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Before
we begin, I would like to announce that my new Patreon exclusive camera series
is now up, with my first post talking about the Chuzhoa M1 Retro Camera. It can
be viewed by either joining my Patreon or buy just buying the post for a
onetime fee. I hope you will check it out, not only will you be part of an
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Anyway,
back to the camera at hand:
Sticking with folding Kodak
cameras, this post will be looking at the new record holder of the oldest
camera on this blog, even predating the Kodak
No. 2 Brownie Camera Model D, this is the Kodak No.3-A Folding Pocket Kodak
Model B4 camera.
I already went through the
history of Kodak in my 200
Color Plus and Instamatic
Pocket 10 posts.
So with that let’s have a look
at the camera at hand.
The No.3-A folding camera was
part of a series of cameras that all started in 1898, and is “…now considered
the ancestor of all modern roll-film cameras. It produced a 2 1/4-inch by 3
1/4-inch negative, which remained the standard size for decades…” (Kodak 2026).
Just like the last folding
camera, the Sterling
II, there isn’t much information on the camera’s history, but I did find
some key points.
First is that the series
started with the Folding Pocket Kodak, which was later renamed the No.1 Folding
Pocket Kodak (Purcell 2025). This camera, out of the 200 plus folding cameras
made by Kodak between 1890-1960 (Koning), was the first all metal case camera
(Koning).
.png) |
| N0.1 Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: http://redbellows.co.uk/images/Kodak/FoldingPocketKodak/FPK_261_1.jpg |
Now there are many other
folding cameras with “Pocket” in their names, such as the No.1 Folding Pocket
Kodak Junior, but the series the No.3-A is in is different and one way to
differentiate between the newer versions and the older series is the use of
brass in the older models.
 |
| No.1 Folding Pocket Kodak Junior. Image Source: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/G4cAAeSw0lVp2aIq/s-l1200.jpg |
The first No.1 Folding Pocket
Kodak had brass fittings, which later was replaced by nickel plating (Purcell
2025).
This camera was originally
designed by Frank Brownell (Purcell 2025), but in 1899 the camera went under a
few changes as in Paris, the Établissements Mackenstein camera company, adapted
the camera to take a “…Steinheil double-anastigmat, with iris diaphragm and
helical focusing, and with a range of instantaneous speeds. They offered to
supply the transformed camera, or to re-fit the customer's own camera…”
(Camera-wiki 2026).
Then in 1901, Roger Guénault,
“…patented a 6.5x9cm plate adapter for the camera. It comprises a simple metal
sheath which fits to the open back of the camera with no permanent
modification. Slim metal single plate-holders are slid into this sheath…” (Camera-wiki
2026).
.png) |
| Plate adapter. Image Source: http://www.kodaksefke.eu/mediapool/89/892906/resources/big_39434404_0_700-525.jpg |
It is unclear if Kodak liked
the idea of changing the lens or they had the idea of changing it by themselves
to keep up with the market, because around 1899, Kodak released new variations or
models of the No.1 Folding Pocket Kodak.
It first started with the
Model B, which was the same as the original, but “…has two larger finder
windows on the front panel…” then came the Models C-E, with Model C “…to set
the path towards the familiar folding bed format, although this early design
had a self-erecting lens panel.” Then the Model D had a reversible viewfinder
and a better shutter and finally the Model E, which “…adopted a metal face
plate on the lens panel to replace the wooden panel used on the Models C &
D…” (Purcell 2025).
 |
| No1 Modal B Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://chiswick.goauction.co.uk/stock/122886-0-medium.jpg?v=63720148821467 |
 |
| No.1 Model C Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/1151302641_5a85f8c712.jpg |
 |
| No.1 Model D Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRTpEQRKP38uzkjfoVIWcAq_gHyMrhdNUqZpJfCcfvA_WHVxLWNcRPVGgc&s=10 |
 |
| No.1 Model E Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://kameramuseum.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/no-1-folding-pocket-kodak-e.jpg |
Then came the No.2 Folding
cameras also in 1899, “…a typical camera for the so called family photographer,
who wanted to have an easy to use apparatus to take snaps of the children,
wife/husband or family dog on the porch…” (Kamp).
.png) |
| No.2 Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: http://www.kodaksefke.eu/mediapool/89/892906/resources/big_55046679_0_355-507.jpg |
This camera also had different
variations, Models A-D, between the years of 1900-1915 (Camera-wiki 2025) and
seemed to have also been part of the Brownie series.
 |
| No.2 A Folding Pocket Camera. Image Source: https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8522/8564251752_d86efc8abe.jpg |
 |
| No.2 B Folding Pocket Camera. Image Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSKV2obQlbjF8PXshxyGsNypjB2ynGFfDxOgrEr2IQWuOvVSBJaQwBJRsoU&s=10 |
 |
| No.2 C Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://www.edisontinfoil.com/kodak/2FPK-C.jpg |
.png) |
| No.2 D Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tJAAAeSwY~Fpkxr5/s-l1600.webp |
Then there was the No.3
series. First was the No.3 Folding Pocket Kodak, which “…is a modification to
the lens slide block to help protect the bellows…” with a non-rising front
(Purcell 2025).
No.3 Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source:
http://redbellows.co.uk/images/Kodak/No3FPK/No3FPK_121_01.jpg
Then came the No.3A. After
that came the many other variants after that, which where the Models B-B5, C
and G (Camera-wiki 2026), each with a small change or addition the others don’t
have.
.png) |
| No.3A Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/u3UAAOSwHHFlnv4g/s-l1600.webp |
 |
| No.3A B Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://i.etsystatic.com/17942019/r/il/f7ec5d/8568302012/il_1588xN.8568302012_9khk.jpg |
 |
| No.3A B2 Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/357369255_729cb56c13_n.jpg |
 |
| N0.3 B3 Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPo4mpEmvrTnM0Czj1SiwNkXs_fuGoDLHNX1EVfEbEaWHBzAimlogEcq4F&s=10 |
 |
| No.3A B5 Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://www.artdecocameras.com/images/kodak/no3afoldingpocketkodakmodelb5/no3afoldingpocketkodakmodelb5.jpg |
 |
| No.3A C Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR6RX01T40DtpQGaCLC-B8fAZbkG3ck5Wkv0VGNgG5hCDDl65gd |
 |
| No.3A G Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://assets.lastdodo.com/image/ld_large/plain/assets/catalog/assets/2014/2/5/1/2/a/pdf_12a1f33c-8e6c-11e3-9662-8adac4611945.jpg |
I also did find out that there
was a No.4 Folding Pocket series, but I will only stop at the No.3 series, as
the camera at hand is a part of that series.
 |
| No.4 Model B Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://static.flickr.com/64/155207613_096c4bb32c.jpg |
Now I am not going to go over
all of the differences of the different variations, as there are too many and
it will be difficult to as there isn’t much information on all of them. The
only way I could point out the differences is if I could observe the cameras in
person.
But I will point out that Kodak’s naming system is awful! As mentioned earlier there are many foldout cameras that have the No.1 in the name, as well as No.2 and 3. There was even a No.5 Folding Pocket Kodak, but from what I can see, the No.5 came out in 1889 (EarlyPhotography 2026), eight years before the No.1. So it becomes very convoluted and confusing. Then there is also a set of Brownie cameras that had the No. naming system. So there is a chance that the No.3A series aren’t even connected to the No.1 and 2 series, but because the cameras look similar, I am confident that they are.
.png)
No.5 Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source:
http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/Images/C37.JPG
The No.3A B-4 Folding Pocket
Camera was released in 1908-1909, weighs around 1kg (Devereux 2024) and its
size is 9.5 x 4.5 x 1.8 (8.3 when opened) inches. And the camera’s body can be
detailed as this excerpt from Keith (2026):
“…The sides of the camera are
of wood, machined with slots and channels into which is pressed a stamped and
folded aluminium tray, forming the film chambers, focal plane and main body.
Hinged to the front, forming the front and lens bed is a pressed aluminium
panel with a riveted rail to run the lensboard along. Either side of this are
two stylish, if functionally pointless, mahogany inserts…”
The body is mostly metal, probably aluminium, and covered in a very frail leatherette.
From what I can see there
where many different B-4 cameras, with the only differences being the placement
of the remote cable shutter release and the front camera plate being a
different style and metal.
 |
| No.3A B-4 different, Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/content/media/33/1029833-large.jpg |
 |
| No.3A B-4 different, Folding Pocket Kodak. Image Source: https://licm.org.uk/scans/Kodak_FPK_3A_B4_2.png |
Now there is something about
this camera that is strange and that is that “…It is a mystery how to call the
No.3A from Kodak a pocket camera. With its dimensions of 24 cm long, 12.07 cm
wide and 4.5 cm thick, you must have very deep pockets in your (winter) coat.
The weight, on the other hand, is light, due to the aluminium/wooden
construction…” (Kampermann 2020).
I have my own theory and that
is that the No.1 and 2 cameras were quite popular and Kodak, used their unique
look and name to sell the No.3 cameras, as they were released alongside the 122
film, and was “…known as Kodak size 3A or postcard size and was first marketed
with the No. 3A Folding Pocket Kodak…” (Camera-wiki 2025).
So, it is my opinion that to
sell this new film and camera, Kodak kept it part of the No.1 series to help
boost the cameras’ sales and the sales of the new film. My theory is also based
off of the naming convention as “…The No. 1 stood for the smallest format in
Kodak's rollfilm exposure format portfolio: 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 3, and 3A…” (Camera-wiki
2026).
Now with that let’s have a
closer examination of the camera. Starting with the front-
Here is the front cover.
On this front cover is the
handle and stand.
And there is also one of two
tripod sockets. This one is for portrait shots.
This cover is released by
pressing on a button on the side. And on the inside of the front cover are the
slide rails and pieces of mahogany wood.
Behind this front cover is the
camera itself-
Now for the lens-
It is a Bausch and Lomb
rectilinear lens, with a focal length of 180mm (Kampermann 2020) with a max
f/stop of 4.
Now to break it down, the lens
was made by Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., Rochester, NY (Pierce) and a rectilinear
lens: “…was a very popular lens design in the second half of 19th century,
introduced by John Henry Dallmeyer in 1866 (Wikipedia source). Its popularity
may be second only to Petzval for portraiture back in the day. The Rapid
Rectilinear has a symmetric design of 4-element in 2-group as shown below…”
(Admin-MY 2023).
It is basically four curved
pieces of glass, facing each other in opposite directions and (according to the
Halina
Super X35 post), the four pieces of glass is a 2-group meaning that on one side
two pieces of glass are cemented together and so are the two on the other side,
meaning that it technically is a lens with two pieces of glass.
.png) |
| Rectilinear lens diagram. Image Source: https://i0.wp.com/hintingimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Lens-RR-s.jpg?resize=300%2C233&ssl=1 |
This lens can be unscrewed and
removed.
Underneath the lens is the
f/stop setting.
Now according to the Science
Museum Group, this camera doesn’t use f/stop, but uses the U.S. system, which
is “…The Uniform System (scales are sometimes marked U.S. on lenses) is an
alternative system for expressing the aperture size, used by many manufacturers
for a rather short period: U.S. diaphragm numbers can be found on many leaf
shutters made between 1890 and 1920…” (Camera-wiki 2025).
The U.S. settings are 4, 8,
16, 32, 64 and 128. And to convert these to f/stop, you must use this formula: √U.S.
x 16= F/stop.
The petals are behind the
shutter.
Next to the lens is the
pneumatic remote cable shutter release, which uses an air pump cable.
 |
| Air pump release cable example. Image Source: https://farm1.static.flickr.com/150/357369421_694472ef0a_n.jpg |
Above the lens is the shutter
speed setting.
It has three settings, T, for time, which when the shutter release is pressed, keeps the shutter open, until the release is pressed again, then it will close.
Second is B, bulb, which keeps the shutter open for as long as you press down on the shutter release.
Lastly is I, instant, which is the normal setting and is supposedly automatic (Science Museum Group), probably sets when the f/stop is set, and can be anywhere between of 1/25, 1/50 and 1/100 second (Devereux 2024).
Speaking of the shutter, the shutter release is on the left corner.
The shutter is a Ball Bearing
Shutter (Kampermann 2020). “…These shutters are simple shutters that rely on
spring tension for speed control…” (Mitchell 2008).
 |
| Ball bearing shutter from a Junior A120. Image Source: https://pheugo.com/cameras/kodakbb/shut04.jpg |
Now unfortunately, this
camera’s shutter is broken and stays open all the time.
Above the lens and camera on
the right corner-
Here is the prism shaped viewfinder
(Kampermann 2020), which is similar to a brilliant finder.
And next to that is a spirit
level (Kampermann 2020), that is now empty.
Both of these can be flipped,
to switch the camera from portrait to landscape.
Then there is the frame around
the lens/lensboard. I am revering to the part where “…The lensboard slides in
channels machined into the nickel plated brass bar supports to give rise and
fall movement driven by a rack and pinion…” (Keith 2026).
This is controlled by a knob
on the side. The user pulls it out and turns it to lift the lensboard or lower
it.
Then there is the “…sliding
cross front…” (Science Museum Group). This camera is similar to the Polaroid
95A camera, in that the bellows and lens doesn’t rise or pop out when the
front cover is opened (like the Record
Billy, Isolette
I and the Sterling
II), it has to be slid forward.
This is done by pinching the
two buttons on the sides and pulled out. Here is also the Kodak name plate,
which is missing a screw.
And like the Polaroid
95A camera, the focus setting is also set by sliding the camera forwards
and backwards, with a pointer and a plate that shows the numerical values.
Unfortunately, this camera is missing that plate.
 |
| Example of a focus plate. Image Source: https://i.etsystatic.com/31300969/r/il/35721f/6479506709/il_fullxfull.6479506709_pqxv.jpg |
This focus setting sets the focal range between 2-32 meters and infinity (Kampermann 2020).
Then there is the most striking piece of the camera (besides the brass lensboard), is the red bellows. I go over bellows in my Record Billy post. The fold on the B-4’s bellows are chamfered corners.
On top-
On the right side-
Here is the film advance knob.
Then on the left side, from
top to bottom-
First is the pin that holds the empty spool that the film advances onto.
After that is the button to
unlock the front cover. The button is covered up by the leatherette.
Middle is the second tripod
socket, for landscape photos.
Then lastly is the pin that
holds the newly loaded film in place.
Lastly the back-
Here is the film compartment
cover.
On this cover is the film
counter window, which seems to be red and missing on this camera.
This cover is removed by pressing
on the two pressure plates on the sides.
On the inside of the cover,
there is a slide that covers up the film window cover.
Then there is the film
compartment-
This camera has a used and
exposed roll of film.
The compartment is fairly simple and bare.
 |
| Screenshots from the manual. |
 |
| Screenshot from the manual. |
This camera takes 122 film,
which has a negative size of 3 ¼ x 5 ½ inches. This film was introduced in 1903
and discontinued in 1971, as mentioned it is known as postcard film and was
introduced alongside the No.3 and 3A cameras.
 |
| Film size of 122 compared to others. Image Source: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/65535/51281494862_1545c57b3a.jpg |
 |
| 122 Film. Image Source: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49257520616_1359ea83a6_w.jpg |
Later when new variants of the No.3 and 3A cameras were released known as Autographic cameras, the No.1 series also had these variants (Devereux 2024), Kodak released the new 122A (Autographic) film in 1914 “…and allowed the photographer to add written information on the film at the time of exposure…” (Wikipedia 2026).
 |
| No.3A Autographic. Image Source: https://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/453721959_56ed5c5b69.jpg |
 |
| 122A film. Image Source: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Eastman_Autographic_Orthochromatic_Speed_Film_1920.jpg/500px-Eastman_Autographic_Orthochromatic_Speed_Film_1920.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=parser&utm_content=thumbnail |
And that is it. This is one of
the most beautiful cameras I have seen. I love the steampunk look, with the red
bellows and brass lensboard. It has seen better days, but for a 118+ year old
camera it is still really amazing.
What do you think? Which
foldout camera on this blog is your favourite? Would you like to have one of
these in your collection? And are you for film are all in for digital? Let me
know in the comments.
And as always thank you for
making it to the end and I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did researching
it.
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List of sources:
Admin-MY. 2023. RAPID
RECTILINEAR LENS + EASTMAN KODAK TRIPLE ACTION SHUTTER ON LEICA SL2. https://hintingimage.com/rapidrectilinear_on_sl2
Camera-wiki. 2025.
122 film. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/122_film
Camera-wiki. 2025.
F-stop. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/F-stop
Camera-wiki. 2025. No.
2 Folding Pocket Kodak. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/No._2_Folding_Pocket_Kodak#cite_note-Coe-1
Camera-wiki. 2025. No.
4A Folding Kodak. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/No._4A_Folding_Kodak
Camera-wiki. 2026. Ball
Bearing Shutter. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Ball_Bearing_Shutter
Camera-wiki. 2026. Folding
Pocket Kodak. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Folding_Pocket_Kodak
Camera-wiki. 2026. No.
3A Folding Pocket Kodak. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/No._3A_Folding_Pocket_Kodak
Devereux, K. 2024. Filling
the Gaps: The Kodak No. 3-A Folding Pocket Camera (Model C). https://keithdevereux.wordpress.com/2024/11/24/filling-the-gaps-the-kodak-no-3-a-folding-pocket-camera-model-c/
EarlyPhotography.
2026. No. 5 Folding Kodak. http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C37.html#:~:text=The,and%20took%20only%20a%20roll%2Dholder.
Kamp, J. No. 2
Folding Pocket Kodak (1899). http://www.kodaksefke.eu/2-folding-pocket-kdk.html
Kampermann. 2020. Kodak
3A Folding Pocket: a silent movie from 1910. https://vintage-photo.nl/kodak-3a-folding-pocket-a-silent-movie-from-1910/
Keith. 2026. Kodak,
No.3A Folding Pocket Kodak model B-4 camera, c1910. https://licm.org.uk/livingImage/Kodak_No3A_Folding_Pocket_Kodak_B-4.html
Kodak. 2026.
Milestones. https://www.kodak.com/en/company/page/milestones/
Koning, M. Folding
Pocket Kodak. https://kodak.3106.net/index.php?p=213&cam=1483
Mike. 2007. Kodak
Folding Pocket No. 3. https://www.butkus.org/chinon/kodak/kodak_folding_pocket_3/kodak_folding_pocket_3.htm
Mitchell, D. 2008. Kodak
Ball Bearing Shutter. https://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=kodakbb
Pierce, L. Bausch
& Lomb Optical Co. (Rochester, NY). https://piercevaubel.com/cam/acc/lensb&l-am.rap.rect.htm
Purcell, D. 2020. No
1 Folding Pocket Kodak. http://redbellows.co.uk/CameraCollection/Kodak/No1FoldingPocketKodak_gen.htm
Purcell, D. 2020. No
3 Folding Pocket Kodak Camera. http://redbellows.co.uk/CameraCollection/Kodak/No3FoldingPocketKodak_gen.htm
Purcell, D. 2020. No.
3A Folding Pocket Kodak. http://redbellows.co.uk/CameraCollection/Kodak/No3AFoldingPocketKodak_gen.htm
Science Museum Group.
No 3A folding pocket Kodak Model B4. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8204446/no-3a-folding-pocket-kodak-model-b4
Wikipedia. 2026. Autographic film. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autographic_film
