Kodak No. 2 Folding Cartridge Hawkeye Model B: Test roll

Kodak No. 2 Folding Cartridge Hawkeye Model B example shot
One of the iconic “Welcome to Colorful Colorado” signs on display in the atrium of the newly-opened History Colorado Center, from the Kodak No. 2 test roll. (Daniel J. Schneider)

The Kodak No. 2 Folding Cartridge Hawkeye Model B (what a name, right?) is a 6×9 folding camera with and incredibly low profile when folded.

I candled the bellows before trying out a test roll, and found it full of holes. Not nearly as bad as the Agfa Ansco PB20 Viking, but worse than the Kodak Tourist II. I decided to try it anyway.

What I found was that the film was all so overexposed it was impossible to make out what I was making pictures of. I’m presenting here the only two recognizable frames, both taken indoors at the newly-opened History Colorado Center (which I can’t recommend enough; while it’s not full of exhibits yet, the ones they’ve opened so far are fascinating and very well-conceived).

The difference between these two frames is that in one case, I was standing in the sun beneath the skylights in the building’s atrium. That shot shows light spots all over the negative from the pinholes in the bellows.

The other shot was taken when I was standing to the side, in fact, in a dark corner. That one came out pretty much perfectly, even though it was at 1/25 at f/8 with only a very rough ability to focus. The viewfinder is easy to use and brilliantly designed. More on that in the full write-up of the camera.

Kodak No. 2 Folding Cartridge Hawkeye Model B example shot
Museum patrons at History Colorado Center explore the giant floor map of Colorado with the time machines reminiscent of the TARDIS control panel, from the Kodak No. 2 test roll. (Daniel J. Schneider)

Both shots were exposed at f/8 and 1/25 sec., using Kodak Tri-X 400TX Professional film, which I developed in HC-110E (47:1 solution) for 8:45 min at 69°F.

After scanning on my Epson Perfection V600, I removed the worst dust with Photoshop’s Spot Healing Brush tool.