Kodak Brownie Vecta is it a Modern Design Classic Camera?

Kodak Vecta

Introduced in 1963, the Vecta was a bold modern replacement for the Brownie 127 model II. However it was short lived as the vecta was discontinued in 1966, shortly after the (equally unsucsessful) 127 Model 3 was introduced.

This camera was designed by Kenneth Grange. It is a moulded grey plastic upright box. It features a “sculptured” finger recess to minimize camera shake. It has an optical direct vision finder and a bar shutter release.

The Vecta is a radical design, unlike anything else Kodak produced, and while it may look slightly ugly to modern eyes, it must have appeared very futuristic (and ugly!) in its day. The shaping is (apparently) ergonomically designed to make it easier to grip than more basic box. However, in practice, it can be quite cumbersome.

vecta Kodak Brownie Vecta is it a Modern Design Classic Camera?

The Vecta takes 8 shots per roll like most of its predecessors but in a vertical format, rather like a modern 645 120 camera. One of the downsides of this is the winder knob “goes the wrong way” – turning anti-clockwise, even though it's on the right-hand side of the camera: I just kept getting it wrong. It does have multiple exposure prevention though.

In brief tests, the results look quite promising – OK it's a Brownie, so isn't going to be producing anything stunning, but the optics seem a little sharper than many of Kodak's offerings of the period

vectaback Kodak Brownie Vecta is it a Modern Design Classic Camera?

Post References and Attribution

This post was created with information kindly contributed by onetwoseven.org.uk

Post Links

Used and new camera providers – RW Jemmett Photography Business Directory Film Processing and Supplies

Find a Kodak Brownie Vecta on Etsy

Photography Books

Find a Kodak Brownie Vecta on eBay

  • Photo Walk Log Book
    Photo Walk Log Book – 30 Walks and 20 Top Tips
    £3.95
  • The Purma Camera Book
    The Purma Camera Book: A Vintage Camera Guide – Hardback
    £16.00
  • Yashica 35 Guide front cover
    The Yashica 35 Camera Book – Hardback
    £25.00
  • Yashica 35 Guide front cover
    The Yashica 35 Camera Book – ebook
  • McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 1992-1993
    McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 1992-1993
    £15.00
  • Olympus Pen Guide
    Olympus Pen Camera Guide – Focal Press First Edition 1963
    £5.00
  • Yashica 35 Guide front cover
    The Yashica 35 Camera Book – Paperback
    £16.50
  • Photography Log Booklet 35mm 384 Exposures: Tables of Six Exposures per Page.
    Photography Log Booklet 35mm 384 Exposures: Tables of Six Exposures per Page.
    £3.90
  • Photography Log Booklet 35mm 192 Exposures: Tables of Six Exposures per Page.
    Photography Log Booklet 35mm 192 Exposures: Tables of Six Exposures per Page.
    £3.80

Find the camera you are looking for on eBay

Etsy is also a great place to find vintage cameras and lenses.....

Find Books by Richard W Jemmett the author of this website on Amazon

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *