Kodak Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7

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This post will be looking at the second or sister version of the Kodak Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3, the Kodak Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7.

I did go through the history of the Brownie series in my Model 1 post and the history (or at least what I could find) in my Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3 post.

Similar to the Instamatic 33, there doesn’t seem to be much information on this specific camera. Probably due to it like the Instamatic 33, it is one of many cameras in a long running series. Although the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7 is part of a small group of cameras, it was released in the late 1950s alongside many other 8mm cameras (BCG Film and Photography).

And it appears that this camera wasn’t as popular as its f/2.3 counterpart, because both were released in 1956, but the f/2.7 camera stopped production in 1968 and the f/2.3 stopped in 1960 (BCG Film and Photography). And according to BCG Film and Photography, the f/2.7 was also cheaper than the f/2.3.   

The f/2.7 is basically the same as the f/2.3, with a few changes to the body, which points out why this camera had a lower price tag!

Now without a further ado, let’s have a look at the camera at hand, the Kodak Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7. I should also note that most of this post will be comparing this camera to the f/2.3 camera.

The Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7 is mostly made from metal and is the same size and weight as the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3. As mentioned this camera was released in 1956-1958. Which is a short time, but this isn’t the shortest time, because that honour goes to the Brownie Movie Camera Turret f/2.3, which was released in 1958 and only lasted three months (BCG Film and Photography).

 

Brownie Movie Camera Turret f/2.3 (with broken turret). Image source:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SesAAOSw8ANoJnbd/s-l1200.jpg

Anyway, let’s get into it. Starting with the front.

The lens-

The lens is the same as the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3. It is a 13mm Cine-Ektanon lens, with the only difference being the f/stop that is 2.7.

The lens is also threaded meaning that it can take adapters like the f/2.3.

Next to the lens is the f/stop or exposure dial and the “sky guide” which is similar to the f/2.3. But unlike the 2.3, the f/2.7 doesn’t have a pointer. So, the user would have to read off of the sky guide and move the dial to the correct f/stop number.

But the sky guide only shows what f/stop is best for what lighting condition under f/8. According to the manual, the user must use the exposure guide that comes with the film to know when to use the settings that are above f/8.

Now the dial also has dots that indicate half stops between each clear indicated numerical value. The half stops also start after f/2.7.

The dial indicates that there are six f/stop settings (eleven including the half stops) and these settings are f/2.7, 4, 5.6, 8, 11 and 16. And like the Fancy DX-3, Sinpo PQ-3, Brownie No.2, Beau Brownie, the Agfa 54 and the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3, this camera has a multi-hole aperture setting (a plastic disk with holes punched in it, instead of using aperture pedals).

But the dial has an extra setting that the f/2.3 doesn’t have, that I think is awesome, and that is the lock setting that prevents the camera from running. What I also like is that it has a safety mechanism that also prevents the camera from running, “If the lens is set between a white dot and marked lens opening…” (according to the manual).

The reason why I like this is because, when the dial is set between a dot and a numbered setting the lens opening is blocked and thus the film won’t be exposed and the user will have a film reel that is just blank. What is more interesting is that the f/2.3 doesn’t have this safety feature.

Then underneath the lens-

Here is the film counter, which is round instead of square. It is the same as the f/2.3, it measures in feet and goes up to 25 feet and has an L (for loading) and E (for empty) indicators.

But there is something I forgot to mention in my Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3 post concerning the film counter, which the Kodak Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7 also has. And that is the toothed wheel, behind the film compartment cover, which is used to manually reset the film counter.

Next to the film counter is the exposure or shutter release. Unlike the f/2.3, the f/2.7 doesn’t have a switch-like button lever, instead is a flat toothed metal piece that must be held down to expose the film. According to the manual it has a shutter speed of 1/35 second or 16 fps.

But Worth Point (2025) does have an example of a Kodak Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7 that has a shutter release and sky guide just like the Kodak Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3.

Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7. Image Source:
https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images3/1/0315/22/vintage-kodak-brownie-model-8mm-movie_1_ca8902aa8c51c1393a8d93c4700719a3.jpg

Now for the top of the camera-

Here is the viewfinder, or “folding Sports Viewfinder” (Kodak Verzameling 2025). Which is similar to the f/2.3, but very different. In fact, the only thing that has stayed the same is the Peep sight.

The manual describes this viewfinder as an open frame/sports type and that means there are no glass or lenses that have to be cleaned.

The manual goes on to explain how it is used:

Page 12 & 13 from the manual.

Left side-

Is the winding key, which works the same way as the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3. 

On the other side-

Is the film compartment cover.

Here the user can see on big difference: there is no cold shoe. But this doesn’t mean that this camera doesn’t have a flash. Because the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7 did come with a lamp light, which was attached at the bottom of the camera. The lamp was screwed into the tripod socket underneath the camera.

Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7 with lamp light.
Image Source:
https://u-mercari-images.mercdn.net/photos/m78758927614_3.jpg

But there is an exposure guide holder, with an exposure guide!

Then next to that is the latch that holds the cover in place, but unlike the f/2.3, the f/2.7 has a pressure plate instead of a slider. And above and below the latch is a quick guide to help users set the right f/stop.

Then we have the film compartment, which works and looks the same as the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3.

This camera can also take Double 8 film and normal 8mm film, but it was specifically made for Kodachrome film. Which I will briefly go over from Wallace’s article:

Kodachrome was brought out in 1935, by Kodak (you don’t say), and was the first successful colour film. It was first released as a 16mm film, then 8mm film and then used in the making of still photography, when it was released in 35mm format. But with its complex processing, a legal ruling that prohibited this process and competition from other companies like Fuji’s Fujichrome and even Kodak’s release of their Ektachrome film, which was easier to process, Kodak saw a decline in Kodachrome sales. Not to mention the introduction of digital cameras that further hurt the film market.

Wallace concludes his article with:

“Up until its discontinuation in 2009, Kodachrome was the oldest selling brand of colour film in existence. A remarkable feat that featured 74 years of success in various formats for both still and motion picture cameras.”

Kodachrome 8mm film. Image Source:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/TigAAOSwfCVjH4Fk/s-l400.jpg

But what I find interesting about Kodachrome is that even though it is a colour film, it can be processed in Black and white (on8mil).

To learn how film works please see my 200 Color Plus post.

And that seems to be it. The Kodak Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7 is an interesting and fun camera, but a bit of a downgrade (with the exception of the lock setting on the f/stop dial) compared to the f/2.3. But at the end of the day, they are both very similar.

In my last post I wrote that the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3’s look didn’t really impress me, well I will take it back here, because the f/2.3 looks much better than the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7.

At least the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3 had leatherette on the sides and a silver chrome shine to it. Whereas the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7 has a frankly boring stone/dark beige colour. But in the right setting and décor it would look pretty cool. But just like the f/2.3, the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7 is a must have in any camera collector’s or filmmaker’s collection.

But what do you think? Do you agree that the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.3 looks better than the Brownie 8mm Movie Camera II f/2.7? Or do you think that the world is better off just sticking with digital cameras? Let me know in the comments.

Thank you for making it to the end and as always I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.

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List of sources:

BCG Film and Photography. The List of Brownie Movie Cameras & Brownie Movie Projectors. https://www.brownie-camera.com/moviecam.shtml

Collections Library Indiana. Brownie Movie Camera f/2.7 manual. https://collections.libraries.indiana.edu/IULMIA/files/original/7a34eb4b89c0287ad8d286e965539ba3.pdf

Kodak Verzameling. 2025. Kodak Movie Cameras. https://www.kodakverzameling.nl/kodak-movie-camera-s-projectors

On8mil. 8mm Vintage Film Processing + HD/UHD Scan. https://www.on8mil.com/product/vintage-film-processing-incl-hd-scan/

Wallace, D. The History of Kodachrome. https://kodakdigitizing.com/blogs/news/the-history-of-kodachrome?srsltid=AfmBOop-lLPNb5X7DGvG-iP0bXyrPFfsG2aRXD7HcJlzYk0N8l0XK8xI

Worth Point. 2025. Vintage Kodak Brownie Model 2 8mm Movie Video Camera f/2.7 No 78 Original Box. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-kodak-brownie-model-8mm-movie-1749401824