Kodak Reflex



Kodak is best known for their films and easy to use, no muss,
no fuss cameras, and its pretty much been that way since the
beginning.  However, that doesn't mean they didn't make some
serious photographic implements!  I would consider the Reflex
one of their better efforts, at least in medium format.
This one is shown with the Kodak Flash Holder and a few
classic filter canisters.  The series VI filter adapter is a Kodak
push on type.  I bought the box of 25B flash bulbs at a pawn
shop for 50 cents....full of bulbs!  It was my lucky day.  I hope I have
more of them.  The bulbs have a guide number of 380 (!) with Tri-X.


The body is clean, albeit fairly boxy, (but what TLR isn't boxy?).  All very functional
 and business like.  Shutter speeds are 1/2 to 1/200 second, plus B and T settings.  It's a
 cock and fire type, where the shutter is cocked by pushing the lever up to cock and down
 to fire.  Aperture is f3.5 to f22.  The little pointer at the bottom of the taking lens is to set the
 flash sync for different type flash bulbs.  The lens is an Anastar, and is very sharp for a
camera made to sell at such a reasonable price point. 
It's coated, but Kodak called it Lumenized.  Oooohh.





At the top, on the back of the camera you can see the viewfinder release.
 It's the button in the middle of the three.  Just press and pop!  It opens
instantly.  The other two buttons to either side of the finder release are to open
 the back for film loading.  Use your thumb and forefinger to squeeze them in
toward the middle and the back opens.  The lever in the middle of the back opens a
window behind the ruby glass so you can see the film frame number when
you wind on to the next frame.The two holes at the bottom of the left side
are for mounting the flash attachment, and the big one above them is the flash
 sync terminal.  It's a push and turn to lock affair.



The finder shown in the working position.
You can see the ground glass, and the magnifier
is shown in the up position.  The ground glass
is really made for outdoor use.  It's quite dim
in low light conditions.  The front of the finder
can be flipped back to use in combination with
the small hole in the back as a sports finder.





Here's a switch for ya.  The eveready case
really is.  Pop the snaps at the top of the
back and it flops down without any coaxing
at all.  Much better than the gymnastics you
have to go through with most so called eveready
cases.  There are cutouts in the back for the
film window lever and the ruby glass. 
Kodak calls this a "Field Case".  You know, for
your next African safari.





Following are a few shots from my last outing with the Reflex.
I used Plus-X film re-rolled onto a 620 spool from 120.  Developed
in D-76 1+1 for 6 1/2 minutes.  Printed on Agfa MC RC developed
in three month old 1+4 Agfa Neutol.  No kidding.  Neutol is a
really stout developer, and I mean after it's been diluted.  If you
use a low dilution, like 1+4, and keep it in a container with a little
shot of Dust-off to displace the air, it will last for months.  Great if you
don't print much.  I DO print a lot, but I keep the Neutol handy for
short sessions where I don't want to dilute Dektol.  Dektol doesn't
last near as long once diluted.




I've always been attracted to old stuff.  Old cameras, old cars, wood,
rope, whips and chains.  No, no...that's not right.  No whips.  Just chains.





Barns.  We've got lots of 'em where I live.  I'm going to keep
taking photographs of them 'til I can't stand it, and then I'm
going to take some more.  I don't care how cliché it is.
I liked the juxtaposition between the old barn here and
the newly built semi-mansion in the background.





Mountain Shadows Church, where you can find me any Sunday
morning....Just before I go out to take pictures of another barn.
Y'all come, but get there early, cause that's all the pews we've got.





Here's something our friends in the city won't see every day.
Not just an old combine.  Nosiree Bob.
This is a bona-fi-de destruction derby combine.  Really, I'm serious.





Last one for this page, my old dog Jojo.  Sixteen years old and really
slowing down.  I used one of my precious #25 flash bulbs for this.  He's worth it.
The corner he's in was too dark to use the ground glass for focusing,
so I guessed the distance and stopped down.
I love the smell of flash bulbs in the morning.  (Apologies to Robert Duvall).


deansphotographica.com

deanw@bmi.net

3-05

© 2005 Dean Williams