Kodak Ektra

(1941-1948) Prior to World War II, under the leadership of Joe Mihalyi, Kodak released several innovative cameras, including the Medalist, Super Six-20, and Bantam Special. The Ektra features a coupled rangefinder system, with a focal-plane shutter offering speeds from 1 to 1/1000 second, plus a 'B' setting, and horizontally moving cloth curtains. It is equipped with interchangeable magazine backs, allowing for mid-roll film changes. The camera's advance lever, located to the left of the magazine back, requires two strokes, and the release button is on the left side of the top plate.

Though it was speculated that Mihalyi, being left-handed, influenced the design for left-handed use, this theory has been disputed by the Chicago Photographic Collectors' Society. Accessories for the Ektra include a waist-level brilliant finder, angle finder, magazine back, ground glass back, flash unit, close-focusing rangefinder, synchronized flash, and tripod clearance head. Approximately 2,500 Ektras were sold, with the model advertised until 1948. An improved version, the Ektra II, was planned, with three known prototypes featuring a built-in 35mm lens and the ability to mount a spring-driven motorized magazine back.