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.

(This page is a new feature initialized in September 2010; there are undoubtedly errors and omissions which I would appreciate knowing about via the email address below.)

PROD
PERIOD
LENS

CAMERA/SHUTTER/
MOUNT

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 .
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
Kodak Recomar 33
Compur

Tessar

1937-
1948

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
Kodak Vigilant 616)/
Diomatic
(616 discontinued ~ 1947)

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
f /4.5, 5 1/2 in
f
/4.5, 6 3/8 in
f
/4.5, 7 1/2 in
f /4.5, 8 1/2 in
f
/4.5, 10 in
f /4.5, 12 in
Unmounted lenses for press and view cameras

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
Pony 828/Flash 200
Pony 135/Flash 200

 

Triplet
1946 -
1953
105mm f /4.5
Kodak Anaston

Kodak Monitor 620
Kodak Vigilant 620
Kodak Tourist
Kodak Tourist II/
Kodamatic
Flash Kodamatic

Triplet
1946 -
1953
105mm f /6.3
Kodak Anaston

Kodak Monitor 620
Kodak Vigilant 620
Kodak Tourist
Kodak Tourist II/
Kodamatic
Flash Kodamatic

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.
 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
Synchro 250

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.
 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)
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
No 2 Supermatic
,
No 2 Flash Supermatic

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
Flash Supermatic
Synchro-Rapid 800
#0

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
75mm f /4.5
100mm f /4.5
Projection Anasigmat or Enlarging Ektanon

Kodak Precision A
Kodak Flurolite
other enlargers with flat lens board
 Triplet
~1950 -  1955 89mm
/6.3
Enlarging Ektanon
Hobbyist Enlarger Triplet
~1940 -  1965 5 3/8 inch
/4.5 Enlarging Ektanon
(earlier, Projection Anastigmat)
Precision Enlarger B
Advance Enlarger
or other flat lens boards
Tessar
~1940 -  1965

6 3/8 inch
7 1/2 inch
/4.5 Enlarging Ektanon
(earlier, Projection Anastigmat)

Precision Enlarger B
or other flat lens boards
Tessar
~1940 -  1965 10 inch
/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
/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
75mm f /4.5
Projection or Enlarging Ektar

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.
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
 


Occassionally Kodak lens designers reversed the elements in the rear group of the Tessar design so that the positive element was next to the stop. This arrangement was used for the 50mm f/3.5 Ektar for the Ektra and in the 50mm f /3.5 Anastigmat Special on the Kodak 35.

These lenses were later offered in Synchro Compur shutters. Kodak data books no longer included lens
   and shutter data for professional cameras after 1952, so do not reflect these later Ektars for press and
   view cameras. Later examples of the 101mm f/4.5 and 105mm f/3.7 may have been sold in Compur shutters,
   though I have not seen any.

 


   
 
 
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.

 
       
 

10/29/2010 22:33