Kodak No. 3 Autographic Kodak Model C

Kodak No. 3 Autographic Kodak Model C | S/N: [Not Specified]

No. 3 Autographic Kodak Model C Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 16.5cm f/6.3 - Good Condition | Rare Premium Variant Folding Medium Format Camera with High-End Vintage German Optics

Introductory Paragraph The No. 3 Autographic Kodak Model C is the definitive choice for the discerning collector and vintage film enthusiast who values a truly unique intersection of classic American camera design and legendary German optical engineering. While standard models typically shipped with basic rapid rectilinear glass, this rare upscale variant features an upgraded, top-tier Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 16.5cm f/6.3 prime lens (S/N: 797622) set within a specialized mechanical shutter dial assembly. Engineered to shoot expansive exposures on classic 118 roll film (readily adaptable to standard 120 film today), this camera is famously recognized by its small stylus hatch on the back door, allowing photographers to scratch notes directly into the film margins at the moment of exposure. This Kodak folding masterpiece provides the historical importance and mechanical honesty required to anchor an advanced analog collection.

Key Features

• Upgraded Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 16.5cm f/6.3 lens, utilizing the historic 4-element "Eagle Eye" optical formula for phenomenal vintage contrast and central sharpness.

• Signature Autographic rear door mechanism, featuring a slider flap designed to write metadata onto the film emulsion with an integrated metal stylus.

• Robust folding accordion bellows architecture, collapsing entirely flat into a velvet-lined aluminum shell for secure, compact travel portability.

• Precision all-mechanical dial shutter assembly, functioning entirely independent of electronics with manual timing modes.

• Smooth rack-and-pinion bed focusing track, enabling highly predictable zone focus placement and landscape alignments from a few feet to Infinity.

• Dual integrated tripod mount sockets, allowing stable mounting onto studio supports in both portrait and landscape orientations.

• Reversible brilliant waist-level finder tracking glass, mounted to the lens standard to accommodate intuitive downward viewing compositions.

Condition Report Good condition. Body: Shows normal signs of light use, minor cosmetic edge wear on the black enamel finish, and typical aging marks on the leatherette wrap consistent with its 100-year vintage heritage. The internal folding mechanism locks forward securely, and the custom leather bellows are supple, flexible, and fully light-tight. Sensor/Optics: The Carl Zeiss Jena 16.5cm lens optics are clean and clear; free from internal fungus, heavy separation, or deep surface scratches. Mechanics/Electronics: Fully operational. The mechanical shutter assembly triggers cleanly, the internal aperture blades adjust evenly, and the manual focus bed track moves smoothly without binding.

Specialist Note "What makes this particular No. 3 Autographic Model C an absolute jewel is the glass on the front. Finding an American Kodak folding camera fitted with a genuine pre-war Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar lens from Wetzlar is incredibly uncommon—this was an expensive, custom order option in the 1920s that provided a massive leap forward in sharpness over standard domestic lenses. The 16.5cm (165mm) focal length renders a beautifully compressed perspective on large negatives with that distinct, painterly Tessar micro-contrast stopped down. (Note for modern users: It originally shot on 118 film, but it can easily be loaded with modern 120 roll film using simple, 3D-printed plastic spool adapters). It is a spectacularly honest, beautifully preserved piece of global photographic history that is just as rewarding to shoot as it is to display on a shelf."

What's Included

• No. 3 Autographic Kodak Model C Folding Camera Body

• Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 16.5cm f/6.3 Prime Lens (S/N: 797622)

• Integrated Mechanical Shutter Assembly

• With Case

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Kodak

• Model: No. 3 Autographic Kodak Model C

• Camera Type: Medium Format Camera

• Lens Mount: Fixed Folding Lens

• Lens Manufacturer: Carl Zeiss Jena

• Focal Length: 16.5cm (165mm)

• Maximum Aperture: f/6.3

• Category: 1. Cameras ▸ Medium Format Camera

• Battery Type: None