Many focusing Kodaks were scale focusers. The photographer estimated or measured the distance to the subject and adjusted the lens using the distance scale marked on the lens. One gadget for measuring the distance was the Kodak Pocket Range Finder. The photographer made the two halves of the subject line up in the range finder eyepiece and read the distance from the scale visible in the eyepiece or on the front of the range finder. The range finder used a movable mirror to line up the split image of the subject. A lever with one end riding on the cam cut in the wheel that surrounds the top window adjusts the tilt of the mirror nearest the eyepiece according to the distance from the range finder to the subject. When the range finder is set to the same distance as the subject, both halves of the subject appear to coincide. A small magnifying lens enlarges the tiny distance scale etched in the top window. The scale is repeated on the front of the wheel surrounding the top window. The patent drawings differ a little from the actual production model. Once built-in focusing aids became standard for adjustable cameras separate range finders became obsolete. Nowadays electronic autofocus cameras do the focusing for the photographer.
Front, posing on a Kodak 35 scale focusing camera.
Back.
The view through the eyepiece.
The box it came in.
Patent drawing.
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