3 Box Cameras – Part 2 Kodak Brownie Junior Six-20

The Kodak Six-20 Brownie Junior (third from the right in the picture above) is one of three box cameras I tested together under the same conditions. The other two cameras being a Kodak Six-20 Brownie Special and a Vena Venaret Junior. This camera takes 620 film, so I respooled Fompan Profiline classic 100 120 film onto a 620 spool. The camera takes 8 images from a 120 roll of film. I prefer Fomapan 120 film as the numbers and lines on the backing paper are bigger and easier to read in these old cameras.

The Kodak Six-20 Brownie Junior is a box camera from the 1930s . The body is metal and covered in leatherette. It has two reflecting finders where the image is projected on to the frosted glass. This version has an art deco style geometric pattern on the facade and the name around the lens. There is a viewfinder on the top and side, so that it can take vertical or horizontal pictures.

The lens is a fixed focus meniscus lens with a focal Length of 90mm and focus range of 10ft to infinity. There are two shutter speeds – instantaneous exposure or timed exposure. The instantaneous shutter speed could be anywhere between 1/40-1/60 given it’s age. The camera has 2 aperture values available, controlled by a metal tab – f/16 (Tab Down) or f/22 (Tab Up). I use this little chart I found on Art Deco Cameras to determine the appropriate aperture.

As the shutter speed is so slow, it is recommended to hold the camera against a wall, on a solid object, or firmly against your body to get shake free images. There are no tripod sockets.

The camera measures approximately 8.5 x 11 x 13cm and weights just under 500g. There is a carry handle at the top, but given it’s age I’m not sure how secure it is anymore.