the time with a focus by scale 60mm f3.9 lens, at triplet I would imagine. A 1/30 to 1/250 + B, Prontor S shutter with hot shoe only sync. Tests indicate it will X-sync too. Of course this is a smallish 4X4 format on 120 roll film, 16 exposures per roll. Cheap though at $12, with a case no less. The camera has no strap eyelets so the case is the only way to use a strap. They made this model with various lens/shutter combos, from very simple to the model I have. Might be something to consider also, even with the 4X4 format. It is a very light weight, less than a pound with film. The viewfinder ain't fancy but is big and acceptable in use.

Note; Sometimes 4X4 Isoly's are misidentified as 6X6 format so be careful if you look for one.

 

[seany65]

I know this prolly ain't the right thread for this question, but can any photo lab do 4x4 film, especially in Britain?

 

[zuiko85]

I know this prolly ain't the right thread for this question, but can any photo lab do 4x4 film, especially in Britain?

Don't know about Britain but, I would think any remaining labs still doing film could process either 120 (60mm wide paper backed roll film) that has 4X4 format on it or 127 film (which I think is 46mm wide, and is also paper backed roll film). Either can be 4X4 format. The 120 film is still common and available. Size 127 is sold by 1 or 2 vendors and is very expensive. Some 127 film is hand rolled from slit down 120 film.

 

[ossainraggi]

The Certo Phot is a nice option. A gorgeous one too. Regards: Osso

 

[tunalegs]

Dacora Digna cameras. Most of them use a slow lens (f/8) and a simple shutter, but they made a few (very hard to find) with better shutters and lenses, including one with an f2.8 lens.

Otherwise, just get a Ricohflex, it's about the smallest and lightest a TLR can be (aside from a Lubitel).