Kodak Signet 40 – Clear Sailing

<p>Kodak’s massed produced cameras, made in America, are often given short status compared to the earlier ones made in Germany. The Signet line was a series of cameras that Kodak produced in the U.S. that often go ignored. Yet, as I discovered, there is some well thought out designs in the Signet line, expressed in a multitude of models, to address different price points/ features.</p>

<p>The Kodak Signet 40, second in the Signet line, was designed to allow to the hobbyist a way to create crisp color slides. This was achieved by creating a camera that was easy to use yet had the accurate shutter and good quality, coated lens required for the demanding medium of color slides. It sold for $65.</p><div></div>

<p>This is a 1956 Kodak Signet 40 rangefinder camera. Produced from 1956 to 1959, it was introduced five years after the popular, and more expensive, Signet 35. It sports a coated, called “Lumenized” by Kodak, 46mm Kodak Ektanon f/3.5-22 Lens in a Kodak Synchro 400 shutter. The finder is quite bright with a large, triangular focusing patch. It also is unusual that it takes three strokes of the film advance lever to advance the film one frame. This is, of course, a true classic manual camera with no meter and no batteries required for operation.</p><div></div>

<p>This camera came to me courtesy of Mr. Clarence Gass of Gass Camera in Mission, Kansas. Thanks Clarence for your generous gift! Coming out of Clarence’s shop, the camera not only looks great but also works like new. In the hands, the first thing to hit you is its small, compact size and lightweight feel. The case weighs as much as the camera! This, I assume, is mostly due to its plastic, bakelite shell. A flash is made to attach to the side but I don’t have that accessory.<br>

The build quality is actually good. It’s not up to the fit and finish of finely made German or Japanese camera, but it still feels solid and rugged yet oh-so-light. As I was happy to discover, the rangefinder was exceptionally accurate right out of the gate. </p><div></div>

<p>The top deck has an “instrument dial” appearance about it. I think it looks neat. Aside from remembering to charge the shutter for each shot and the funky, three stroke film advance, the Signet 40 handled well with the lens focusing tab perfectly placed for the fingers to fall onto it naturally.</p><div></div>

<p>The 46mm Kodak Ektanon f/3.5 lens is one of the strengths of this camera. Being of a good Cooke triplet design, this lens is not only fully coated but is created with high index Thorium Oxide glass that is slightly radioactive. This combination provides very good optical performance. This would be needed if satisfying color slides were to be expected.<br>

While the Ektanon is considered a lower end lens compared to the top-of-the-line Ektar (Tessar-type) lens found on the Signet 35, the Ektanon triplet does very well, especially if stopped down slightly.</p>

<p> I was very interested in how this lens performed after reading a post by Charlie Lemay here: <a href="../leica-rangefinders-forum/00Y12o">http://www.photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00Y12o</a><br>

where he shows nice pictures taken with his 35mm, Perar Super Triplet. This is a precision-made Cooke triplet design that is coated and made from high index glass, made for the Leica M mount. It was interesting to learn that a serious custom lens maker still sees the Cooke triplet as a viable design for high-end photography.</p>

<p>While I no longer shoot slides myself, here are some pics I took with this camera on Fuji Superia 400 film. All exposures determined by eye. Film processing and scans courtesy of Walgreens.</p>

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<p>#1 Back Porch with Snow</p><div></div>

<p>#2 Hidden Plant Under the Snow</p><div></div>

<p>#3 Lone Hay Bale</p>

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<p>#4 Hay Barn</p><div></div>

<p>#5 Landscape with a Frozen Pond</p><div></div>

<p>#6 Condensation</p>

<p>Like the Hidden Plant shot, this is shot at minimum focus distance.</p><div></div>

<p>#7 Tree by a Frozen Lake</p>

<p>As a testament to the cameras fine condition, I was shooting in near 0 degrees F here, and the camera never missed a frame. My fingers froze before the shutter!</p><div></div>

<p>#8 Portrait of Michael</p><div></div>

<p>#9 Portrait of Krystal<br>

With no lens hood, the lens shows good flare resistance in this high key situation.</p>

<p>This camera was a complete surprise to me. I loved shooting with it. The accurate focusing, reliable high-speed shutter and good lens created very satisfying results and the featherweight meant it was easy to carry around. If I brown bag my lunch today, I can take the money saved and buy a pair of these on eBay. Yes, Kodak made ‘em fast and made ‘em cheap but with the Signet line, they also made ‘em good. </p><div></div>

<p>Wonderful, post with crisp photographs and tonality. I love the portraits, especially that of Krystal, she seems comfortable reclining on her right arm. The condensation picture is wonderful as well. I have a signet 50 somewhere, not as impressed as you, but it still delivered some nice sea scapes when I tested it some years back. Thank you for posting Louis.</p>

<p>Interesting little camera. And excellent pictures as always. My favorites (the camera porn aside) are 2, 3, 6, 8, and 9. Very nice work.</p>

<p>I tend to think of 1950s fixed-lens rangefinders in the context of the Konica line, since I have a Konica III. In 1956, the same year your Signet 40 came out at a list price (in the ad) of $69 including a flashbulb holder and two reflectors, Konica introduced the first version of the Konica III at $112.75. So if the Kodak looks comparatively cheap (which it undeniably does), it's still a pretty impressive achievement considering the price they brought it out at. Kodak seems to have done a good job of spending money in the most important places: a decent lens and shutter and a reliable film advance.</p>

<p>Nice photos, Louis. Great presentation too. I feel like I've been to class!</p>

<p>Great write up. Other pictures, discussion, and links on it can be found at http://www.photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00Sx2C, but I like yours.</p>

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<p>Lovely work, <strong>Louis</strong>, and a fascinating camera. That's one very impressive lens. The Signet is certainly a fine 1950's design, and most uncommon in my part of the world. "Haybarn" is a classic snowscape, and "Hidden Plant" was a photograph begging to be taken! Thanks for a great write-up and a fine selection of images.</p>

<p>Nice images Louis, and a beauty of a camera too!</p>

<p>Excellent shots Louis. That Signet seems to be quite a remarkable little camera. I really liked "Hidden Plant under the snow" and "Lonely Hay Bale." Thanks for sharing.</p>

<p>The results are great.<br>

There are mixed opinions on whether the nature of the shutter button tends to lead to camera shake on the Signet series.<br>

Having to cock the shutter separately is rather primitive compared with competing cameras of the day. At least it has double-exposure protection.</p>

<p>Totally cool, Louis.</p>

<p>I like the Haybarn too; conveys the atmospherics beautifully. Thanks, sp.</p>

<p>Nice looking find. I have the Kodak Signet 35 camera. I found it at a flea market for $12 around 20 years ago. It's sat on a shelf since then, I've never shot film through it. Now I feel I should try it out. I read it was a civilian version of a camera Kodak designed for the military. </p>