Kodak Bantam Special (1936–1948)
A top-end 828 roll film rangefinder camera designed by Walter Dorwin Teague, produced from 1936 to 1948.
Overview
The Kodak Bantam Special is a rangefinder camera that uses 828 roll film. It was aimed at high-end consumer photography before and after the war. Eastman Kodak Co. made it, and Kodak Hawkeye Optical produced it. It was the top model in Kodak's Bantam range. Industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague gave it streamline moderne styling and a clam-shell body, so it is compact and pocketable when closed. Production ran from 1936 to 1948, with a pause between 1941 and 1945 because of wartime constraints.
Specifications
| Film Type | 828 Roll Film (eight 28mm x 40mm exposures per roll) |
| Lens | Kodak Anastigmat Ektar f/2.0, 45mm focal length |
| Focus Type | Rangefinder |
| Focal Range | 3ft - ∞ |
| Shutter Type | Compur (1936–1940), Supermatic (1941–1948) |
| Shutter Speeds | T, B, 1 – 1/500 sec |
| Dimensions | 5" wide × 3" tall × 2" deep (lens closed); 4" deep (lens extended) |
| Weight | 1 pound |
Design
The streamline moderne styling made the Bantam Special one of Kodak's most beautiful Art Deco camera designs. The clam-shell construction lets the lens retract fully, which keeps the camera pocketable. There are two major variants. The Series I (1936-1940) has a Compur shutter. The later model (1941-1948) has a Supermatic shutter.
Context
The Bantam Special was the flagship of Kodak's Bantam line and a premium offering in its era.
Market
The Kodak Bantam Special is a sought-after collectible. It typically sells for over $200, and condition pushes that higher. Original 828 film is obsolete, but you can still shoot the camera with custom-cut 35mm film from services like Film for Classics.
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