Kodak 35 U.S. AIR FORCE KE-7 rangefinder compact 35mm film camera with case. Serial # 1261. Made in USA by Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY. Rare military version. Black color. Circa 1950s. Kodak Signet 35 features a built-in rangefinder, and fairly compact size. This Signet 35 camera has a Kodak Ektar 44mm f/3.5 manual focus coated lens. Focus is manual with built-in split image rangefinder focusing. This camera has close focus down to 2' or .6m. Kodak Synchro300 shutter. Shutter speed range is 1/300 - 1/25sec, B. Aperture range from f/3.5 to f/22. Camera is Ex++ or 9 of 10 cosmetic condition. No dents or dings. Small signs of use. Overall very nice condition collectible condition. Shutter appears to be working, but this camera has not been tested with film. Film needs to be in this camera for it to function. Smooth film advance. Viewfinder and rangefinder working with clear view. The Kodak Signet 35 KE-7 military cameras are scarce and hard to find. This Kodak 35 US Air Force KE-7 camera is a good user camera with a very sharp Ektar lens. Don't let this great collectible 35mm rangefinder camera get away from you. "Classic" vintage Kodak Signet 35 rangefinder camera with the 44mm f/3.5 normal lens. This camera sells AS-IS due to it being untested, and a rare vintage item.
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The Kodak Signet 35 was Kodak's top American-made 35mm camera of the 1950's and the first of the Kodak Signet camera line. The Signet 35 has a coupled coincident image rangefinder, an excellent Ektar 44mm f3.5 lens with rear helicoid focus, automatic film stop counter with double exposure prevention, all built into a sturdy cast aluminum alloy body. The manually cocked Kodak Synchro 300, shutter works well, but compared with the shutters on equivalent German and Japanese cameras of the period, it has significantly fewer speeds (B, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, and 1/300). However, time has proved the shutter to be very reliable, especially when compared to some of Kodak's leaf shutters of more impressive specifications. The Signet 35 is a very interesting camera as it shows some design details that make it special, however not comparable to german and japanese counterparts of the time. The lens was the Tessar formula adapted to newer glass types and the focal distance (44mm) is the closest to the diagonal for 35mm film(43.3mm). Maximum aperture was that of the original Tessar design it is 3.5 closing up to 22. Lens performance is excellent even for today´s standards and is coated and colour corrected. It´s an extremely strong camera because the body itself is a thick cast machined aluminum single piece. Both advance and rewind functions are operated by big toothed wheels, able to be operated with gloves. The shutter release button is a big plate able to be operated, again, with gloves. The shutter itself is an extremely simple design having big levers to set both speed and aperture (also allowing to use gloves). Another unusual feature is the film pressure plate which, instead of being flat black, is made of a bright mirror finished chromed plate. The flash synch contact is the by then standard ASA type and Kodak sold an adaptor for PC units. Synch was only for bulbs (M type) No X synch unless the shutter is modified to this purpose. Another interesting feature is that the camera allows for multiple exposure by just moving a lever in the bottom plastic plate. The massive focusing assembly is made with ball bearings making it easy and smooth, the focusing lever, again is able to be used with gloves because of its size. Distance scale is only engraved in feet meaning it wasn´t intended to be sold overseas. Focusing can be done up to a mere two feet (610 mm) which is unusual for an RF without parallax correction not even with a projected field frame in the viewfinder. There are two other versions: one finished in black anodized aluminum made for the USAF, and another finished in olive green made for the Army. The camera itself is made of aluminum alloy (body), chromed brass and some stainless steel parts.
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This rare collectible
Kodak Signet 35 U.S. Air Force KE-7 camera sells AS-IS with NO RESERVE at price
of $645. have LOT more Kodak Retina Rangefinder and Reflex Cameras, Lenses
and Retina Accessories, German and Japanese Rangefinder Cameras and Lenses,
Canon Rangefinder, Contax and Zeiss Rangefinder Cameras and Lenses, Leica
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