Brownie Flash II
The Brownie Flash II, introduced in the mid-20th century by Kodak, is a classic box camera that has won the hearts of many photography enthusiasts for its simplicity, reliability, and charm. Designed as an affordable option for amateur photographers, this camera stands as a testament to Kodak's mission to make photography accessible to the masses.
This ease of use makes it an excellent choice for beginners who want to explore film photography without being overwhelmed by complex settings. Brownie Flash II is its fixed-focus lens, which ensures sharp images for subjects within the optimal range of about six feet to infinity. This limitation actually serves as a creative challenge, encouraging photographers to think more carefully about their composition and subject placement.
However with minimal controls – just a shutter release lever and a winding knob – the Brownie Flash II is incredibly simplistic approach to photography. You will not have any exposure settings. The focus is fixed at infinity, the apperture fixed to F11 and even the shutter is fixed to somewhere around 1/60th of a seccond.
The camera uses 620 film, which might be a bit harder to find today compared to more common formats like 35mm or 120 film. However, you can respool 120 film onto 620 spools, allowing the continued use of this charming camera. The negatives produced are a whopping 6x9 format. So only 8 shots per roll.
Close-up
The one thing this camera offers is a close-up lens you can 'activate' by pulling out a lever which slides another lens behind the main lens. I tried and missed focus. Not sure if this is because of the lens. It is very likely I moved the camera taking the shot. The shutter button is on the side of the camera and needs to be pressed quite deep making it difficult not to move the camera.
Film: Ilford FP4 plus - Developper: Ilford Ilfosol 3
Image Quality
Given its age and the simplicity of its optics, the image quality of the Brownie Flash II is surprisingly good. The fixed aperture and shutter speed are well-balanced for daylight shooting, producing images with a characteristic vintage feel. Photos tend to have a soft focus and a slightly dreamy quality, which is part of the charm that draws photographers to use and collect these cameras today.
Conclusion
While it's in my opinion an incomplete camera in terms of functionality. For vintage photography enthusiasts, or anyone looking to reconnect with the roots of amateur photography, the Brownie Flash II is an easy start. However I will probably stick to camera's that give me more control over exposure settings.
Film: Ilford FP4 plus - Developper: Ilford Ilfosol 3
