KODAK SCIENTIFIC PHOTO OUTFITS Part 2

THE KODAK DENTAL OUTFIT

Kodak licensed the production of the whole Startech range to Lester A. Dine Inc of  New York.  Kodak supplied the cameras and Lester A. Dine Inc procured the other components and marketed the products.

The Kodak Dental Outfit in our collection was made in 1961. To match the two supplied close up lenses (red marked 4-8 inches and green marked 10-16 inches), it featured frames to match with the far end being clipped around the flash reflector. 

The spacer and frames made of rather flimsy wire, were rested against the face of the dental patient giving a precise focus and it was claimed, extremely clear photographs as a result.

The crisp focus at such short range could be achieved because the camera had a diaphragm stop of f64.  This “pin hole” opening was claimed to be the only one on the market at that time.

Lester A Dine Inc, now based in Florida, continue to provide a range of cameras adapted for close up and specialist photography.  Readers might be surprised to discover they invented the Ring Flash, widely still used today. For further interest, the link below is to an interesting article on their site written by Matthew Glasgold about the history of dental photography.

https://dinecorp.com/the-history-of-dental-photography/

(post author – Julian Jackson)

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