The lens section of this Kodak site in general replicates the organization of information that Kodak used in publishing its Reference, Professional, Industrial and Color Handbooks and the Kodak Data Books that could be bound in them. This arrangement was a conscious decision to maintain the experience that others of a certain age will recall, and perhaps savor, of browsing through Kodak books. Younger visitors, particularly those adept at searching out information on the Internet, may find my organization frustrating and dinosaur-like. Noted. So while the table below doesn't benefit from search engine features, it does attempt to list on one page most of the advanced amateur and professional still camera and enlarging lenses that Kodak made during the period 1935 through 1965. These are somewhat loose categories and only those lenses listed in the Handbooks or Lenses and Shutters Data Books are included, though I have tried to supplement these entries with information from other reliable sources. Jim and Joan McKeown's Collectors Guide to Kodak Cameras has been especially valuable in establishing production dates. Those interested in entry-level cameras or cameras produced beyond 1965 may find what they are looking for in the growing collection at http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Category :K or some of the other sites on my External Links: Kodak page, . While I have limited the contents of this site to Kodak publications, I am indebted to several forums where collectors and users have reported the many variations to standard Kodak production. Such sites are important ways of building our understanding of reliable information about Kodak lenses. It is especially useful to have reports of Kodak lens performance where those who are testing are following structured testing procedures. The lenses below are grouped by
their branded name, then by their focal length. Many existing lenses were
redesigned in about 1946 and were renamed, so very similar lenses may
appear in the index in two entries. Ciné-Kodak and Kodak projector
lenses are not included on this site because I do not know enough about
these applications to make an informed presentation. |
PROD PERIOD |
LENS |
CAMERA/SHUTTER/ |
LENS
TYPE |
INTERNAL
LINKS (Click an icon to view details) |
KODAK ANASTAR LENSES (Originally Anastigmat Specials) | ||||
1946- 1953 |
48mm f /4.5 Anastar | Flash Bantam/ Flash Bantam Shutter |
Tessar | |
1946- 1948 |
50mm f /3.5 Anastar | Kodak 35 with and without RF, Kodamatic | Modified Tessar | |
1946- 1954 |
80mm f /3.5 Anastar | Kodak Reflex and Kodak Reflex II, Flash Kodamatic | Ernostar/ Sonnar type |
|
1946- 1954 |
100mm f /4.5 Anastar | Kodak Vigilant, Kodak Monitor | Tessar | |
KODAK
ANASTIGMAT LENSES The name was used for lenses on consumer camera and professional lenses for press and view cameras until about 1947. Kodak Anastigmat lenses were used extensively on Kodak consumer cameras prior to this tabulation--ca 1935-1955. For additional information see links to sources on External Links: Kodak page . |
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1938 - ~ 1946 |
50mm f /5.6 Kodak Anastigmat | Kodak 35 / Kodex and Kodak Bantam / Bantam shutter | Triplet | |
1938 - ~ 1946 |
51mm f /4.5 Kodak Anastigmat | Kodak 35 / Diomatic | Triplet | |
1933 - 1940 |
75mm f /3.5 Kodak Anastigmat | Kodak Duo
Six-20, Series II |
Triplet | |
1930 - 1939 |
105mm f
/4.5 135mm f /4.5 Kodak Anastigmat |
Kodak
Recomar 18 |
Tessar | |
1937- |
103mm f
/4.5 126mm f /4.5 Kodak Anastigmat |
Kodak Six-20 Kodak Six-16 (also on Kodak Monitors 620 & 616, Kodak Juniors and Seniors 620 & 616, Kodak Vigilant 620 & 616)/ No. 1 Supermatic |
Tessar | |
1937- 1948 |
102mm f
/6.3 128mm f /6.3 Kodak Anastigmat |
Kodak Six-20 Kodak Six-16 (also on Kodak Juniors and Seniors 620 & 616, Kodak Vigilant 620 & 616)/ Diomatic |
Tessar | | |
1948 - 1953 | 105mm f
/6.3 130mm f /6.3 Kodak Anastigmat |
Kodak
Vigilant 620 |
Tessar | | |
1935- ~1947† | f/7.7
8 inch Anastigmat |
No
2 Supermatic †(Design of this air-spaced Kodak Anastigmat can be traced by to the early Kodak folders) |
Dialyte | |
1935- ~1947† |
f /4.5, 5 in |
Various shutters or barrels for press and view cameras | Tessar | |
KODAK ANASTIGMAT SPECIAL LENSES | ||||
1938- ~ 1946 |
48mm f /4.5 Anastigmat Special | Bantam/ Bantam Shutter |
Tessar | |
1938- ~ 1946 |
50mm f /3.5 Anastigmat Special | Kodak 35 with and without RF, Kodamatic | Modified Tessar | |
>1939- ~ 1946 |
100mm f /4.5,
101mm f /4.5, 127mm f /4.5 Anastigmat Special |
Kodak Vigilant, Kodak Monitor, Kodak Special 620 and 616 | Tessar | |
KODAK ANASTON LENSES (Originally Anastigmats) | ||||
1946- ~ 1959 |
51mm f /4.5 Kodak Anaston | Kodak
35 / Diomatic
|
Triplet | |
1946 - 1953 |
105mm f
/4.5 Kodak Anaston |
Kodak
Monitor 620 |
Triplet | |
1946 - 1953 |
105mm f
/6.3 Kodak Anaston |
Kodak
Monitor 620 |
Triplet | |
KODAK
EKTANAR LENSES Ektanars were introduced in 1956 as a "less complex than Ektar" unit focusing design on an expanded line of Signet 35mm cameras. Ektanar lenses were later used on Kodak Automatic 35 and Motormatic cameras and upscale Instamatics. |
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1956 - 1959 |
f/3.5 46mm Ektanar | Signet
40 Synchro 400 |
Triplet | |
1957 - 1960 |
f/2.8 44mm Ektanar | Signet
30 & 50 Synchro 250 |
Triplet | |
1958 - 1962 |
f/2.8 50mm Ektanar | Signet
70 & 80 Synchro 250 |
Triplet | |
1958 - 1962? |
f/3.5 35mm Signet Wide-Angle | Signet
70 & 80 |
5 element modified Heliar? | |
1958 - 1962? |
f/4.0 90mm Signet Telephoto | Signet
70 & 80 Synchro 250 |
Tele Tessar | |
KODAK
EKTANON LENSES "Ektanon" was used originally in the context "Enlarging Ektanon," then briefly for the name of a taking lens. The Bantam RF may have been the only Kodak camera to use an Ektanon taking lens. |
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1953 - 1957 |
50mm f /3.9 Kodak Ektanon |
Kodak Bantam RF | Triplet | |
KODAK
EKTAR (ANASTIGMAT EKTAR) LENSES (all still taking Ektars, including Wide Field Ektars and Commercial Ektars) |
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1941- 1948 |
f/3.3 35mm Ektar | Ektra/Special
Barrel/Focal Plane (The original Ektra was a state-of-the-art interchangeable lens 35mm model introduced in 1941; there was an Ektra II prototype. Kodak reused the Ektra name for a series of plastic 110 cartridge cameras from about 1978-84; not included here.) |
Heliar |
|
f/3.5 44mm Ektar | Signet
35 Synchro 300 |
Tessar | ||
1936- 1948 |
f/2.0 45mm Ektar | Bantam
Special/ Compur or Supermatic |
Biotar 6-element |
|
1936 - ?? |
f/3.5
50mm Anastigmat Ektar (later just Ektar) |
Retina
I & II/ Compur or Compur Rapid ( Retina I and II models were available with Ektars or Schneider lenses. Some Ektars were U. S. made, some were rebranded Schneiders) |
Tessar | Kodak Reference Handbooks through the 1946 edition did not include Kodak AG models. |
1941- 1948 |
f/1.9 50mm Ektar | Ektra/Special Barrel/Focal Plane | Biotar 7-element |
|
1941- 1948 |
f/3.5 50mm Ektar | Ektra/Special Barrel/Focal Plane | Modified Tessar |
|
1953 - 1956 |
f/3.5 78mm Ektar | Chevron Synchro-Rapid 800 |
Reversed Tessar | |
1948
- 195? |
f/6.3
80mm Wide Field Ektar |
Press
and View cameras Flash Supermatic #0 1 - 1/400 |
Double Gauss | |
1941- 1948 |
f/3.5 90mm Ektar | Ektra/Special Barrel/Focal Plane | . |
|
1941- 1953 |
f/3.5 100mm Ektar | Medalist
, Medalist II |
Heliar | |
1948
- 195? |
f/6.3
100mm Wide Field Ektar |
Press
and View cameras Flash Supermatic #1 1 - 1/400 |
Double Gauss | |
~1942- 1955+ |
f/4.5 101mm Ektar | Press
and view cameras |
Tessar | |
1941- 1955+ |
f/3.7 105mm Ektar | Press
and view cameras No 2 Supermatic, No 2 Flash Supermatic |
Heliar | |
~1937- 1940 |
f/3.7 107mm Ektar | Press
and view cameras No 2 Supermatic, |
Modified Tessar | |
~1942- 1955+ |
f/4.7 127mm Ektar | Press
and view cameras Graflex 23 (barrel version) Flash Supermatic, Supermatic X #1, Synchro-Compur (later models) |
Tessar | |
1941- 1948 |
f/3.8 135mm Ektar | Ektra/Special Barrel/Focal Plane | Tele-Tessar |
|
1948
- 195? |
f/6.3
135mm Wide Field Ektar |
Press
and View cameras Flash Supermatic #2 1 - 1/200 |
Double Gauss | |
1948- 1955+ |
f/4.7 152mm Ektar | Press
and view cameras Graflex 34 (barrel version) Flash Supermatic #2 |
Tessar | |
1941- 1948 |
f/4.5 153mm Ektar | Ektra/Special Barrel/Focal Plane | Tele-Tessar |
|
1948
- 195? |
f/6.3
190mm Wide Field Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #4 1 - 1/100; |
Double Gauss | |
f/7.7
8 inch (203mm) Ektar |
Press
and view cameras Flash Supermatic #1 Synchro-Compur (later models) |
Dialyte | ||
1942? - 1947 |
f/6.3
8 1/2 inch Eastman Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #3 1 - 1/150 in; or barrel (Eastman Ektars were introduced about 1937 with the 14-inch model; shorter lengths were added beyond 1942. Circa 1946, Eastman Ektars were hardcoated.) |
Tessar | |
1948
- 1965? |
f/6.3
8 1/2 inch Commercial Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #3 1 - 1/150 in; or barrel (Commercial Ektars were introduced about 1947 and may have simply been renamed Eastman Ektars) |
Tessar | |
1942? - 1947 |
f/6.3
10 inch Eastman Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #4 1 - 1/100; or barrel |
Tessar | |
1948
- 1965? |
f/6.3
10 inch Commercial Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #4 1 - 1/100; or barrel |
Tessar | |
f/6.3
250mm Wide Field Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #5 1 - 1/50; |
Double Gauss | ||
1942?
- 1947 |
f/6.3
12 inch Eastman Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #4 1 - 1/100; or barrel |
Tessar | |
1948
- 1965? |
f/6.3
12 inch Commercial Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #4 1 - 1/100; or barrel |
Tessar | |
1952?
- ? |
f/4.5
12 inch Portrait Lens |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #5 1 - 1/50; or barrel |
2 elements/ 1 group |
|
1937
- 1947 |
f/6.3
14 inch Eastman Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #5 1 - 1/50; or barrel |
Tessar | |
1948
- 1965? |
f/6.3
14 inch Commercial Ektar |
View
cameras Ilex Synchro #5 1 - 1/50; or barrel |
Tessar | |
1952?
- ? |
f/4.5
16 inch Portrait Lens |
View
cameras barrel |
2 elements/ 1 group |
|
KODAK ENLARGING EKTANON LENSES (Projection Anastigmats) | ||||
~1940 - 1965 | 50mm f /4.5 |
Kodak Precision A Kodak Flurolite other enlargers with flat lens board |
Triplet | |
~1950 - 1955 | 89mm f /6.3 Enlarging Ektanon |
Hobbyist Enlarger | Triplet | |
~1940 - 1965 | 5 3/8
inch f /4.5 Enlarging Ektanon (earlier, Projection Anastigmat) |
Precision Enlarger B Advance Enlarger or other flat lens boards |
Tessar | |
~1940 - 1965 | 6 3/8
inch |
Precision Enlarger B or other flat lens boards |
Tessar | |
~1940 - 1965 | 10 inch f /4.5 Enlarging Ektanon (earlier, Projection Anastigmat) |
Eastman Projection Printer, 8x10 or other flat lens boards for very large printers | Tessar | |
~1940 - 1965 | 10 inch f /8 Enlarging Ektanon (earlier, Projection Anastigmat) |
Eastman Projection Printer, 8x10 or other flat lens boards for very large printers | Dialyte | |
KODAK ENLARGING (Projection) EKTAR LENSES | ||||
~1940 - 1965 | 50mm f /4.5 |
Kodak Precision Kodak Flurolite other enlargers with flat lens board |
Heliar | |
~1940 - 1965 | 100mm f /4.5 Projection or Enlarging Ektar |
Kodak Precision Kodak Flurolite other enlargers with flat lens board |
4-element air-spaced design | |
SCHNEIDER
LENSES ON RETINAS Early Retinas mounted Schneider Xenars and Xenons, but beyond the booklet, Kodak Lenses and Shutters of 1939 that included only the f /3.5 Ektar, Retinas were not documented until 1952. Does not include Schneider lenses rebranded as Kodak Ektars. |
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1951- 1954 |
f
/2.0 50mm Retina-Xenon |
Retina IIa | Biotar | |
1954 - 1957 |
f
/2.0 50mm Retina-Xenon |
Retina IIIc Retina IIc |
9 elements/ 6 groups |
|
1956 - 1960 |
f
/2.0 50mm Retina-Xenon C |
Retina IIIC Retina Reflex |
6 elements/ 4 groups |
|
1954 - 1960 |
f
/5.6 35mm Retina-Curtar C front group |
Retina IIIc Retina IIIC Retina Reflex |
6 elements/ 4 groups |
|
1954 - 1960 |
f
/5.6 35mm Retina-Longar C front group |
Retina IIIc Retina IIIC Retina Reflex |
6 elements/ 4 groups |
|
These lenses were later
offered in Synchro Compur shutters. Kodak data books no longer included
lens
|
Ektar Home Page | Kodak Lens Index | ||||
About Ektar lens data | Kodak Lens Lineage | ||||
Kodak Ektar Summary | Kodak Lens Coating | ||||
Kodak Lenses and Shutters © 1939‡ | Kodak Reference Handbook: Lenses, Rangefinders and Shutters section © 1940 | ||||
Kodak
Reference Handbook: Lenses, Rangefinders and Shutters section ©
1942, 1945 |
Data Book on Lenses, Shutters and Portra Lenses, for Revising Kodak Reference Handbook, © 1942, 1945; Second 1946 Printing | ||||
Kodak Data Book: Lenses, Shutters and Portra Lenses, Third Edition, (1948) | Kodak Data Book: Lenses, Shutters and Portra Lenses, Fourth Edition, (1952) | ||||
Kodak Data Book: Lenses, Shutters and Portra Lenses, Fifth Edition, (1955) | Kodak Professional Handbook, Equipment Section, (1952) | ||||
Kodak Data Book: Lenses, Shutters and Portra Lenses, Sixth Edition, (1958) | Kodak Lens Serial Numbers | ||||
Enlarging Lenses | |||||
‡ |
This booklet predates the first edition of the Kodak Reference Handbook and contains detailed information about many more lens models and considerable background information about Kodak lens design and production. Kodak issued replacement pages to registered owners of the original Kodak Reference Handbook which was published in a loose-leaf binder; the replacement pages contained updated information about new products and processes. Newer versions of the Handbook would have contained these pages. © dates in this material appear for 1940, 1942, 1943 and 1945 and perhaps other dates. One of the first separately bound Data Books was published in 1946 "For Revising Reference Handbooks," and noted as Second Printing. |
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10/29/2010 22:33 |