Kodak No2 Cartridge Hawk-Eye Model C

I recently purchased a Kodak No2 Cartridge Hawk-Eye Model C for the princely sum of £5, and in very nice condition. I promptly put a roll of Hp5+ (expired) through it. It's an enjoyable and fun camera to use everybody's collection deserves space from one of these cameras.

I thought I'd do a little review.......

That's interesting, thanks for posting. Nice results with just about the simplest camera it's possible to make, and still call a camera. Did you say you had the brochure? On a brighter day you could reduce the exposure by taping a filter over the lens.

The last box camera I used was the slightly more sophisticated Ernemann Film K, from the same era:

LINK --- An Ernemann Film-K

Thanks, I just like the simplicity of vintage cameras and the retro results they produce. No, i haven't got the brochure with it unfortunately.

Never heard of the Ernemann Film-K before, certainly nice results.

I've recently picked up a 1915ish Kodak vest pocket autographic (with Manual) which I'll put some film through soon.

Some box cameras from this age are slightly more complicated, in that they have two or

three aperture settings. That is, a metal strip with three holes, which might

be f/16, f/22, f/32, or maybe even smaller.

Also, two shutter speed settings, which are I and B.

The manual says to never use the smallest aperture setting with I, but they didn't

have ISO 400 film. So, last summer I took my Brownie 2(F), which is actually brown,

but otherwise looks much like the camera above.

So, I put a roll of TMax 400 in, and went out with the smallest aperture setting,

just to show that I could do that.

Some even had a 'focusing' lens.

You pull it 'out' for close focus, presumably portrait distance.

Push it back 'in' for anything else, likely hyperfocal point at largest aperture (if there was a choice).

I think my Ensign box has this, but I don't have it with me to check.

Hmmm. I don't think I have any box cameras with a (variable) focusing lens.

The folding cameras often have different stops when you pull out the bellows,

for different focal distances. That is, instead of a rotating knob.

I can't get access to mine until they lift the Covid lockdown, but I think it is an 'Ensign All Distance', though a slightly different version than the ones in this link:

Houghton-Butcher All Distance Ensign

The 'All Distance Lens' really is just a simple push-pull tube with two stops, nothing sophisticated.