The Evolution Of Kodak 35 Rangefinder: A Historical Perspective

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder is an improved version of the Kodak 35, which was launched by the Eastman Kodak Company in 1938 as their first 35mm camera manufactured in the USA. After about two years, the company presented this improved Kodak 35 camera, with a new superstructure housing containing a viewfinder and a separate rangefinder. The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was produced from 1940 to 1948, with some sources stating that it was available until 1951.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was launched in 1938

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder featured a new superstructure housing a viewfinder and a separate rangefinder. This model is often referred to as the "RF model" and was designed to address the lack of a rangefinder in the original Kodak 35. The RF model had a unique appearance due to the external rangefinder mechanism, which allowed for focusing instead of just having a pop-up viewfinder.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was available in different lens and shutter combinations during its production run, which ended in 1951. The camera was initially released with a Kodak Anastigmat Special f/3.5 50mm lens in a KODAMATIC SHUTTER or a FLASH KODAMATIC SHUTTER. Later versions offered a Kodak Anastar Special f/3.5 50mm lens, also in either a KODAMATIC or FLASH KODAMATIC SHUTTER.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder played a significant role in the history of photography and is considered a collectible item today. Despite its sales being overshadowed by competing models, such as the Argus C-series, the Kodak 35 Rangefinder is recognised for its improved functionality, unique design, and the capability of its lenses.

It was the first 35mm camera manufactured in the USA

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was an improved version of the original Kodak 35, launched in 1938 as the company's first 35mm camera manufactured in the USA. The Kodak 35 was developed in Rochester, New York, in anticipation of potential disruptions to imports from the Kodak factory in Germany due to the impending war.

The Kodak 35 was a significant release for the company, as it was their first 35mm camera to use the 135 format film cassette they had invented in 1934. Prior to this, their 35mm cameras used the 828 paper-backed 35mm roll film (Bantam Series).

The original Kodak 35 did not have a rangefinder, so after about two years, the company introduced the improved Kodak 35 Rangefinder model. This new version featured a superstructure housing a viewfinder and a separate rangefinder, enhancing the camera's functionality and usability.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was produced from 1940 to 1948, and during its production run, it was available with different shutter and lens combinations. The camera's body was made of black Bakelite, with chromed metal top and base plates. The collapsible viewfinder on top was initially black, but it was later changed to olive drab for some models made for the US Army during World War II.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was a unique and somewhat collectible camera, known for its external rangefinder mechanism and unusual appearance. Despite its improvements over the original Kodak 35, it did not sell as well as expected, possibly due to its price.

In summary, the Kodak 35 Rangefinder holds a notable place in the history of Kodak and camera technology as the first 35mm camera manufactured by Eastman Kodak in the USA, paving the way for future innovations and designs in the world of photography.

The camera was designed and developed in Rochester, New York

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder camera was designed and developed in Rochester, New York, by the Eastman Kodak Company. The camera was introduced in 1938 as the company's first 35mm camera manufactured in the USA.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was an improved version of the original Kodak 35, which was launched in the same year. The new model featured a superstructure housing a viewfinder and a separate rangefinder. This design element was added to address the lack of a rangefinder in the original model.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was designed with a centrally positioned eyepiece for the viewfinder. It also featured an external mechanism for the rangefinder, which was hidden inside a protrusion on the left-hand side of the lens/shutter assembly. This mechanism relayed the front lens element extension to the rangefinder optics by sensing the height of a milled cam at the periphery of the lens barrel.

The camera was available with different shutter and lens combinations, including the Kodak Anastigmat Special and the Kodak Anastar Special, with varying apertures and shutter speeds.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was produced from 1940 to 1948, or 1951 according to some sources, marking the end of its production run. During World War II, the camera was also used by the US military, with some olive green models made specifically for the US Army.

The design and development of the Kodak 35 Rangefinder in Rochester, New York, played a significant role in the history of photography and contributed to the Eastman Kodak Company's influence on the photographic industry during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was available with a variety of shutter and lens combinations

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was introduced in 1938 as the first US-manufactured 35mm camera from Eastman Kodak Company. The camera was an improved version of the original Kodak 35, which was released in the same year. The Kodak 35 Rangefinder featured a new superstructure housing a viewfinder and a separate rangefinder.

During its production run from 1940 to 1951, the Kodak 35 Rangefinder was available with a variety of shutter and lens combinations. These combinations offered different specifications and features to cater to diverse photographic needs. Here are the details of the available combinations:

• 1940-1948: Kodak Anastigmat Special f/3.5 51mm in KODAMATIC SHUTTER: This combination provided a fast aperture of f/3.5 and a versatile focal length of 51mm. The Kodamatic shutter offered a range of shutter speeds.
• 1940-1948: Kodak Anastigmat Special f/3.5 51mm in FLASH KODAMATIC SHUTTER: Similar to the previous combination, this option included a flash synchronization feature, allowing photographers to use artificial lighting.
• 1947-1951: Kodak Anastar Special f/3.5 50mm in KODAMATIC SHUTTER: This setup offered a slightly shorter focal length of 50mm while retaining the fast f/3.5 aperture. The Kodamatic shutter provided a range of shutter speeds.
• 1947-1951: Kodak Anastar Special f/3.5 50mm in FLASH KODAMATIC SHUTTER: In addition to the features of the previous combination, this option included flash synchronization, making it suitable for low-light photography.

These different combinations of shutters and lenses allowed photographers to choose the Kodak 35 Rangefinder configuration that best suited their specific requirements, whether it was for low-light photography, capturing fast-moving subjects, or simply having a more versatile setup.

The camera was discontinued in 1951

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was discontinued in 1951. This was the improved version of the original Kodak 35, which was released in 1938 as the company's first 35mm camera manufactured in the USA. The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was introduced two years after the original, in 1940, and featured a new superstructure housing containing a viewfinder and a separate rangefinder.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder was produced from 1940 to 1951, with some variations in its shutter and lens combinations during this period. The camera was available with different shutter types, including the Kodamatic, Flash Kodamatic, and Kodex shutters. The lens options included the Kodak Anastigmat Special f/3.5 51mm and the Kodak Anastar Special f/3.5 50mm.

The Kodak 35 Rangefinder had a unique appearance due to its external rangefinder mechanism, which was added to the original Kodak 35 design. This mechanism allowed the camera to focus instead of having just a pop-up viewfinder. The camera was also known for its bright and easy-to-use viewfinder, which was larger than those found on typical 1930s cameras.

Despite its capabilities and improvements over the original Kodak 35, the Kodak 35 Rangefinder did not sell well. This was likely due to its price, which was higher than its competitors at the time. When the Kodak 35 Rangefinder was discontinued in 1951, it was replaced by the Kodak Signet 35, a smaller 35mm camera with an improved rangefinder.

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