About this edition
This text edition transcribes all six source images of How to Get the Best Out of Your Brownie 127 Camera with ‘Dakon’ Lens, Kodak Limited London. Illustrations and decorative photographs are omitted; readable labels and all operating text are retained. Original wording and historical product claims are preserved. Small printer-code characters are partly indistinct; no publication date is inferred from them.
Credit: Kodak Limited, London. Source copy: The Brownie Camera Page.
Loading – Size 127 film only
TAKE THE CAMERA INTO THE SHADE
- Holding the top of the camera, unlock it by turning the metal key in the base in the direction of the arrow, and separate the two parts.
Make sure that the empty (take-up) spool is fitted with one of the end slots engaged with the key of the winder and the other end in the sprung spool bracket.
- Clip the film spool in position with one end in the hole in the feed-spool bracket and the other end in the moulded bearing hole. Carefully remove as much of the sealing band as possible.
- With the coloured side outward draw the backing paper along the curved film track and thread the tongue as far as it will go into the long side of the slot in the take-up spool.
Turn the winder in the direction of the arrow about five times. Be certain that the paper is winding tightly and evenly between the spool flanges.
- Re-assemble the camera and lock by turning the key clockwise. Turn the winding knob until the warning pointer passes the red window and stop when figure 1 is centred. The camera is now ready for use. After each ‘shot’ wind on to the next number.
Illustration labels: LOCKING KEY; TAKE-UP SPOOL; WINDER; SPOOL BRACKET; SHUTTER BUTTON.
Unloading
When you have taken eight pictures continue winding until the paper disappears from view in the red window. Open the camera in the shade; remove the full spool, fold the end of the paper under and seal it with the paper sticker. Hand the film to a Kodak dealer for developing and printing.
Taking the Picture
Some subjects fit naturally into a HORIZONTAL FRAME. Others are OBVIOUSLY VERTICAL.
Pressing the Button
Frame your picture in the viewfinder with your eye close to the eyepiece. Hold the camera with a firm but comfortable grip.
Be careful that nothing obscures the lens, and press the shutter button slowly and steadily.
Keep Your Distance
The camera is in focus from five feet (three-quarter-length portrait) to infinity. Any object nearer than five feet will not give a sharp picture unless a close-up lens is used (see “Close-ups and Clouds” overleaf).
Beware of the Sun!
Stand so that the sun is not shining directly into the lens of your camera. When facing the sun, try to stand in shade, or use a lens hood; if a lens hood is not available you can ask someone to throw a shadow over the lens by holding a hat (or other suitable object) well above the camera.
Portraits and groups should be taken with the sun shining from one side rather than from the front, where it will shine directly into your subjects’ eyes.
Never leave the camera lying in a position where the sun can shine on the red window.
Care of Your Camera
Keep dust, water and fingerprints off the lens and its attachments. If they do get dirty, clean them by gently polishing with a soft cloth or tissue moistened with only ‘Kodak’ Lens Cleaning Fluid. A soft artist’s brush is most effective for dusting out the nooks and crannies of the plastic body.
A ‘Kodak’ case, Code 921, for ‘Brownie’ 127 cameras, which your dealer can show you, will keep your camera always ready to hand and preserve it from dirt and accidental knocks.
Black and White Films
In summer ask for Kodak ‘Verichrome’ Pan 127.
For dull winter days Kodak ‘Tri-X’ Pan 127.
Pictures in Colour
For colour snapshots use ‘Kodacolor’ 127 Film. Remember, shoot for colour in bright sunshine only.
Product names quoted thus – ‘Kodak’ – are trade marks.
Printed in England.
‘Stopping’ Movement
The ‘Brownie’ 127 shutter remains open for approximately 1/50 second. This is quite fast enough to ‘freeze’ any slight movement of a stationary subject. If, however, you wish to photograph a subject in motion, try to arrange for it to travel toward or away from you unless it is very slow moving or some distance away.
Close-ups and Clouds
A ‘Kodisk’ Close-up Lens enables you to take sharp portraits and pictures of subjects at distances from 2½ to 4 feet. When doing this keep the top of your subject well below the top of the viewfinder.
To bring out the clouds in your pictures (when using black-and-white film only) you will need a ‘Kodisk’ Cloud Filter (yellow).
The ‘Kodisk’ Lens Hood will help you to eliminate glare and reflections, and thus obtain crisper results, especially when taking seaside pictures.
Size No. 285 ‘Kodisk’ attachments fit on the lens rim of the camera. They can be used either separately or in combination.