Kodak Ektra CLA

[KoNickon]

Fascinating thread. Some very high level skills displayed by the poster, truly! Waiting to see some pictures!

 

[furcafe]

I read somewhere that Howard Baker, of Watergate fame, had his Ektra serviced by a skilled Japanese technician (no name ) when he was ambassador in Japan. Baker also collected cameras in his spare time and was a well-known photographer.

Hayata Camera.
https://www.japancamerahunter.com/2012/03/medium-format-buyers-guide-pt-3-rangefinders/

https://www.rangefinderforum.com/node/177061

Yes, & I can confirm that Hayata-san still works on Ektras (as of last year).

 

[View Range]

Dear Hcompton79, I thank you for your effort in helping! Disassembling the button, measuring and drawing the parts was time consuming , Thanks a lot! Very, very kind of you!
As you say, it's a rather complicated task to replicate one! I think that there not too many Ektras in Brazil. I never saw another one. I believe that this one could have been brought during the WWII period, when USAF utilized an air base to reach North Africa. At that time, the Natal Air base was the largest USAF base abroad. I think that there is almost no possibility of finding down here those parts I need.
Perhaps a fellow of rangefinder forum, reading your post, could give a hint on someone who has EKTRA parts, a dealer, for instance, I believe I will not find parts for EKTRA in Brazil.
I found a screw with the same thread as the the two hollowed one you gave me the dimensions. That one will be a feasible substitution. With your drawings and dimensions, I will start to find someone to work on the parts. At the same time I have a hope that a fellow from Rangefinder Forum could give a hint of a parts dealer.
I thank you enormously for your kind attention to me.

I recommend contacting S. K. Grimes in the US. This is the type of part they are in business to reproduce. And I have found their prices to be reasonable.

 

[Hcompton79]

Fascinating thread. Some very high level skills displayed by the poster, truly! Waiting to see some pictures!

Your kind words are too nice for my meager skills. Although I enjoy the technical aspects of photography more than the aesthetic, hopefully these photos show some of what this camera is capable of:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzSyy5

My only current lens for this camera is the 35mm f/3.3 that came with it, but I also briefly had the pleasure to use the 50mm f/1.9 that I was CLAing for someone else. That's a really great lens.

Also, this forum seems to be failing to send me post reply notifications, so I apologize for the delayed response.

 

[furcafe]

Your kind words are too nice for my meager skills. Although I enjoy the technical aspects of photography more than the aesthetic, hopefully these photos show some of what this camera is capable of:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzSyy5

My only current lens for this camera is the 35mm f/3.3 that came with it, but I also briefly had the pleasure to use the 50mm f/1.9 that I was CLAing for someone else. That's a really great lens.

Also, this forum seems to be failing to send me post reply notifications, so I apologize for the delayed response.

I've found the 35 to be a great lens due to its compact profile (& I think it focuses a smidge closer than the 50s), but I'm also a heavy 35 user. While mine came w/the clip-on accessory finder, I'll occasionally use a 35mm VF from another RF (the CV 28/35 mini-finder is perfect, but the metal 35 VFs for Canon & Nikon RFs also work well & have distance adjustability) in the accessory shoe when I'm worried that the clip-on will get knocked off & possibly lost.

 

[Cassidy665]

If you know vintage Kodaks, you probably are aware of this camera. It's the Kodak Ektra, Kodak's 1941 attempt to produce the worlds finest 35mm interchangeable lens rangefinder camera, beating out contemporary Leica and Contax cameras.

Being a Kodak collector, this is one of the cameras I have lusted over for the longest time. It's the one of the finest cameras to ever come out of Rochester and the finest American rangefinder ever made, but with only 2000 made, they command ridiculous money in the market.

After a few years of watching various action sites, I finally came across one that didn't cost me an arm and leg. It's got some problems, the shutter is jammed (quite typical) but the curtains and their straps appear to be in good shape. I also need to locate the auxiliary 35mm finder window for this lens or a 50mm Ektar lens to go with it.

Do you know how to find the serial number. I just got a Kodak ektra from my grandfather and don’t know how to find it

 

[Hcompton79]

It's on the back of the tripod socket on the bottom of the camera.



Also, aren't you the same person from Reddit whom I answered this question twice to, and wanted to sell this Ektra you inherited for $6500?