Brownie camera

I am a little too young (which is to say, not very young) to remember the Brownie camera, although it is mentioned in all manner of novels and such set in the 20th century.

Completely lacking photographic skills in every possible way (I even look bad in pictures), I have never taken to being interested in photography as a hobby, but there is something irresistibly populist about this $1 everyman camera, and its otherworldly, claustrophobic snapshots. I had better be very careful to avoid eBay while this subject is front of mind.

More old pictures...

Update: It's good that I kept reading about this, because it discouraged me from thinking seriously about acquiring one. Why? Well, anyone who knows anything about cameras knows that photography is one of the most complex, layered, technical subjects in the history of earth. From the skill to the equipment to the process, you have to have bottomless pockets, talent, and training to make anything out of picture taking beyond point-and-shoot. Now of course the Brownie cameras was the original icon of point and shoot, created expressly for the budget and use of the clueless millions. But that was in 19-something, when random film formats were readily available. These days, using a Brownie camera with modern print film formats (120 or 35mm) requires hand-whittling film spool spacers, or re-winding film onto salvaged spools from defunct formats in that spare darkroom you happen to have lying around next to your racquetball court and bomb shelter. In other words, you need to be a deeply invested camera nerd to bother. Apparently there *are* some random Brownie models that take the still-existing 120 film format, including the Brownie #2 and the Cresta, but I am sure this is not as straightforward as it sounds. Who develops this film? Surely there is something weird I am supposed to do in 'my darkroom'.

Perhaps it is time to just drag out the old 1970's 35mm Minolta in the hall closet and take a few snapshots...