You press the button, we do the rest!

[sir pball]

Kodak may have hit hard times in recent years, but 120 years ago it was the pioneer of home photography. In 1888 it created the Kodak No.1, which gave consumers a chance to capture relaxed scenes which had previously only been taken by professional photographers. These snapshots taken by amateurs give a charming insight into everyday life in the 19th century.
...
It was simple to use - users would simply point in the direction of their subject, although it was a guessing game as there was not a viewfinder yet, reports Gizmodo. They would then wind the film, open the shutter, and press a button to actually capture the picture. The No. 1 came pre-loaded with enough negatives to produce 100 photos. The user sent the whole camera back to Kodak to develop the circular, 2.5 inch-wide images.

I wonder if anybody's making replicas of these...I'd sign up for one in a heartbeat!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2439904/The-original-Kodak-moment-Snapshots-taken-camera-changed-photography-1888.html

[hunter]

1. The cameras were simple enough they could easily be built from scratch these days.

You'd want to use 120 film. Maybe take the shutter mechanism from an entirely ruined brownie.

If I was imitating the look of the pictures I'd probably find an inexpensive 120 camera and replace the lens with something similar to the No.1 -- that would be cool.

I have a small collection of old Brownies, cardboard to metal to Bakelite.

If I was recreating a No.1 I wouldn't use a bulk roll of 120 for 100 pictures because it wouldn't fit in my developing tank!

There's some good info on the camera here:

http://brightbytes.com/collection/kodakNo1.html

It also says there were replica cameras made in 1988 to celebrate the camera's 100th anniversary.

[sir pball]

2. Oh, I'm sure I could

I have neither the time nor the inclination, though...it's one of those things for which I'd cheerfully pay somebody who does, though. Filthy Capitalist Pig that I am

I'd like the original to as close to a T as possible, maybe with the ability to take a normal 120 roll or the 100-picture bulk pack. Might be able to get the circular image by hacking up a Holga; the image quality of the plastic lens would definitely help with the look. THAT might be a project I could find the time for..

[hunter]

3. I have a mess of Frankenstein cameras, both film and digital. It's a hobby on and off.

I'll find an old photo in an antique or thrift store and decide I want to duplicate the look.

I think a Brownie Hawkeye with a home-made circular mask might duplicate the look of a No.1 pretty well.



It's easy to use 120 film in these 620 cameras, one doesn't need anything more than a nail clipper:

http://www.fourcornersdark.com/?p=6090

If someone else is developing the film, make sure to get the 620 take-up spool back.

Often I'm lazy and just mess around in gimp, but I love the serendipity of chemical photography. Sometimes I get results better than I was looking for. And if I get something worse it can usually be cleaned up on the computer.

I think it would be fun to have a fully replicated No.1 too, but I don't have the money. Much as I don't have money for impossible project instant film. But figuring out how to make photographs on a very limited budget is fun too.