Speculation is that the unusual external RF gearing is a result of a rush to market to compete with the then-popular Argus rangefinders. Basically they took their handsome Bakelite-and-steel Kodak 35 and put an external rangefinder mechanism on it to allow it to focus instead of merely having a pop-up viewfinder. The back comes off just like on an Argus c-four (literally - it even has the same twist-lock as the c-four). The shutter release is a lever on the front next to the RF focus wheel instead of on top. Once you get used to that odd placement it gets pretty quick to focus and shoot. It's also a bit front heavy and doesn't weigh well in the hands (but then, that's somewhat true of the c-four as well). The camera was available with either a Kodak Anastigmat Special lens or an upgraded Anastar lens as found on its contemporary the Reflex II but the one pictured has the former. The Kodak 35 with the Anastigmat Special f/3.5 lens and the Kodamatic shutter was produced from 1940 to 1948. The camera with the Kodak Anastigmat Special f/3.5 lens and the Flash Kodamatic shutter was produced from 1946 to 1948. The Kodak 35 with the Kodak Anastar f/3.5 lens and the Flash Kodamatic shutter was produced from 1947 to 1948. The focal range is 4 feet to infinity and the shutter speeds are T, B, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, and 1/200 of a second.