Article on accessories for the Kodak Ektra
Toronto. When the USA joined the WW2 fight, it lost all the Germany minicams. In the mid 1920s, the tiny Leica set the close-focus standard for the normal (50mm) lens at 1 metre (or 39 inches). Closer shots meant using extension tubes or close-up lenses or other gadgetsuld
Once the European minicams were lost to America, Kodak stepped up to the challenge and created the Kodak Ektra, an amazing camera that out did the specifications for all traditional German high end minicams. Kodak intended that the Ektra would fill the gap left by the loss of cameras like the Contax, Leica, and its own line of German-made Retinas.
If you happen to have an Ektra, especially without flash sync, then you have a rare camera indeed. First sold in 1941, the Ektra was reintroduced again post war. Unfortunately, the Ektra suffered from a few fatal problems: It was very expensive; it had the worst shutter on any camera (shutter failure was almost inevitable); and every lens interchange was incredibly complicated.
The June, 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics has an article on accessories for this amazing design by Kodak. A big thank you is due to our good friend and fellow PHSC member, George Dunbar, for sharing this article with us! My friend, the late Bill Belier, also mentioned to me that the Ektra shutter was prone to mechanical failure and any potential camera buy for a collection absolutely had to be tested.
