SUPERB! 1936 Kodak REGENT 6x9 Coupled Rangefinder Camera with case, CLA'd, Freshly serviced!

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use

This is a rare Kodak Regent medium format camera that was produced in Stuttgart Germany from 1932 – 1939. It was an expensive coupled rangefinder camera and it’s a visual expression of the design trend of the time which was transitioning from art-deco to streamline-modern. It’s lines echoes aerodynamic design and architecture which featured curved shapes and long horizontal lines.

The Regent featured a coupled rangefinder that made focusing quick and easy and a beautiful streamlined body wrapped in real leather which made it extremely easy to slip in and out of its leather case or a pocket.

Performance of the camera was outstanding due to its top-of-the-line Compur-Rapid shutter and 105mm Carl Zeiss lens. Because of all these features a Kodak Regent is difficult to find. It is certainly one of the loveliest rangefinder cameras ever built. An especially nice touch is the folding finder and retractable focus knob into the sleek body so that there’s nothing to snag while sliding in in or out of a pocket.

This camera uses 620 roll film, which is still available on the internet. Avid collectors and photographers also know that 620 film is identical to modern 120 roll film. The only difference is the spool that its wound on. Many people who enjoy using these cameras simply rewind 120 film onto 620 spools. (If you Google the subject you’ll find lots of helpful information on how to do this.)

This Kodak Regent is in unusually fine condition inside and out and it works beautifully. The Compur-Rapid shutter has been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted and all speeds (B, T & 1 sec - 1/400th) are appropriate. The bellows are supple and completely light tight. The rangefinder has also been cleaned and it makes focusing fast and easy.

In a period when most folding cameras focused the image by using “front cell focusing” in which the first lens element is screwed in and out, the Regent had a coupled rangefinder which makes focusing quick and easy. It’s lens and shutter move back and forth as a unit. This improved optical performance quite a bit, especially in conjunction with its excellent 105mm lens.

The lens is a Carl Zeiss 4.5/10,5cm (105mm) Tessar, a four element lens. The lens is exceptionally clean. There are no scratches or cleaning marks and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and b&w films.  

It comes complete with lovely velvet lined leather case that’s perfectly tailored to fit this camera.

All in all it’s a wonderful camera. A perfect companion in the hunt for that perfect shot. You know the one… the one with the Ansel Adams light breaking through the dark storm clouds that leaves you wishing you had a classic camera with you.