Kodak Ektron II (Model B)
Name/Title
Kodak Ektron II (Model B)Entry/Object ID
603Tags
InterestingDescription
The Kodak Ektron II was a significant step forward for amateur photographers who were tired of buying and disposing of one-shot flashbulbs like the ones used in your Starmite II. As an "electronic" flash, it uses a gas-discharge tube that can fire thousands of times. This specific "Model B" was designed as a dedicated accessory for the Kodak Pocket Instamatic and Trimlite 110-style cameras, featuring a specific mounting prong on the bottom rather than a standard "hot shoe." Box and All: It is great to see this unit with its original "Kodak Yellow" retail box. In the collector world, having the original packaging significantly increases the "shelf appeal," even for common accessories. Ready Light: On the back of the unit, there is a small rectangular window labeled "READY TO FLASH WHEN LIT." Inside is a tiny neon bulb that glows once the capacitor has charged up enough energy to fire the tube. Technical Health: When you put batteries in an old flash like this, you will often hear a faint, high-pitched "whine." That is the sound of the transformer charging the capacitor. If you don't hear that sound, the capacitor may have "dried out" from decades of non-use. The Fresnel Lens: Notice the checkered pattern on the clear plastic front of the flash. This is a Fresnel lens designed to spread the light evenly so you don't get a bright "hot spot" in the middle of your photo.Category
Flash
Accessories