Kodak Reflex 1A Twin Lens Reflex Camera
Photo thanks to Mark Mills
[email protected]

This Kodak Reflex 1A twin lens reflex camera is a good example of a second tier TLR made during the hey-days of the twin lens reflex camera. Kodak made the Kodak Reflex from 1946-49. The Kodak Reflex II was produced from 1948-54. The ground glass in the original Kodak Reflex was replaced by a brighter Kodak Ektalite field lens in the model 1A. The Kodak Reflex 1A was an update or conversion of the Kodak Reflex original models, in which the field lens, bezel, and nameplate were replaced (by Kodak or camera repair shops). While less common, the model 1A may still only fetch ~$75 versus ~$50 for models I and II.

These Kodak twin lens reflex cameras would be considered a step up in both price and performance from the bottom tier of cheapy TLRs. The 80mm f/3.5 kodak anastigmat lens were modest lenses. I'd recommend a modern coated Tessar (or other 4 element) lens design and even brighter fresnel screen on some of the similarly priced later TLRs for user cameras.

Photo notes:

Kodak Reflex 1A camera. The lenses are Kodak and Anqstigmat f:3.5 80mm.

From Rollei Mailing List: Date: Tue, 05 Feb 2002 From: Richard Knoppow [email protected] Subject: Re: [Rollei] Kodak TLR lens you wrote: >With the latest talk of Kodak lenses I looked through a pamphlet I have on >Kodak lenses. There is a lens diagram there for the Kodak Reflex II - a >TLR. This lens is an 80 mm f/3.5 Anastar four element one, but not the >usual Tessar type lens. This one is like a triplet with an additional >element inserted between the first and second elements. These three >elements are in front of the shutter stop. None of the elements are >cemented. The camera predates Rollei's use of a fresnel screen as it had an >"Ektalite Field lens" positioned just under the ground glass. > >This lens must be less expensive to produce than a Tessar type as it has no >cemented elements. Is the extra element to increase the focal length while >maintaining good aberration correction - yet not as good as the Tessar type? > >todd I think these were front element focusing lenses. It appears to be a triplet with an exta element in the front section. I don't know how much of the lens was moved to focus it. Cemented surfaces are expensive to make since the surfaces to be cemented must be individually polished to match exactly and there are the extra steps of cementing, some of which is hand work. The Kodak Reflex camera had a good reputation for sharpness. Bunny Yeager, a glamour photographer of the 1950s and 1960s, used a Kodak Reflex for much of her early work. A lot of the famous photos of Bettie Page and other models who worked for Bunny were taken with it. She later got a Rolleiflex but many of her best known images came from the Kodak. The Kodak Ektalite screen was made for a number of cameras. Its the one used in the Graflok back for Speed/Crown Graphics, plus Kodak soldl them to fit a number of non-Kodak cameras. My first "real" camera would probably have been a Kodak Reflex II if Rollei had not discontinued the Rolleicord IV at the time. I got a brand new one at a substantial discount because it was a discontinued model. ---- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA [email protected]

From rollei mailing list: Date: Sun, 17 Mar 2002 From: Richard Knoppow [email protected] Subject: Re: [Rollei] Kodak Reflex II vs Rolleicord vs Ansco Reflex you wrote: >RUGers > >I finally bought a camera for which I have been lusting >for about 50 years! A Kodak Reflex II. This is the model >of camera that Bunny Yeager used to take those great pin- >up photos of Betty Page. (Nah, but none of you are old >enough to know of Betty Page, so forget that.) > Wanna bet? >I remember testing a Kodak Reflex II against a Rolleicord >and an Anscoflex back when they were all available new. >The Anscoflex had some great features but was handicapped >by that stinking three element Woolensock lens. The Kodak >Reflex had a 4 element lens (I just confirmed it using a laser >pointer and counting reflections) which was sharper than the >Xenar in the R'cord. Plus, it had that fantastic Ektalite screen >which is the brightest I have ever seen. > >Jerry > >The Kodak has identical lenses for viewing and taking, and they >are all coated. (Including the outer surfaces, Richard) > >I am looking forward to taking some photos with the Kodak. > >Do any of you have any experience with that camera? > >Jerry The lenses in the Kodak Reflex (both models) are four element air spaced type using front element focusing. They are reputedly very sharp. The Ektalite field lens was available for other cameras and is the fresnel used on Graflok backs on Speed Graphics. The Kodak Reflex was built after Kodak started using vacuum deposited hard coarings. It was only during the late 1930's to mid 1940's that they were using the soft chemical bath coatings. these will wipe off in ordinary lens cleaning so were used only on inside protected surfaces of some lenses. The Ansco Reflex used Agfa made lenses I think. The Wollensak ones were found on Ciro-Flex cameras. I am not absolutely sure of the Ansco lenses but the cameras seemed to have a good reputation during their short life. The problem was that prices of German made cameras dropped pretty radically about when this camera was introduced, so it did not have an advantage over the Rolleiflex. I almost got a Kodak Reflex. However, the Rolleicord IV had just been discontinued so I was able to get one brand new at a discount which made it bout the same price. . I had that camera for many years until a burglar got it. Most people think the Betty Page pictures were taken with a Rollei. In fact, Bunny Yeager got a Rolleiflex at some point, but the Betty stuff was shot mostly with a Kodak Reflex. Bunny Yeager evidently got good advise on equipment from someone judging from what is shown in pictures of her working. Not the most expensive, but good solid stuff. I think it was Roy Pinney who started her off after working with her as a model so it might have been Roy who was advising her. I think one of the things which makes Bunny's pictures so appealing is that the models were comfortable working with her. The last I heard Bunny was still in Miami but being a talent or model's agent. Bettie Page is still alive and living in the L.A. area somewhere. She had an unhappy life, from some reports a sufferer from schitsophrenia. She spent years in mental hospitals here and in the South. She has gotten little or no money from the recent spate of books and reprinted photos. Born in 1923, either in Kingsport Tn. or Nashville Tn. She lied about her age! ---- Richard Knoppow Los Angeles, CA, USA [email protected]