Kodak Monitor Six-16, 1939 - 1948

The Kodak Monitors are robust folding roll film cameras manufactured by Eastman Kodak from 1939 to 1948. They were available in two different models (both introduced in October of 1939), one using 620 roll film and the other 616 roll film. They were called the Monitor Six-20 and the Monitor Six-16. With the exception of the very rare and fragile Kodak Super Six-20, the Monitors are arguably the most sophisticated American Kodak folders of the 1930s and 1940s. They are solid and very well crafted.

The Monitor is a viewfinder camera; it lacks a rangefinder. The viewfinder is a surprisingly pleasant to use pop-up unit on the center of the cameras top plate. It has a parallax adjustment that can be varied from infinity to 4 feet. Surprisingly, the cameras also have the older style waist level reflecting finder common on most older Kodak folding cameras.

All Kodak Monitors feature automatic film spacing, double exposure prevention, and top-plate-mounted accessory shoes and shutter releases. A top-plate-mounted depth of field dial was present on the models featuring the Anastigmat Special lens. The all metal bodies are covered with embossed leather. Flash synchronization was an option from 1946 on.