question about Kodak Brownie 616

[lubitel]

I just got this nice Kodak brownie Target six-16.

has anybody used or is still using these? what is this 616 format? can I use 120 film without problems? Thanks!

 

[VictorM.]

Just one example of what comes up if you use Google to search "616 film":
http://www.prairienet.org/b-wallen/BN_Photo/Kodak616.htm

 

[Scarpia]

616 film has not been made for about forty years. It was a larger format than 120. Some people adapt 616 cameras to take 120 film by adding spacers to the film spools and other means. Central Camera in Chicago sells (at least they did the last time I looked) 616 film made from 70mm film with a paper backing added for $30.00 a roll. As most 616 cameras took eight exposures this turns out to be quite expensive. Other 616 model cameras took 12 or 16 exposures depending on the format. When I was twelve years old I won an Ansco camera in an essay contest sposored by my local movie house in Brooklyn. I would hate to tll you how long ago that old movie palace was torn down to be replaced by a post office. I still have the camera and it would still work if film were available for it.
Kurt M.

 

[Filmnut]

I have an Ansco 616 camera that my mother gave to me when I was first interested in photography, about 12-13 yrs. of age. I still have it, with its' original leather case, and the camera it self is still in good condition.
It is a fairly basic camera, but it has one really neat feature, a built in pale yellow filter, to increase sky contrast with clouds. Never knew about the filter as a kid, and only when I was cleaning out stuff from my parents house a few years ago I rediscovered the camera, and found that the filter is controlled by a small lever on the front of the camera.