How to Use the Six-20 and Six-16 Target Brownies. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester 4, N.Y.
Text edition of the supplied booklet. Original photographs and diagrams are omitted; their readable captions and labels are retained. Original page references refer to the booklet.
Picture size
Actual size of picture (2¼ × 3¼ inches) made with the Six-20 Target Brownie. On the opposite page is shown the actual size of picture (2½ × 4¼ inches) made with the Six-16 Target Brownie.
Picture taking is easy with the Six-20 or Six-16 Target Brownie
On the opposite page a Close-Up of the Six-20 Target Brownie shows its simple working parts.
- A – Winding Knob
- For turning a new section of film into position for exposure. It must be drawn out before removing roll holder.
- B – Lock for Roll Holder
- To remove the roll holder, lift the catch and draw out roll holder.
- C – Time Slide
- Should be pushed in for snapshots and drawn all the way out for time (“bulb”) exposures. On the Six-16 the Time Slide is below the Exposure Lever.
- D – Exposure Lever
- The exposure lever is pushed from one end of the slot to the other for a snapshot; it then springs back to its original position. For a time (“bulb”) exposure, time slide C is drawn out; then push exposure lever D to the other end of the slot; the shutter will remain open as long as lever D is held, see page 19. On the Six-16 the Exposure Lever is above the Time Slide.
- E – Slide Controlling Stop Openings
- This must be all the way down for ordinary snapshots and drawn out for distant views in bright sunlight.
- F-F – Finders
- For locating subjects to be photographed either vertically or horizontally.
The films to use and why
Kodak Verichrome Film – The everyday favorite. Verichrome’s great speed and wide exposure latitude assure clear, satisfying results. 8 exposures. V620 for Six-20 Target Brownie; V616 for the Six-16.
Kodak Plus-X Panchromatic Film – The high speed and fine grain of this film make it ideal for general outdoor work when panchromatic results are desired. 8 exposures. PX620 for Six-20 Target Brownie; PX616 for the Six-16.
Kodak Super-XX Panchromatic Film – For snapshots at night with Photoflood Lamps and for pictures indoors by daylight. Super-XX is not recommended for snapshots in sunlight with these cameras. 8 exposures. XX620 for Six-20 Target Brownie; XX616 for the Six-16.
Kodacolor Film – For pictures in full color. Exposed outdoors in bright sunlight only, this film yields color negatives from which Kodacolor Prints can be ordered through Kodak dealers. 6 exposures. C620 for Six-20 Target Brownie; C616 for the Six-16.
Loading
For best results, load your Target Brownie with one of the Kodak Films described on page 6.
The camera may be loaded in daylight, but not in direct sunlight.
To open the camera, draw out the winding knob as far as it will come, see Fig. 1.
Holding the camera against the body, pull out the catch and remove the roll holder, see Fig. 2.
There is an empty spool in the recess on the winding side of the roll holder; this is to be used as the reel. The winding side is the side with the round opening, directly behind the exposure lever.
Insert the spool of film in the recess opposite the winding side, see Fig. 3. The flanges of the spool are held between the two lugs, roller, and the tension spring. The spool must be inserted so that when the protective paper is drawn off, the colored side will be up and the black side will be toward the inside of the roll holder. If the spool of film is inserted the wrong way, no pictures can be made.
Remove the band that holds the end of the protective paper; then draw the paper over the rollers and across the opening in the back of roll holder, Fig. 4.
Thread the paper through the longer opening of the slit in the reel as far as it will go, see Fig. 5. Give the spool two or three forward turns to bind the paper on the reel, and be sure that the paper is started straight. Do not unroll too much protective paper or the film will be fogged.
Replace the roll holder in the outside box, so that the round opening, through which the slotted end of the spool is seen, comes next to the winding knob.
Push in the roll holder until the catch B, see illustration on page 4, snaps into position.
Press in and at the same time turn the winding knob until the web at the lower end of the knob fits into the slot in the spool end.
Press and turn the winding knob until a hand appears in the red window; then turn slowly until the figure 1 is in the center of the window.
After each picture turn the knob until a new number appears in the red window.
Snapshots
The Six-20 and Six-16 Target Brownies are fixed-focus cameras; therefore, subjects that are about eight feet and farther from the camera will be sharp. For subjects that are closer to the camera than about eight feet, use the Kodak Close-Up Attachment, see page 20.
The time slide C should be pushed all the way in, when making instantaneous exposures or snapshots; for time (“bulb”) exposures the slide must be drawn out as far as it will come. On the Six-16 the time slide is below the exposure lever.
The shutter is opened by pushing the exposure lever D (see illustration). Push the lever slowly, and as far as it will go. If no “click” is heard, no exposure is made. After the exposure is made, lever D will spring back to its original position. On the Six-16 the exposure lever is above the time slide.
Do not jerk the lever, as any movement of the camera, at the instant of exposure, will blur the picture.
For the best results, snapshots should be made with the subject in the bright sunlight. The sun should be behind your back or over the shoulder. If it shines directly into the lens, it will blur and fog the picture. However, beautiful effects can be obtained by back- or side-lighting. When pointing the camera toward the sun, the lens must be shaded so that the direct sunlight will not strike the lens.
Three simple rules for snapshots
- Snapshots should be made with the subject in bright sunshine, or on slightly cloudy or hazy days. The subjects can be in open shade with clear sky overhead.
- The time slide C must be pushed all the way in. On the Six-16 the time slide is below the exposure lever.
- Push the exposure lever D to the other end of the slot until you hear the “click;” then release the lever which will spring back to its original position. Keep fingers away from the lens; hold the camera steady.
Unposed snapshots have a natural charm that makes them highly prized.
Choose a pleasing background for your snapshots of people.
Interesting effects can be obtained with backlighting.
Satisfactory snapshots can often be made when the subjects are in the open shade with clear sky overhead, and even on slightly cloudy days with bright light.
Special instructions for making portraits are given on pages 17 and 19. When making snapshots at night with Photoflood Lamps, see page 21.
To photograph a moving object, such as a runner, train, or automobile, the subject should be traveling toward or away from the camera.
Snapshots outdoors should be made from one hour after sunrise until one hour before sunset with Kodak Verichrome or Kodak Plus-X Panchromatic Film. NOTE: Kodak Super-XX Panchromatic Film is not recommended for use in bright sunlight with this camera.
For a subject under the roof of a porch or under a tree, a time (“bulb”) exposure should be made, and the camera must be placed on some steady, firm support – not held in the hands.
When making instantaneous exposures or snapshots, hold the camera firmly against the body and push the exposure lever once as far as it will go, as shown in the two illustrations on page 14. When pushing the exposure lever, hold the breath for the instant. If the camera is moved during the exposure, the picture will be blurred. Do not let a finger come in front of the lens.
Holding camera for a horizontal picture. Example below shows a subject that should be photographed with camera held for a horizontal picture.
Holding camera for a vertical picture. Example below shows a subject that should be photographed with camera held for a vertical picture.
Hold the camera steady, and firmly against the body.
Stop openings
The stop openings regulate the amount of light passing through the lens. When slide E is all the way in, the large stop opening is in position. This is the one to use for snapshots of all ordinary subjects. When slide E is drawn out as far as it will go, the small stop opening is in position.
For ordinary snapshots, both the slides C and E shown in the illustration should be pushed all the way in.
See page 16 for the use of the stop openings (diaphragms).
Illustration labels: C – Time Slide; D – Exposure Lever; E – Stop Opening Slide. This illustration shows the position of slide E when the second or small stop opening is in position. On the Six-16 the time slide C is below the exposure lever D.
- The Large – For snapshots of all ordinary outdoor subjects, such as landscapes, groups and street scenes, when the subject is in the bright sunlight, and for near-by subjects at the seashore, in the snow, and on the water.
- The Small – For instantaneous or snapshot exposures of extremely distant views, beach scenes, marines, snow scenes without prominent dark objects in the foreground, and clouds only, in bright sunlight. For time exposures outdoors on cloudy days, see page 18.
When the small stop opening is used, near-by objects will be sharper.
The finders
There are two finders, one for horizontal and the other for vertical pictures. Only what is seen in the finder will show in the picture.
Point the camera at the subject to be photographed and looking into the finder from directly over the center of it, include what you want and compose the picture by turning to the right or left, see page 14.
If the subject is below normal height, like a child or a dog, the camera should be held down level with the center of the subject.
Keep the lens clean and occasionally wipe out the inside of the camera. To clean the lens, draw out the winding knob and remove the roll holder, as described on page 7. Wipe the back of the lens with Lens Cleaning Paper or a clean handkerchief. The glass dust cap on the front of the camera, which prevents dust from entering the shutter and reaching the lens, should also be kept clean. Do not attempt to remove the lens or the glass dust cap to clean them.
Portraits outdoors
When making snapshot portraits outdoors while the sun is shining, the best results are obtained by placing the subject in the shadow of a building or a large tree, with clear sky overhead. This avoids unpleasant shadows on the face.
If the subject is under a tree, or the roof of a porch, a short time (“bulb”) exposure should be made with the camera on some firm support. For detailed instructions on making time (“bulb”) exposures, see pages 18 and 19.
Time exposures
When the light is not sufficiently bright for making instantaneous exposures or snapshots, as when the subject is under a tree or the roof of a porch, or on dark cloudy days, it will be necessary to make a time (“bulb”) exposure. For outdoor subjects, use the small stop opening and make an exposure from one second to about four seconds, depending upon the quality of light.
The camera must always be placed on some solid, firm support – never hold it in the hands, or the picture will be blurred. Do not place the camera more than two or three inches from the edge of the support, or the support will show in the picture.
When making a time (“bulb”) exposure, steady the camera with one hand; if the camera is moved during the exposure, a blurred picture will result.
On the Six-16 the time slide C is below the exposure lever D.
Simple rules for time exposures
- Place the camera on a firm support, not more than three inches from the edge.
- Draw out the time slide C all the way.
- Push the exposure lever D slowly to the opposite end of the slot. The shutter will remain open as long as lever D is held down.
Daytime portraits indoors
Place the subject in front of an unshaded window. Use a reflector (a sheet thrown over a chair will do) as shown in the diagram.
Use Super-XX Film. Make two exposures, one at 1 second and one at 2 seconds, with the large stop opening.
Diagram labels: subject; window; reflector; camera.
For large, clear portraits at close range – Kodak Close-Up Attachment
With the Kodak Close-Up Attachment you can make head and shoulder portraits with your Target Brownie. It can also be used for photographing flowers and similar subjects.
Place the Attachment in front of the lens and compose the picture in the finder; then turn the camera a trifle to the left when making either a vertical or a horizontal picture.
The subject must be about 3½ feet from the lens. Carefully measure the distance from the lens to the face.
The same exposure is required as without the Attachment.
Use Kodak Close-Up Attachment No. 6A with the Six-20 Target Brownie, and the No. 7A with the Six-16 Target Brownie.
Photoflood pictures
Indoor snapshots can be made with Super-XX Film and a No. 1 and a No. 2 Photoflood Lamp in average reflectors. Place the lamps as shown in the diagram, both 3½ feet from the subject. The No. 2 Lamp should be slightly higher than the No. 1.
Be sure that the time slide C and the stop opening slide E are pushed all the way in.
Hold the camera eight feet from the subject, unless the Kodak Close-Up Attachment is used; see page 20. Be sure the lamps are not included in the picture; then press the exposure lever down as far as it will go to make the exposure.
CAUTION: The lamps become very hot. Do not touch them or allow them to come in contact with anything while they are in use.
Removing the film
After all the exposures have been made, turn the winding knob until the end of the protective paper passes the window.
In subdued light, open the camera and remove the roll holder as shown on page 7. Hold the ends of the protective paper and the sticker together to prevent the paper from loosening, and lift out the roll of exposed film.
IMPORTANT: After removing the film from the camera, do not wind it tightly with a twisting motion or it may become scratched.
Fold under the end of the protective paper, and fasten it with the sticker.
Remove empty spool and place it in the recess on the winding side of the roll holder. The flange on the winding knob must fit into the slot in the end of the spool.
Replace the roll holder in the outside box and push in the winding knob; turn the knob until the flange fits into the slot on the end of the spool.
Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester 4, N.Y.
How to Make Good Pictures
A Handbook for the Everyday Photographer. Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y.
Explains every phase of photography in which the amateur is likely to be interested, including methods of making pictures, developing, printing, enlarging, coloring, interior photography, home portraiture, etc. Profusely illustrated. Sold at your dealer’s.
Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester 4, N.Y.
2-46-KP-AXX. Printed in the United States of America.
Source credit
Manufacturer booklet supplied through The Brownie Camera Page.