Kodak Brownie Starflex Camera – Instruction Manual

About this edition

This text edition transcribes all sixteen source pages of the Brownie Starflex Camera booklet with Kodak Dakon lens, including instructions for the separate Kodak Supermite Flasholder, the historical guarantee and camera features. Illustrations and decorative photographs are omitted; readable labels and captions are retained. Original American spelling and historical product claims are preserved. No publication date is inferred from the small printer code. This is the reflex-finder Starflex with a separate flashholder; it differs from the Starflash with built-in flash. The exposure-distance table mentioned in this booklet is on the separate flashholder and is not present in the source pages.

Credit: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, New York. Source copy: The Brownie Camera Page.

Your Brownie Starflex Takes All 3

Kodak Verichrome Pan Film VP 127 – for 12 black-and-white snapshots.
Kodacolor Negative Film C 127, for both flash and daylight use – for 12 color snapshots.
Daylight Type Kodak Ektachrome Color Safety Film E127 – for 12 color slides.

Uses Kodak 127 Films.
Standard enlarged black-and-white or color prints – 3½ x 3½ inches.
Color slides – 2 x 2 inches, picture area 1½ x 1½ inches.

To make sure you understand your camera, read these instructions. Before any important pictures, shoot a roll of film and take a few flash shots. Your Kodak dealer will be glad to help you.

Note: If you’re practicing with an empty camera and find that the shutter release cannot be pushed down, turn the wind knob on the bottom of the camera.

Five do’s for picture-taking fun

The best color snapshots are made in bright sunlight or with flash. Kodak Verichrome Pan Film can be used on sunny or hazy days.

Be sure the sun is behind you.
Keep at least 5 feet away from your subject when using the 13 setting – at least 4 feet with the 14 setting.
Hold the camera steady and slowly press the shutter release.
Keep the picture simple – avoid confusing backgrounds.
Keep the lens clean – sparkling pictures will be your reward.

Load … but never in bright, direct light

Push the LEVER on the bottom of the camera to OPEN; then remove the FILM HOLDER as illustrated.
Place the end of the film spool under the fork of the SPRING pointed out by the word LOAD. Push up against the spring; then push in the other end of the spool and let it snap into the hole.
The empty spool should be over the WIND KNOB. If the end of the spool does not snap into the hole, turn the wind knob until it does.
Break the film seal; then draw the paper, colored side out, over the film holder marked FILM THIS SIDE. Thread the end of the paper fully into the slot of the empty spool. Turn the wind knob two full turns to make sure the paper is straight and tight. To make sure the paper is tight, apply pressure on the paper when winding two turns.
Replace the film holder; make sure it is all the way in. Lock it in place by moving the lever all the way to LOCK.
Look in the window on the camera back. Wind until the warning arrow appears; then slowly wind until the “1” is centered. The film name precedes each of the 12 numbers.

Illustration labels: LEVER; OPEN; LOCK; SPRING; WIND KNOB.

Unload … but never in bright, direct light

After the 12th snapshot, wind until the end of the paper has passed the film window and is all wound on the spool.
Push the lever to OPEN. Remove the film holder. Grasp the end of the film spool near the forked spring and pull out the film.
Fold under the end of the paper. Seal it with the paper sticker.
To reload the camera, move the empty spool to the wind knob side.

Important: Do not leave the exposed film in bright light. Have your film developed as soon as possible.

Outdoor Snapshots

Illustration labels: HOOD; SHUTTER RELEASE; LENS OPENING LEVER.

Important: When you’re using Kodacolor Film or Kodak Ektachrome Film For Daylight, have the subject in bright, direct sunlight.

Set the LENS OPENING LEVER by pressing it in and moving it all the way to the end of the slot.
- Set at the arrow under 13 COLOR for color films.
- Set at the arrow under 14 B & W for Kodak Verichrome Pan Film.
NEVER SET THE LEVER BETWEEN THESE POSITIONS.

These are exposure-value numbers.
Lift the finder HOOD. Compose the picture in the large reflex finder.
Hold the camera steady while slowly pressing the SHUTTER RELEASE all the way down.

Note: A white spot will appear behind the lens to indicate that the film needs winding. Be sure to advance the film to the next number.

The shutter release remains locked after it is tripped until the wind knob is turned. This feature prevents accidental double exposures.

Photograph caption: The picture shows the recommended way to hold the camera. It’s important that you get a firm grip on the camera and that your finger or the neck strap is not in front of the lens.

Flash Snapshots

Obtain a flasholder, such as the Kodak Supermite, Kodak Rotary, or Kodalite Midget Flasholder. To make color slides indoors, use Kodak Ektachrome Film, Type F, and clear flash lamps. Kodak Verichrome Pan or Kodacolor Film can be used with either sunlight or flash.

Attach a flasholder to the camera (see page 12 for Kodak Supermite).
Insert a flash lamp in the socket.
The distance from the camera to the subject is important, as is the setting of the lens-opening lever. Keep within the distances listed in the table on the back of the flasholder in use.
Compose the picture; then take the snapshot. The lamp will flash when the shutter release is pressed.
Push the LAMP RELEASE to remove the used lamp.

Full instructions are packed with the Kodak Rotary and Kodalite Midget Flasholders.

Lamps are too hot to handle immediately after firing; always use the lamp release to eject used lamps. Since lamps may shatter when flashed, use of a transparent shield, such as a Kodak Flashguard, over the reflector is recommended. Do not flash lamps in an explosive atmosphere.

Kodak Supermite Flasholder

Illustration labels: BATTERIES; LAMP RELEASE; PULL TAB.

Installing Batteries

Remove the cover plate by loosening the slotted screw.
Make sure that battery and flasholder contacts are clean; then insert two fresh 1½-volt penlite BATTERIES with both bases down. Use fresh batteries which test at least 3½ amperes. Make sure that the cloth PULL-TAB is under the inside battery, tab end out, for removing used batteries.
Fold the end of the tab over the outside battery, replace the cover plate, and tighten the coin-slotted screw.

If a Kodalite Midget B-C Flashpack is used in place of penlite batteries, insert the required 15-volt battery after the flashpack has been installed. Place the end of the flashpack with the plus sign under the upper contact spring of the flasholder rather than as directed in step 5 of the instructions packed with the flashpack.

Attaching the Flasholder

Attach the flasholder to the camera by placing the flash posts of the flasholder in the flash receptacles on the side panel of the camera. Then securely tighten the knurled knob on the side of the flasholder.

Flash Lamps

The flasholder is designed to accept the AG-1 flash lamps only. Orient the glass base of the lamp to match the horizontal slot in the socket and firmly push the lamp straight in until it “clicks” into place.

To release a used lamp, tip the flasholder slightly forward and press the LAMP RELEASE.

Exposure

In making flash pictures, exposure depends on the distance from the flash lamp to the subject. For good pictures, stay within the range of distances shown on the back of the flasholder.

Caution: Since lamps may shatter when flashed, use of a transparent, protective shield, such as the Kodak Supermite Flashguard, over the reflector is recommended.

Photo Aids

FLASHOLDER – Don’t miss the many indoor picture-taking opportunities made possible by a Kodak Supermite, Kodalite Midget, or Kodak Rotary Flasholder.

HOW TO MAKE GOOD PICTURES is perhaps the most famous and popular picture-taking book of all time. See your Kodak dealer for this and other publications.

THE KODAK CLOSE-UP ATTACHMENT NO. 6A is slipped over the lens for close-ups of people, flowers, etc. Make pictures from 1¾ to 4 feet at the 14 setting – from 2 to 3 feet at the 13 setting.

THE KODAK CLOUD FILTER NO. 6A captures fluffy clouds by making the blue sky appear darker. Use it with Kodak Verichrome Pan Film – never with Kodak color films.

THE KODAK ILLUMINATED POCKET VIEWER or THE KODAK POCKET VIEWER allows easy viewing of your color slides.

THE BROWNIE STARLET, STARFLEX, AND STARMETER CARRYING CASE will protect your Brownie Starflex Camera.

THE KODAK 300 PROJECTOR lets you see the full beauty of your color slides brilliantly projected on a screen.

See your photo dealer for these and other photo aids.

Guarantee

Within a year after purchase, any repairs necessary to this Brownie Starflex Camera due to a defect in materials or workmanship will be made or, at our option, the camera will be replaced without charge. No other warranty or guarantee, express or implied, shall be applicable to this equipment. Nor are we responsible for loss of film, for other expenses or inconveniences, or for any consequential damages occasioned by the equipment.

In case of unsatisfactory operation, the camera should be sent directly or through a Kodak dealer to Eastman Kodak Company or a repair firm authorized by us to make such repairs. It should be accompanied by a description of the trouble encountered and other available information regarding the camera, including the date and place of purchase.

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Rochester, New York

Camera Features

Film: Kodak 127 roll film. Negative size – 1⅝ x 1⅝ inches. 12 snapshots per roll. Standard enlarged color and black-and-white prints – 3½ x 3½ inches. Color slides – 2 x 2 inches.
Lens: Dakon – factory focused from 5 feet and beyond. Two lens openings – (13) for Kodak color films; (14) for Kodak Verichrome Pan Film. These are exposure-value numbers.
Shutter: Instantaneous, with double-exposure prevention.
Finders: Reflex-type – brilliant, optical with folding hood.
Neck Strap: Adjustable – supplied with camera.
Photo Aids: Kodak Supermite, Kodalite Midget or Kodak Rotary Flasholder; Kodak Close-Up Attachment No. 6A; Kodak Cloud Filter No. 6A; Kodak Illuminated Pocket Viewer or Kodak Pocket Viewer; Kodak 300 Projector.

EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, Rochester 4, N. Y.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Small printer-code characters are indistinct in this source copy.