Kodak Chevron (1953)

The Kodak Chevron is one of the most unusual cameras Kodak ever produced — and one of the most derided. Released in 1953 as an anniversary model marking 25 years since Kodak's first 35mm camera, it was an avant-garde, forward-looking design that drew ridicule almost immediately. More than one contemporary writer suggested it resembled the modernistic automobiles of the era, and Kodak insisted the shape was functional, not the result of a stylist's dream. The camera earned the nickname "The Creature," and has been called "undeniably one of the most derided cameras ever made."

The odd look was deliberate. The curved front brought the shutter release to the same plane as the film inside the body, and the design integrated a built-in flash into the front of the boxy body — a genuine innovation for the time. The Chevron was mostly black plastic over a die-cast metal chassis, with a chrome Chevron badge embossed on the front. It featured a sliding lens cover, a two-part hand grip, and a built-in yellow filter. A similar shape wouldn't appear on a mainstream Kodak until the Retina Reflex S of 1959. The camera made extensive use of plastics, which was itself notable for the early Fifties.

It was intended as a complement to the top-of-the-line Signet 35, but Kodak couldn't successfully market both models, and the Chevron was discontinued after only about three years on the market. The camera retailed for $175 in 1953 — roughly $2,000 in today's money.

Once you get past the looks, the Chevron is a reasonably good camera. It takes good photos with a good lens, and it's easy to use. The winding is smooth, but the viewfinder is quite dim and small, and the focusing ring is a bit stiff — common complaints among owners. It's very creative and collectible, with examples seen selling anywhere from $50 to $350-and-up.

Known specifications:

- Lens: Kodak Anaston 44mm f/3.5, focusing from 3.5 feet to infinity, aperture range f/3.5 to f/16

- Shutter: Kodak Flash 300, speeds of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, and Bulb

- Viewfinder: bright line viewfinder with "push-button" framing for 8, 25, and 50 foot distances

- Rangefinder: linked to the lens

- Film advance: single stroke lever wind

- Other features: built-in flash, self-timer, depth of field scale, built-in yellow filter

- Weight: 1 pound 14 ounces

- Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 1 3/4 inches