James's Camera Collection: Kodak Brownie Automatic f/2.3

Kodak Brownie Automatic ƒ/2.3
Kodak Brownie Automatic movie camera
Format: 8mm
Transport: Spring-wind
Exposure: Automatic (selenium cell)
Approx. date of manufacture: 1960
Approx. original price: $unknown

A standard 8mm spool-film camera. Wind-up type. One lens (ƒ/2.3) but there's a photocell so there's some bit of exposure control. What surprises me is that the flip-up bombsite viewfinder on top has three colored rings (it's hard to see in the photo here) that obviously correspond with three different focal lengths (see comments on the Wollensak Model 43). The Brownie Turret model shared the same body but had 3-lenses (but no photocell). Kodak was too cheap to use a different piece of plastic for the front viewfinder.

This was produced between 1959 and 1962 and retailed for $74.50! Yeesh.

Never used it—another camera that came as part of a lot of junk that I bought. Still has a spool of film in it (which is now ruined) and the original box. Considering it's condition I don't think it got much use.

Related Pages

History of Eastman Kodak

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