The Recomar was a high quality plate camera that took film packs and cut film. It took 9x12cm images and a number of lens and shutter combinations were available during its life in production. Some of the most desirable are found with the Leitz Elmar before Kodak's acquisition, and the Zeiss Tessar after Kodak assumed control. Generally, they are equipped with the Compur, Compur-S, or Compur-Rapid shutters although there are other types probably the result of owner modifications.
The camera shown here is a late production basic Recomar 33 with the 135mm Kodak Anastigmat f/4.5 lens and Compur shutter with speeds up to 1/200 sec. A brilliant finder with spirit level could be used as well as a folding wire finder. Heavy chrome plating and black enameling, double extension leather bellows, rack & pinion focusing, 2-axis lens shift for perspective control, and 35mm film adapter availability made this camera a popular one for the advanced amateur and professional. Kodak offered this basic 33 for $48.00, equivalent to about $700.00 today and sold over 13,000 between 1933 and 1940.
