Kodak Ektar 153mm f/4.5

Spec Notes

THE HIGHEST MERGE RISK IN THE CATALOGUE FOR THIS BRAND. A large-format Kodak Ektar 152mm f/4.5 exists for Speed Graphic-class 4x5 cameras, mounted in a Supermatic or Graphic Supermatic LEAF SHUTTER. One millimetre and an identical maximum aperture separate two entirely different lenses. Two discriminators: the focal length digit (152 vs 153) and the presence of a shutter — the Ektra lens has none, the camera does. MINIMUM APERTURE NOT SOURCED (no printed scale for the telephotos). Filter Series VI inserted in the barrel with a retaining ring, no adapter. Min focus 5 ft (152 cm). RAREST OF THE SIX, but the numbers are DISPUTED: the circulating breakdown gives roughly 400 of this lens against about 2,000 each of the 35, 90 and 135. That is internally implausible against a total body production of only about 2,000-2,500 — it implies nearly one accessory 90mm AND one accessory 135mm sold per camera, on top of a standard lens. Single-source. Record the relative scarcity, not the absolute figures. 1941 list price $150.00, the dearest lens in the system.

Max Aperture

f/4.5

Min Focus Distance

152cm

Filter Series

VI

Alternate Names

—

Introduced

1941

Focal Length (Max)

153mm

Focal Length (Min)

153mm