How did I end up with two Kodak Chevrons? As Mr. Monk would say, "Here's what happened ..."
About a year ago, I thought it might be interesting to try a Kodak Chevron. This camera replaced the Medalist, which I sort of liked but didn't really like. I found the Medalist to be too chunky and surprisingly difficult to hold because of its shape, smooth surfaces and shutter release
After trolling eBay for a few weeks, I found a camera that I felt was in decent condition. I usually buy cameras that are heavily soiled and described as "sitting in a closet for the past 25 years." I've had my best luck with these models.
A week after paying a pretty penny, I was trolling the Internet for more information about the Chevron, and I saw that another Chevron was for sale - this time on a gun enthusiast site. The cost? $50, and it included the camera, field case (as Kodak called them), instruction booklet and lens cap.
Man, that was a fraction what I paid for the first Chevron.
These are chunky cameras. I think the design is a cross between a Kodak Bantam RF and the Signet 35. I like the brushed steel and how it contrasts with the black leather covering.
Loading the camera is a bit different, and I have to dig out the manual before I put some film into it.
This Ektar is a four-element Tessar type and not the five-element Ektar that is found on the Medalist. The leaf shutter is spec'd to reach 1/800 of a second, although it's unlikely that it really reaches that speed. A paper-thin metal leaf can only travel so quickly.
The collar at the base of the lens focuses the camera, and the Chevron uses the same horizontal split-image rangefinder.
Being a Kodak, it uses 620 film (
). This shoots 6x6, and the viewfinder is centered above the lens, eliminating horizontal parallax. Supposedly, the viewfinder corrects for vertical parallax, but I couldn't see any image shift.That's about it. I'm going to give it a run this weekend.
More photos:
The Kodak Ektar and the shutter, which has a full range of speeds up to 1/800.
When cleaned and relubricated, a light touch is all that is needed to focus the camera. The arm to the right is the shutter release.
The Chevron badge on the top of the camera is purely decorative. It doesn't lift to reveal anything.
