Kodak Ektra
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, Super Six 20 and Bantam Special.
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. 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.
The Ektra had interchangeable lenses with a specific bayonet mount. The available lenses were the following:
- 35/3.3
- 50/1.9
- 90/3.5
- 135/3.8
- 153/4.5
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.
The accessories included:
- waist level brilliant finder (shoe mounted)
- angle finder (shoe mounted)
- magazine back
- ground glass back
- flash unit
- close focusing rangefinder
About 2000 Ektra were produced, and it was advertised until 1948.
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.
The name Ektra was used again by Kodak in the 1970s for a series of cameras using 110 film. See Kodak Ektra (110 film).
