Kodak Brownie Super 27 (1961–1965)

A viewfinder camera using 127 roll film, produced by Kodak in the USA for snapshot photography.

Overview

The Kodak Brownie Super 27 is a viewfinder camera made by Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY, from August 1961 to June 1965. It was built for casual photographers and families, and it carries on Kodak's long-running Brownie line of simple cameras. It uses 127 roll film and gives twelve 4×4 cm exposures per roll. That square format is compact and suits snapshots. The body is molded plastic, with an optical direct vision viewfinder and a fixed-focus lens. Ease of use came first, not technical complexity.

Specifications

Type	Viewfinder camera
Film Format	127 roll film (twelve 4×4 cm exposures per roll)
Lens	Kodar f/8
Shutter	Fixed 1/80th or 1/40th sec
Viewfinder	Optical direct vision finder
Body Material	Moulded plastic
Weight	290 grams
Production Period	August 1961 – June 1965
Original Price	$19.00

Design

The Brownie Super 27 has a molded plastic body with a concealed design element. Details of the internal layout and mechanical construction are not documented. It has an optical direct vision finder, and the body is a compact, boxy shape.

Context

The Brownie Super 27 was manufactured in the USA. Its production run overlapped with the rise of more advanced compact cameras, which left it as a budget option for basic snapshot use rather than a technologically forward model.

Market

Listings for the Brownie Super 27 commonly describe units as untested or sold for parts. One example was priced at €35.00 EUR in untested condition. No widespread reports of specific mechanical failures or maintenance needs exist, but there is no service documentation, so repairs may be hard.