Kodak Duaflex II Camera

Manufacturer: Eastman Kodak Company
Production Years: 1950–1954
Film Type: 620 roll film
Lens: Kodet Lens (basic meniscus lens)
Viewfinder: Waist-level reflex finder

About the Camera

The Kodak Duaflex series was introduced in 1947 as a bridge between simple box cameras and more advanced twin-lens reflex cameras. While it looks like a TLR (with two lenses stacked vertically), it’s technically a pseudo-TLR: the top “lens” is only a viewing lens for composition, and the lower lens exposes the film.

The Duaflex II (your model) was the second in the line, made from 1950 to 1954, and marketed as a family-friendly, affordable camera. It was lightweight, durable, and easy to use, making it especially popular among amateur photographers of the post-WWII era.

Design Features

• Metal and Bakelite body with chrome trim.

• Waist-level finder: Users would look down into the top to compose, similar to professional TLRs like the Rolleiflex.

• Fixed focus lens (the Kodet), with limited aperture and shutter speed options.

• Uses 620 roll film, producing 6x6 cm square negatives—popular for snapshot photography.

• Advertised as giving “big, sharp pictures” without the complexity of professional gear.

Historical Context

In the 1950s, photography was becoming more accessible to everyday families. Kodak’s marketing emphasized simplicity—“You press the button, we do the rest.” The Duaflex series fit perfectly into this philosophy, offering a stylish, reflex-style body at a fraction of the cost of professional cameras.

Many families in the U.S. during the 1950s–60s documented birthdays, holidays, and vacations on cameras just like this. It represents the democratization of photography in the postwar boom era.