Kodak
SUPERB! 1935 Kodak REGENT 6x9 Coupled Rangefinder Camera, CLA'd, Freshly serviced!
Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use
This is the Kodak Regent 6x9 medium format camera that was produced in Stuttgart Germany from 1932 – 1939. It was an expensive, high end camera.
The Regent featured a coupled rangefinder that made focusing quick and easy, and a beautiful precision made, streamlined body wrapped in real leather which made it extremely easy to slip in and out of a pocket. Performance of the camera was outstanding due to a quality Compur shutter and Schneider lens. The Regent is difficult to find especially in fine condition and it’s easy to understand why. It is certainly one of the prettiest and most unusual 6x9 coupled rangefinder cameras ever built. I love its 1930’s streamline modern look. An especially nice touch is the folding finder which takes the general form of the sleek body so that there is nothing to snag as you slide it in or out of a pocket. Even the inside of the camera is especially sculpted to be sleek and modern in a 1930’s scientific approach.
This also leads us into one of the Regents strongest points. In a period when most folding cameras focused the image by using “front cell focusing” in which the first lens element is screwed in and out, the Regent moved its lens and shutter back and forth as a unit. This improved optical performance quite a bit, especially when working up close with its 105mm lens.
This camera uses 620 roll film, which is still available on the internet. Avid collectors and photographers also know that 620 film is identical to modern 120 roll film. The only difference is the spools its wound on. Many people who enjoy using these cameras simply rewind 120 film onto 620 spools. (If you Google the subject you’ll find lots of helpful information.)
This Kodak Regent is in unusually fine condition inside and out. The serial number of the lens indicates that it was produced in 1935. Despite being 83 years old, this camera looks like new inside. Based on what I see, I’d say that it’s had less than a dozen rolls of film and evidently has spent most of its life waiting for you to find it and put it to work.
The Compur shutter has been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted and all speeds (B, T & 1 sec - 1/250th) are appropriate. The bellows are supple and completely light tight. The rangefinder is easy to see, use and is accurate.
The lens is a quality 3.8/10,5cm (105mm) Schneider Xenar (a four element lens similar in design and performance to the Zeiss Tessar). The lens is exceptionally clean and looks like new. here are no scratches or cleaning marks and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and b&w films.
It comes complete with a pretty, zippered brown leather case.
All in all it’s a wonderful camera. A perfect companion in the hunt for that perfect shot. You know the one… the one with the Ansel Adams light breaking through the dark storm clouds that leaves you wishing you had a classic camera with you.