Brownies!
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crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
OK, now I get it. I located the Brownie Camera Page, which lists the film requirements for various Brownies:
http://www.brownie-camera.com/
Looks like the Hawkeye is one of the models that takes 620 (120) film.
Thanks Andrew!
Muggins
Junk magnet
Answering several things at once here, hence the weird format!
Dan,
Try the sources this place suggests for 127: http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk/articles/film/ It's UK-based, as the URL suggests, but does give links to some US stores - I don't know when it was last updated though.
For 620 - frankly, for the cost and faff involved in buying it, it's easier to respool your own 120 if you can get to a darkroom. And you can pick up a 620 camera for less than people charge for a spool on E**y.
42-exposure films... well since the first exposure counter appeared (as opposed to a red window), I don't suppose there's a photographer using film out there who hasn't done that at least once... and don't you feel an a**e when you realise? And isn't it nerve-wracking when the counter gets up there, but you can see the rewind turning... waiting to see whether something screwy is going on?
jody36,
The method I had suggested for minimising shake is to prop the camera up on the belt to your trousers - holding it tight into your stomach keeps much more still. However both I and the person who suggested it are pretty slim - it might not work if you are more ample in size.
Have I answered all the things I wanted to without omission, being patronising, etc... probably not, but I've tried!
Adrian
Dan,
Try the sources this place suggests for 127: http://www.onetwoseven.org.uk/articles/film/ It's UK-based, as the URL suggests, but does give links to some US stores - I don't know when it was last updated though.
For 620 - frankly, for the cost and faff involved in buying it, it's easier to respool your own 120 if you can get to a darkroom. And you can pick up a 620 camera for less than people charge for a spool on E**y.
42-exposure films... well since the first exposure counter appeared (as opposed to a red window), I don't suppose there's a photographer using film out there who hasn't done that at least once... and don't you feel an a**e when you realise? And isn't it nerve-wracking when the counter gets up there, but you can see the rewind turning... waiting to see whether something screwy is going on?
jody36,
The method I had suggested for minimising shake is to prop the camera up on the belt to your trousers - holding it tight into your stomach keeps much more still. However both I and the person who suggested it are pretty slim - it might not work if you are more ample in size.
Have I answered all the things I wanted to without omission, being patronising, etc... probably not, but I've tried!
Adrian
crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
Hi Adrian,
I'm accustomed to 35mm film processing, so I agree that respooling 120 onto a 620 reel is probably the way to go. And i would process my own B&W anyway.
Nobody has tackled the paper-backing subject yet. I'm not so familiar with 120 film, but I'm speculating it's film only-- no paper. So, I'm guessing I would need to fashion my own paper backing, which would carry the "frame index".
All this is becoming more and more complex. But what the heck. That's what makes it fun.
I'm accustomed to 35mm film processing, so I agree that respooling 120 onto a 620 reel is probably the way to go. And i would process my own B&W anyway.
Nobody has tackled the paper-backing subject yet. I'm not so familiar with 120 film, but I'm speculating it's film only-- no paper. So, I'm guessing I would need to fashion my own paper backing, which would carry the "frame index".
All this is becoming more and more complex. But what the heck. That's what makes it fun.
K5HJ
Member
Dan,
Yes, 120 film does have a paper backing. In fact, the numbering for the red-windowed cameras is the same also. As far as I know, the only difference between 620 and 120 is the spool size.
Sometimes, you can fit the roll of 120 in a 620 camera and wind it onto the 620 spool.
Randy
Yes, 120 film does have a paper backing. In fact, the numbering for the red-windowed cameras is the same also. As far as I know, the only difference between 620 and 120 is the spool size.
Sometimes, you can fit the roll of 120 in a 620 camera and wind it onto the 620 spool.
Randy
crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
Hi Randy,
That simplifies things quite a bit. I can handle the respooling (from 120 reel to 620 reel).
This doesn't sound too bad after all.
chippy
foo was here
yeah it is pretty straight foward Dan, easier still if you get a brownie model that takes 120 film (no need to respool then, or buy/find 620 spools to use or trim 120 spools). respooling while not overly difficult is a bit of a pain, so if it can be avoided, so much the better
as Randy says the 120 film available now has backing, numbers and fits just like it did all those years ago. just pop it in, wind on and use the camera (or cardboard box hehe) as it was intended
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FallisPhoto
Veteran
There are a few Kodaks that are easy to convert to 120 too. If they have film cradles, you can usually just remove the cradles. Sometimes you have to install bigger lugs too, but not always.
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FallisPhoto
Veteran
620 film is the same film as 120, just on a skinnier spool. B&H sells Efke film in 127 format. They also sell film in 620 format. It isn't much more expensive than 120 or 620, but you can't get it at Walmart.
chippy
foo was here
actually that Efke isnt that bad a price is it ($4.95), about 25% more than 120 film. B&H shipping to AU is a killer though. There was a guy recently selling 127 film on ebay for rediculous high prices... quick look at freestyle shows they have the Efke as well for a few cents cheaper ($4.39)
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Yeah. For some reason I always forget Freestyle. There are a couple of other places as well, but I don't trust them. Might be worth the postage if you bought a lot of it. Anyway, Efke also sells a nice 127 infrared film. You need a good camera to use it though. Some of the more common plastic cameras you find in 127 size are transparent to infrared light. This is not a good thing when you have infrared film in them.
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crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
Thanks to all for Brownie advice.
I received a Brownie Hawkeye today (from the *bay), and it's beautiful. I've already given it a CLA (well, actually, just a C-- I didn't do any L or A). Mainly to clean up the grime from lens and rangefinder surfaces. It looks pretty good now.
I also loaded a roll of Tmax-100 into it. It's just 120 film, and it loaded fine. The camera came with a 620 take-up reel, and I think that's all I need (as long as I don't lose it). I plan on processing my own B&W, so that shouldn't be a problem. (I do need a 120 film reel for the developer tank, but that should be easy.) I can't wait for daylight, so I can shoot some lo-tech MF. The camera also came with flash attachment, so I'm in the market for flash bulbs. (Wonder if a strobe would work?)
I received a Brownie Hawkeye today (from the *bay), and it's beautiful. I've already given it a CLA (well, actually, just a C-- I didn't do any L or A). Mainly to clean up the grime from lens and rangefinder surfaces. It looks pretty good now.
I also loaded a roll of Tmax-100 into it. It's just 120 film, and it loaded fine. The camera came with a 620 take-up reel, and I think that's all I need (as long as I don't lose it). I plan on processing my own B&W, so that shouldn't be a problem. (I do need a 120 film reel for the developer tank, but that should be easy.) I can't wait for daylight, so I can shoot some lo-tech MF. The camera also came with flash attachment, so I'm in the market for flash bulbs. (Wonder if a strobe would work?)
charjohncarter
Veteran
Here is one way to use an electronic flash:
http://www.cwclemens.com/ConvertingBrownie/BrownieFlash.html
But I've thought about just adjusting the flash timing and then converting the Hawkeye flash unit to electronic. One of my thoughts was to use the flash unit from a throw away camera. It is small and I'm sure could be adapted to the inside of the Hawkeye flash unit. If you try this wear rubber gloves, when I did this for another project I kept getting shocked.
http://www.cwclemens.com/ConvertingBrownie/BrownieFlash.html
But I've thought about just adjusting the flash timing and then converting the Hawkeye flash unit to electronic. One of my thoughts was to use the flash unit from a throw away camera. It is small and I'm sure could be adapted to the inside of the Hawkeye flash unit. If you try this wear rubber gloves, when I did this for another project I kept getting shocked.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
You're probably going to need to clean the shutter blades and escapements too. Set your shutter for 1 second, look at the second hand on your watch, and trip the shutter. It is probably way off, and that means it is a cinch the other speeds are too. Fortunately, it is an easy fix.
ZorkiKat
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If I remember it right, Brownie Hawkeyes came with simple rotary shutters. 2 speed settings- I and B(T?). "I" stood for instantaneous, where the shutter run at a nominal value between 1/25 to 1/40 sec. "B" (or T, for time) would have the shutter open for as long as the release was tripped. No slow or fast instantaneous speeds. 1 sec would be done by setting the shutter on T and holding the tripper down for 1 sec.
Some Brownies don't even have the T/B setting. Just a single snapshot shutter setting.
The shutter mechanism is a relatively simple affair. Not much escapements there. No gears, just levers with springs pulling or pushing things around. Just a fan-shaped blade (single) with an elongated hole which passes over the aperture. This blade is attached on a pivot (this is where the oil would go) and pulled back and forth, powered by a stretched coiled spring. No cocking is needed- the shutter was 'self-setting'.
Or was there a Hawkeye which had a more sophisticated shutter?
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dazedgonebye
Veteran
I have an old brownie box camera that won't take 120 on either spool, so I've taken a file to an old 120 spool. It only takes a few minutes to work it down to size.
Now I need to file down a roll with film on and shoot.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Are you talking about the bakelite box camera? I had one of those once, but I converted it to a pinhole camera. This was all several years ago and I don't still have it. I remember there was an easy way to convert it to 120 too. If I recall correctly, I just took the film holder out of the bottom. It was a tight fit, but 120 would go into it after that. I think I still needed a 620 takeup spool though.
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Two words -- toenail clippers.
Y
yankeedoll
Guest
My husband used to do a lot of conversions and tweaks to brownies.
http://greyhoundman.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greyhoundman/sets/72157594486702179/
http://greyhoundman.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greyhoundman/sets/72157594486702179/
Muggins
Junk magnet
OOh, thank you for pointing those out! Kudos to your hubs for attempting to pan - it's not easy in a mirrored viewfinder! I do like the action shots of the horse as well, Eadward Muybridge would have been proud of them!
Adrian
Adrian