Kodak No. 2 Brownie

The No. 2 Brownie was a series of box cameras by Kodak, produced between 1901 and 1934. The model shown here is a No. 2 Brownie model F, made in the UK in the years between 1928-1931.

No. 2 Brownies use 120 film, while the No. 2A use 116 film (now obsolete), and slightly larger, but identical in function. No. 2 was actually the first camera to ever use 120 film. With a 120 film roll it will take 8 photos in 6x9 format.

The shutter speed is about 1/50 of a second, but by pulling the exposure slide up you can make "time exposures" which leave the aperture open for the desired time.

The aperture has three stops which are approximately equivalent to f/16, f/22 and f/32.

The camera has two viewfinders that must be viewed by holding the camera to weist height. The top viewfinder is for portrait (vertical) photos, while the side one is for landscape photos, taken by holding the camera on its side.

Later models, like the one shown here, have two tripod sockets (one for portrait and one for landscape photos), fully compatible with modern tripods.

Back in the time when these cameras were made, films were not very light-sensitive, and for this reason the camera doesn't have fast shutter speeds. This is why you should avoid using film with ISO over 400, unless you are planning on using the camera in dark environments. If you are using color film, better go with one with less than 400 ISO because the colors and the contrast might turn out "flat".

In general, the results with this camera are pretty descent, taking into account that the photographer has very limited options and that the lens is nothing special. Nevertheless, using it is a very interesting and fun experience!