The Kodak 35 mm Stereo Camera came on the market towards the end of 1954. The Kodak 35 mm Stereo Camera came on the market towards the end of 1954. This camera was by no means the first stereo camera that Kodak ever made. Back in 1901 Kodak released the "No 2 Stereo Kodak" and continued to market stereo models of both Kodak and Brownie cameras until 1925.

The significance of the Kodak 35 mm Stereo was that, unlike previous Kodak stereo cameras, this camera was designed for colour film and more importantly for Kodak, it was designed for Kodak Kodachrome film. In the 1950s Kodak even introduced a special 20 stereo exposure pre paid Kodachrome film that included stereo mounting in the purchase price. The standard 20 and 36 exposure films, yielding 15 and 28 stereo pairs respectively, could also be stereo mounted by Kodak for an additional cost.

The Kodak Stereo is very cleverly designed to cater for both the experienced and novice photographer. The coupled focusing can be operated from either lens. The right lens is calibrated in feet and has a depth of field scale. For those not used to estimating distance, the left lens indicates distance by picture type. ie "close ups" "groups" and "scenes". Advancing the film cocks the shutter. Intentional double exposure is possible, but only by re-cocking the shutter with a leaver at the bottom of the camera - an operation that can not be performed if the camera is in its case. The built in exposure guide to simplify the selection of shutter speed and aperture is innovative but of little use as the calibrations are for the slow speed Kodachrome of the 1950s.

The Kodak is the easiest to use of all the realist format stereo cameras. Important controls - shutter speed, aperture, frame counter and focus are visible from the top of the camera. The camera is of plastic construction. It is very light and at the same time very durable. It has a clear viewfinder with a built in spirit level to ensure that we keep our horizons level.

Film loading is easy - just drop the cartridge into the film chamber, extend the film over the take up drum and close the camera back. When the winding knob is turned, a tooth in the take up drum will

engage one of the film perforations locking it to the drum. The film rewind knob has a folding handle to speed up the rewind process.

Shutter speeds are ¹/₂₅ to ¹/₂₀₀ sec. The lenses are f3.5 Kodak Anastons - a Cooke type triplet of reasonably good quality.

In the 1950s Kodak range of 35 mm "mono" cameras the lower cost Pony cameras were fitted with Anaston lenses while the more expensive Signet 35 mm cameras had the Tessar type Kodak Ektar lenses. It is a pity that Kodak did not fit their stereo camera with their excellent Ektar lenses that were fitted to the first of the f2.8 Realist cameras. But then, the Kodak Stereo sold for US$84.50 at a time when the f2.8 realist was selling for $198. I guess it was all a matter of value for money.

An excellent case was available at an extra cost of US$9.50. All operations other than film load/unload and intentional double exposure can be performed while the camera is in its case. Many of the Kodak Stereo cameras now in use still have the original case.

For reasons that only they can explain Kodak Stereo owners seem to be more passionate about their cameras than other stereo photographers. Is it the light weight, the spirit level, ease of operation or the good results? Please let us know so that we can share the joy.

This article first appeared in the May 1996

Sydney Stereo Camera Club Newsletter