Kodak No 2 Bulls-eye, model D – Amazing Results with an 1898 Camera

A recent comment from a 35mmc reader about my Leica 0 included “I look forward to more postings from you with other ancient cameras!”  I thought it was a fun idea and decided to start with my 1898 Kodak No 2, model D.  That should be ancient enough.  If you look this camera up, it is easily confused with the similar but later Kodak #2 Brownie Model D camera that uses 120 film.

The Bulls-eye No. 2 camera, introduced in 1892 as the first roll film camera with a red window was produced through 1913.  The “Historic Camera” site stated it was constructed of wood covered in seal grain leather and furnished with nickel hardware.  The site’s lens information is only that it is a meniscus achromatic lens with fixed focus and a set of three stops.  Some sources indicate the widest aperture is f/16. The Eastman rotary shutter is a single speed that is approximately 1/25  second.  Image size on 101 film was 3 ½ X 3 ½ inches but using 120 film, the image size becomes 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches.  The 120 roll yields seven pictures, instead of the original eight.

I bought this Kodak Bullseye camera from the granddaughter of the original owner.  It had been stored in the attic of a funeral home for many years. The included film roll was ruined but the camera is still in perfect mechanical condition so I got 3D printed spool adaptors to use 120 film to replace the unavailable 101 format film. I calculated how many turns to take on the winding knob after loading and between frames as I had to tape over the red window to keep it light tight with the smaller width film. The viewfinder was completely useless with a totally fogged mirror so I used Adhesive Acrylic Craft Mirror material that I cut to size with scissors and stuck over the useless original mirror.  Now it is bright and clear.

I dug around a lot and concluded that this camera was likely built in 1898.   I remembered that an abandoned church in nearby Griffin, Georgia was also completed that year. I had shot it before with various cameras and decided it would be appropriate to shoot it with my Kodak No. 2, Model D Bullseye box camera.

The following church photos were shot on Ilford Pan F 50 film.

I took this camera on other outings using different films and hope you will enjoy some of these.

Catlabs Pro 320 film (fumbled the loading and got some light leaks that added to the charm of the next two)

Kodak Tri-X 400 film.

The meniscus lens gives characteristic softness to the frame edges seen in the trees above and below.

Holga 400 film (Fomapan 400)

Kodak Gold 200.

Here is a fine one to end this story.

I hope to dig around and bring out another oldie soon.  Keep watching 35mmc.

Share this post: