Ensign Pocket 20

This simple folding camera dates from 1931 and shoots 6x9 exposures on 120 film. This is the most basic of all our folders (note basic doesn't mean bad). It has a single element meniscus lens and two apertures of the multihole type labelled "ordinary light" and "brilliant light". According to Art Deco Cameras these are f/16 and f/22.

The Everset shutter has a single speed of 1/30. In addition there are time and bulb modes. Variable focus is available. Just pull out the bellows to the "view" position for subjects 9 feet away or more, and to "close-ups" for subjects 3.5 feet away up to 9 feet. The metal foot that lowers to allow the camera to sit vertically on a flat surface is also the release catch for the bellows.

It has a "brilliant viewfinder" ("brilliant" indicates the type of viewfinder, and should not be misinterpreted to mean excellent or easy to use). It's actually pretty hard to compose with this viewfinder. A tiny lens reflects on a mirror a VERY reduced scale picture of the scene. In terms of ease of use, it's on a par with the Junior Box Ensign. The orientation of the lens can be changed depending on whether you are shooting horizontally or vertically. Just make sure the lens is folded away before you close the camera to avoid damage.

Settings like these really put the Pocket 20 on a par with a box camera. It was a simple model for amateurs to begin their photography hobby. Its original price was 25/6.

There are some nice decorative finishes on this camera, particularly the art deco shutter plate.

This camera arrived with its original box and instruction booklet. At 25 pages long it goes beyond the features of the camera and gives advice on making nice exposures, developing, printing, and enlarging negatives (using Ensign products of course). You get a sense of who this camera was for from their final piece of advice:

For the sake of those who have no previous knowledge of Photography, it is necessary to repeat this warning:- Do not unroll the spool to "see the pictures." There is nothing to be seen until after development, which must be done in a proper dark-room, with ruby light, or in a light-tight tank. Any white light which reaches the film will spoil all the pictures in a fraction of a second.