The Kodak Medalist is one of the more interesting cameras that Kodak ever made, and is arguably the best American made camera that ever came out of Rochester NY. Designed by the famous American industrial designer, Walter Dorwin Teague, the camera is also one of the most unique and pretty cameras that I’ve ever come across.
This is a small feature packed camera that works well as an all around pocketable shooter. It has the ridiculous long zoom that was common in some models of this era. (I always thought these things looked like Pinocchio's nose. ) None the less, it can produce very good quality images, is easy to handle, seems common in the used market, and is not expensive to purchase.
My first 35mm film camera was a Konica Autoreflex T, an ancient 35mm camera built like an absolute tank, and the first ever to feature a built-in light meter. Unfortunately, the weight and heft of it didn’t hinder the jam that left the film advance stuck forever in place, rather shortly after I purchased it. Although short-lived, my relationship with this camera got me into the process of photographing with black and white film, and I am truly grateful for it.
