No.4 Screen Focus Kodak

The No.4 Screen Focus Kodak was introduced in 1904, possibly in response to the earlier Blair Focusing Weno Hawk-Eye No.4 camera. It made 4 x 5 inch images on 123 rollfilm or glass plates. Approximately 4,000 were made.

It is a "combination" camera allowing the option of using a ground glass for focusing while rollfilm was still in the camera. An optional glass plate adapter was also available. A dark slide was used to protect the rollfilm when ground glass focusing was used. The ground glass frame and dark slide were stored in the rollfilm back when not used.

Combination cameras such as the Screen Focus Kodak, Blair No.3 Combination Hawk-Eye, Manhattan Optical Wizard Duplex and the Blair Focusing Weno Hawk-Eye were offered at a time when the market was becoming dominated with cameras having internal rollfilm systems.

The original list price was a rather hefty $87.50 (compared to $27.50 for the Blair Combination Hawk-Eye). Considering that the $87.50 price tag is equivalent to $1,659 in year 2000 currency, it is not hard to understand why the No.4 Screen Focus Kodak had less than enthusiastic sales!