Kodak Brownie Reflex 20

I have been fairly quiet on the blogging front, as I have been preoccupied with getting another 'zine ready. Monochrome Mania #3 is ready to go to print, and it just happens that I left out one camera from my selection of lo-fi cameras in the issue. I ended up buying a bunch of 620 cameras while preparing the material for the next issue of Monochrome Mania. Some of them were models that that I had owned at one time, over a decade ago. I wanted to be be able to photograph them all, as well as run a roll or two of film to see the results with a more nuanced eye than I would have had back then.  One thing I noticed right away, is that while some manufacturers kept putting the same camera out for years with nothing more than cosmetic changes (i.e., the Spartus Full-Vue), others, such as Kodak took a basic design and changed it up a bit, and gave it a different name with each iteration.  Such is the case with the Brownie Reflex 20.  I previously wrote a post about the Kodak Brownie Twin 20, which I found to be easy to use, and produced satisfactory results. The Brownie Reflex 20 is pretty much the same camera, but with only a nice bright waist-level reflex viewfinder. This faux-TLR features the same EV aperture selection, one shutter speed, and body shape and controls as the Twin 20.  The brilliant viewfinder is easy to use, and I think makes it a better "user" than the Twin 20.  

If you are out and about in the eBay Universe, or maybe your local thrift store, you should also take a look at the Kodak Brownie Flash 20 or the Brownie Flashmite 20. Again, these models have identical controls as the Twin 20 and reflex 20 cameras, but incorporate an eye-level viewfinder and a built-in flash, with the Flashmite 20 using a small AG-1 flashbulb, and the Flash 20 using an M8 bulb. The keyword in looking for these cameras is the "20" designation, which means they use 620 film.  Of course, you can respool 120 to 620 spools giving you a broader selection of film. The EV markings are equivalent to f/11, f/16, and f/22, all at about 1/100 sec.  I found that I could use the same 33mm Series VI filter adapter that I used on the Twin 20, so I presume that holds true for the other two models mentioned here.  These cameras are not to be confused with the smaller Kodak 127 cameras that look similar, such as the Starflex, Starmite, Starflash, or Startech.  

Using the Reflex 20 was the same as the Twin 20, except for the fact that the brilliant reflex viewfinder made composition easier and goes well with the placement of the shutter button.  

I loaded some respooled Tmax 100 that was about 20 years expired, and developed in in HC110B for 6 minutes. Results were excellent!  The Tmax 100 had been refrigerated for most of its life, and is a perfect film for these cameras.  I basically shot most of the 12 exposures walking around the Vance monument in Asheville, NC. 

Overall, I'd say this this is my favorite Brownie-labeled camera, a notch up from the Brownie Hawkeye, with better ergonomics and some means of exposure control and zone-focus.  The Brownie - 20 series cameras were made from 1959 to mid-1960s,and I feel that the Reflex 20 is the best of the bunch. All four models take 6x6 cm negatives on 620, have the same zone-focus and EV aperture settings, but the Reflex 20 has the best viewfinder and a separate flash unit that most people will never use, anyway.  Drop in some 100 ISO film and you are ready to go.

Here are a few images.  Those lenses are actually quite good, in comparison with a Holga or Diana.

The Kodak Brownie Twin 20

 

This attractive 620 film camera features both waist-level and eye-level viewfinders, hence the Twin part of the name.  The camera was produced from 1959-1964,  and you will often see it for sale in the box with flash, a space for batteries, and the space for a roll of film. The lens has an aperture of f/11, and there is zone focusing.  While there is no B setting, there are three apertures - EV13 - f/11, EV14- f/16, and EV15- F/22.  The shutter speed is approximately 1/100 sec.    The reflex viewfinder is very easy to use, and I find myself preferring it over the eye-level finder.  The camera came with a screw-on flash that uses AG-1 bulbs.  It's quite attractive and modern-looking, in that mid-century style.

I feel the zone focus and ergonomics are the principal attraction to this camera, and if it had B exposure along with a tripod socket, it would certainly rank among the top of my list.  I found that a press-on 33mm Series VI adapter fits over the front of the lens barrel, and allows me to use a yellow filter, which I feel is a great addition for skies.    

Remember to move the switch to Exp. 1-12 after loading the film 

and advancing to frame 1.

The only really oddball thing about this camera is that Kodak expects one to switch a lever on the bottom of the camera to "Load" when rolling on a new roll of film, until exposure 1 pops up in the red window.  Then press  the lever to Exposures 1-12 so that the wind-on stops exactly at the next frame number.  If you forget and start the wind-on in the 1-12 position, you'll never get it where you want it to be.  You then have to switch back to "Load" to get to the next frame number in the red window.  Might as well leave it on Load all the time.  Its sister camera is the Brownie Reflex 20, which has the same features, but lacks the eye-level viewfinder.   That one is definitely worth a try if you should see it in a shop somewhere.

Yellow filter attached with Series VI 33mm adapter

I took the Twin 20 out on an excursion last week to Spruce Pine, NC, and shot a roll of 1997 expired Tmax 400.  I have had good luck with this expired film, and used a yellow filter while shooting in the sun.  I developed it in HC110-B.  I am pretty happy with the results.  Zone focusing worked well, and I kept the aperture at f/11 on all of the shots.