Difference between revisions of "Kodak Ektra"

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The '''Ektra''' was a very advanced 35mm rangefinder camera launched by [[Kodak]] USA in 1941. Before World War II, Kodak presented some really advanced cameras under the supervision of Joe Mihalyi, among which the [[Medalist]], [[Kodak Super Six 20|Super Six 20]] and [[Bantam Special]].
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''This article is about Kodak's 35mm camera from the 1940s. Kodak later reused the Ektra brand on [[Kodak#110_film|inexpensive cameras]] for [[110 film]].''
  
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The Ektra was a 35mm coupled rangefinder camera. The shutter was of the focal plane type, from 1s to 1/1000, with horizontally traveling cloth curtains.
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{{Flickr_image
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The Ektra had a system of interchangeable magazine backs, allowing to change film in the middle of a roll. The advance lever was at the left of the magazine back, and needed two strokes. All the camera was designed to be used by a left-handed person, it is said that Mihalyi himself was left-handed.
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/coleccionandocamaras/5571836070/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5571836070_512ee3bfaf.jpg
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|image_align=right
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|image_text=
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|image_by= Coleccionando Camaras
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|image_rights= nc
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}}
  
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The Ektra had interchangeable lenses with a specific bayonet mount. All the lenses were named ''Ektar''. The available lenses were the following:
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The '''Ektra''' is a very advanced 35mm rangefinder camera launched by [[Kodak]] USA in 1941. Before World War II, Kodak presented some really advanced cameras under the supervision of [[Joe Mihalyi]], among which the [[Medalist]], [[Kodak Super Six-20|Super Six-20]] and [[Bantam Special]].
 +
 
 +
The Ektra is a 35mm coupled rangefinder camera. The shutter is of the focal plane type, with speeds from 1 to 1/1000 second, plus 'B', with horizontally travelling cloth curtains.
 +
The Ektra has a system of interchangeable magazine backs, allowing to change film in the middle of a roll. The advance lever is at the left of the magazine back, and needs two strokes. The release button is at the left of the top plate. It has been said that Mihalyi was left-handed, so all the camera was designed to be used by a left-handed person. However this theory is contradicted in notes on the camera at ''Chicago Photographic Collectors' Society''.<ref>[https://kodak.3106.net/index.php?p=302&cam=920 'The Experts and the Eastman Kodak Ektra Camera'], article by K. Kekatos at [https://kodak.3106.net/index.php Kodak Classics]</ref>
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The viewfinder incorporates a zoom device, from 50 to 254mm. Only the 35mm lens needs an external lens to be put in front of the finder. The viewfinder also has a dioptric adjustment, from -3 to +3 diopters.
 +
The rangefinder of the Ektra has a very large base, but is not integrated in the viewfinder.
 +
 
 +
The Ektra has interchangeable lenses with a breech lock mount engaging a fine screw thread. All the lenses are named ''Ektar'':
 
* 35/3.3
 
* 35/3.3
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* 50/1.9
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* 50/1.9, seven element
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* 50/3.5, four element
 
* 90/3.5
 
* 90/3.5
 
* 135/3.8
 
* 135/3.8
 
* 153/4.5
 
* 153/4.5
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A 254mm lens was planned but apparently never produced. The viewfinder incorporated a zoom device, from 50 to 254mm. Only the 35mm lens needed an external lens to be put in front of the finder.
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All the lenses are coated, early ones only on the internal surfaces, and later on all the lens elements.
 +
A 254mm lens was planned but was apparently never produced. About 2000 of the 35mm, 90mm and 135mm were made, and 400 of the 153mm. The lens cases are very nice cylindrical aluminium boxes.
 +
 
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/39921508@N00/505112250/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/505112250_6100efad9a.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text=
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|image_by= Benjamin C
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
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An Ektra was sold at Christie's with lenses including a 50/1.9 and a 90/3.5 marked ''Television Ektanon'' instead of Ektar.<ref>[http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/kodak-ektra-outfit-4075601-details.aspx Ektra outfit] including body serial no 3609 and both 50/1.9 and 90/3.5 Television Ektanon lenses, sold at [http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/salebrowse.aspx?intsaleid=18587&viewType=list Sale 9777: Cameras and Photographic Equipment the Property of Dr S.M. Sorrell], on 1 April 2003.</ref> According to notes at ''Golden Age Television Recreations'', these lenses were adapted for some RCA television cameras.<ref>See [https://web.archive.org/web/20130805055734/http://penguin.dnsuk.co.uk/~goldvcou/GoldOne/equipment.php?ProducerID=62 Kodak equipment] offered for hire at the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130804002632/http://penguin.dnsuk.co.uk/~goldvcou/GoldOne/index.php Golden Age Television Recreations] (archived).</ref> The notes state that the lens mounts were adapted to fit the TV cameras' lens turret, but in the example at Christie's, the 50/1.9 lens is mounted on the camera body, so either this is incorrect (i.e. no adaptation was required) or some TV Ektanon lenses were sold unadapted.
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The accessories included:
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A lens marked ''Wollensak-Dumont 50mm f/1,5 Raptar'' was been offered at auction by Breker.<ref>[http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2453545 Wollensak-Dumont 50/1.5 Raptar], described as a prototype for the Ektar, to a design by Steinheil; sold at the sale [http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/10429/page1 Photographica and Film], on 30 September 2006, by [http://www.auction-team.de/english/index.htm auction Team Breker] (listing at the [http://www.liveauctioneers.com LiveAuctioneers] site).</ref> It is described in the auctioneer's notes as perhaps a prototype lens for the Ektra, made to a [[Steinheil]] lens design. However it has no focusing ring and a 40.5mm screw mount, so is not a functional lens for the Ektra.
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'''Accessories''' for the Ektra include:
 
* waist level brilliant finder (shoe mounted)
 
* waist level brilliant finder (shoe mounted)
 
* angle finder (shoe mounted)
 
* angle finder (shoe mounted)
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* flash unit
 
* flash unit
 
* close focusing rangefinder
 
* close focusing rangefinder
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* synchronized flash
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* tripod clearance head
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About 2500 Ektra were sold, and it was advertised until 1948.
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An improved version called '''Ektra II''' was planned, three of them are known to exist. They incorporate a built in lens for the 35mm lens, and can mount a magazine back with a spring driven motor.
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/30819196637/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1931/30819196637_388d0dd712.jpg
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Ektra magazine back showing film winding lever.<br><small>image by John Pierson</small>
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|image_by=
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
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==Notes==
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<references/>
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About 2000 Ektra were produced, and it was advertised until 1948.
 
  
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An improved version called '''Ektra II''' was planned, three of them are known to exist. They incorporated a built in lens for the 35mm lens, and could mount a magazine back with a spring driven motor.
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== Links ==
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* [http://www.bnphoto.org/bnphoto/KodakEktraIndex.htm The Kodak site by Brian Wallen] has great info about the Ektra, with detailed pictures of the Ektra and Ektra II
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* [http://www.cameraquest.com/ektra.htm The Ektra at Cameraquest]
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* [http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/ektracam.htm The Ektra at Pacific Rim]
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* [http://www.chicagophotographic.org/articles/ektra.htm Tales of the Kodak Ektra], an article by K. Kekatos at the Chicago Photographic Collectors Society
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* US patent: [http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2186614&F=0 Shutter of the Ektra]
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* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/kodak/kodak_ektra/kodak_ektra.htm Instruction manual for the Ektra] at [http://www.orphancameras.com www.orphancameras.com]
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*Examples offered for sale at past auctions by [https://www.leitz-auction.com/auction/en/home Westlicht Photographica Auction] (now Leitz Photographica Auction):
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** [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Kodak-Ektra/AI-23-10631 Ektra serial no. 1897], sold at the [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Cameras/Past-Auctions/Auction-23/ 23rd auction], on 25 May 2013.
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** [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Kodak-Ektra/AI-26-31004 Ektra serial no. 1227] and [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Kodak-Ektra/AI-26-31224 Ektra serial no. 3786], offered for sale at the [https://www.leitz-auction.com/en/Cameras/Past-Auctions/Auction-26/ 26th auction], on 22 November 2014.
  
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The name Ektra was used again by Kodak in the 1970s for a series of cameras using [[110 film]]. ''See [[Kodak Ektra (110 film)]].''
 
  
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[[Category: 35mm rangefinder cameras]]
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[[Category: 35mm rangefinder]]
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[[Category: 35mm magazine back cameras]]
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[[Category: 35mm rangefinder system]]
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[[Category: American cameras]]
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[[Category: 35mm magazine back]]
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[[Category: USA]]
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[[Category: Kodak|Ektra]]
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[[Category: K]]
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[[Category: E|Ektra Kodak]]
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[[Category:1941]]

Latest revision as of 01:33, 1 February 2024

This article is about Kodak's 35mm camera from the 1940s. Kodak later reused the Ektra brand on inexpensive cameras for 110 film.

5571836070_512ee3bfaf.jpg
image by Coleccionando Camaras (Image rights)

The Ektra is a very advanced 35mm rangefinder camera launched by Kodak USA in 1941. Before World War II, Kodak presented some really advanced cameras under the supervision of Joe Mihalyi, among which the Medalist, Super Six-20 and Bantam Special.

The Ektra is a 35mm coupled rangefinder camera. The shutter is of the focal plane type, with speeds from 1 to 1/1000 second, plus 'B', with horizontally travelling cloth curtains. The Ektra has a system of interchangeable magazine backs, allowing to change film in the middle of a roll. The advance lever is at the left of the magazine back, and needs two strokes. The release button is at the left of the top plate. It has been said that Mihalyi was left-handed, so all the camera was designed to be used by a left-handed person. However this theory is contradicted in notes on the camera at Chicago Photographic Collectors' Society.[1]

The viewfinder incorporates a zoom device, from 50 to 254mm. Only the 35mm lens needs an external lens to be put in front of the finder. The viewfinder also has a dioptric adjustment, from -3 to +3 diopters. The rangefinder of the Ektra has a very large base, but is not integrated in the viewfinder.

The Ektra has interchangeable lenses with a breech lock mount engaging a fine screw thread. All the lenses are named Ektar:

  • 35/3.3
  • 50/1.9, seven element
  • 50/3.5, four element
  • 90/3.5
  • 135/3.8
  • 153/4.5

All the lenses are coated, early ones only on the internal surfaces, and later on all the lens elements. A 254mm lens was planned but was apparently never produced. About 2000 of the 35mm, 90mm and 135mm were made, and 400 of the 153mm. The lens cases are very nice cylindrical aluminium boxes.

505112250_6100efad9a.jpg
image by Benjamin C (Image rights)


An Ektra was sold at Christie's with lenses including a 50/1.9 and a 90/3.5 marked Television Ektanon instead of Ektar.[2] According to notes at Golden Age Television Recreations, these lenses were adapted for some RCA television cameras.[3] The notes state that the lens mounts were adapted to fit the TV cameras' lens turret, but in the example at Christie's, the 50/1.9 lens is mounted on the camera body, so either this is incorrect (i.e. no adaptation was required) or some TV Ektanon lenses were sold unadapted.


A lens marked Wollensak-Dumont 50mm f/1,5 Raptar was been offered at auction by Breker.[4] It is described in the auctioneer's notes as perhaps a prototype lens for the Ektra, made to a Steinheil lens design. However it has no focusing ring and a 40.5mm screw mount, so is not a functional lens for the Ektra.


Accessories for the Ektra include:

  • waist level brilliant finder (shoe mounted)
  • angle finder (shoe mounted)
  • magazine back
  • ground glass back
  • flash unit
  • close focusing rangefinder
  • synchronized flash
  • tripod clearance head

About 2500 Ektra were sold, and it was advertised until 1948.

An improved version called Ektra II was planned, three of them are known to exist. They incorporate a built in lens for the 35mm lens, and can mount a magazine back with a spring driven motor.


30819196637_388d0dd712.jpg
Ektra magazine back showing film winding lever.
image by John Pierson (Image rights)

Notes

  1. ↑ 'The Experts and the Eastman Kodak Ektra Camera', article by K. Kekatos at Kodak Classics
  2. ↑ Ektra outfit including body serial no 3609 and both 50/1.9 and 90/3.5 Television Ektanon lenses, sold at Sale 9777: Cameras and Photographic Equipment the Property of Dr S.M. Sorrell, on 1 April 2003.
  3. ↑ See Kodak equipment offered for hire at the Golden Age Television Recreations (archived).
  4. ↑ Wollensak-Dumont 50/1.5 Raptar, described as a prototype for the Ektar, to a design by Steinheil; sold at the sale Photographica and Film, on 30 September 2006, by auction Team Breker (listing at the LiveAuctioneers site).


Links

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