52 Cameras – Week 25 results – Brownie Bullseye

The Bullseye was loads of fun. It takes huge 6×9 images, and I found myself burning through film. The first roll of FP4 disappeared in no time, and a roll of Ektachrome E100 quickly followed.

It has a few interesting features. The shutter is set by winding the film, and a metal “lightning bolt” drops across the viewfinder when it is tripped. Double exposures are not possible, although a partial double could be obtained deliberately by only winding the film part way. The lens has a focus notch at 10 feet. I presume this is intended as a universal setting for most snapshot photography. It will focus down to 4 feet, and it achieves infinity sometime after 15 feet.

A quick note on 620 film: 620 and 120 are the same film, except for the spool. 620 film is no longer made, but it can easily be rolled from 120 if you have a spool. I've discovered the need to do this varies. Cameras such as the Kodak Tourist II require that both feed and take-up spools be 620. My Hawkeye requires a 620 take-up spool, but the feed can be a trimmed down plastic 120 spool.

I left on vacation with only one 620 spool. You can see the problem.

I learned that the Bullseye can use trimmed 120 spools on both sides. Loading is a bit tricky, and you have to be gentle with the film winding knob, but it can be done.

I found shooting it to be more clumsy than the Hawkeye, as it lacks any sort of handle or strap. It's a handful to hold. There are lugs, and I should add a strap before shooting again. Mounting the flash unit does help some. The size and weight feel more like a TLR than a box camera.

All in all, I'd recommend owning one. The Bullseye is rarer than the Hawkeye, but they can still be found in flea markets and online.

The Holyoke Twinkie truck, third try. This one came out nicely. It has a plow, a push bumper, and snow chains. Neither rain nor snow shall keep the Twinkies from their appointed Market Basket.