Premier Instrument (Kardon) Kardon Rangefinder

Kardon Rangefinder

The Kardon Rangefinder is a 35mm Leica screw-mount camera produced by Premier Instrument Corporation of New York. It was developed during and shortly after World War II as an American substitute for the Leica rangefinder, at a time when German camera imports and precision camera supply were disrupted [1][2].

The camera uses the Leica Thread Mount, also known as LTM, M39 or Leica screw mount. It accepts compatible 39mm screw-mount rangefinder lenses, including the Kodak Ektar 47mm f/2 lens commonly associated with the Kardon system [1].

Although often called simply Kardon, the camera was not made by Leica. It was designed and manufactured by Premier Instrument Corporation under the direction of Peter Kardon. A clean catalogue structure can use Kardon as the make and Rangefinder as the model name, while the maker history should identify Premier Instrument Corporation [1][2].

The Kardon was based on the general concept of the Leica IIIa, but it was not a casual copy. Premier re-engineered many internal parts and built the camera with an emphasis on precision production, interchangeability and military durability. It remains one of the most serious American attempts to create a Leica-compatible rangefinder camera [1].

The standard lens supplied with the camera was a Kodak Ektar 47mm f/2 in a Premier-made focusing mount. The optical unit was produced by Kodak, while the focusing mount was built for the Kardon system. The camera body retained the 39mm Leica screw thread, allowing compatibility with other LTM lenses [1][2].

Mechanically, the Kardon uses a horizontal-travel cloth focal-plane shutter. Published specifications list T, B and speeds from 1 second to 1/1000 second. The camera has no built-in exposure meter, no battery-dependent functions and no flash synchronization [1].

History

Development and Launch

The Kardon project began during World War II, when the United States needed precision 35mm cameras and German supply was interrupted. The American division of Leitz was placed under government control and was asked to provide Leica-type cameras for military use, but it could not realistically manufacture them in volume. The work was eventually taken up by Peter Kardon and Premier Instrument Corporation [1][2].

Premier studied Leica IIIa cameras and developed a Leica-compatible American rangefinder. The project was difficult and expensive, because many parts and tools had to be created from scratch rather than simply copied from existing Leica manufacturing equipment [1].

Civilian Version

The camera was not completed before the end of the war. Premier then released a civilian Kardon version in 1947 in an attempt to recover development costs. Pacific Rim Camera estimates that fewer than 2,000 civilian Kardons were built before the camera was discontinued in 1948 [2].

Civilian Kardons generally have shinier chrome plating, a smaller film advance knob, a smaller shutter release and a serial number on the top plate under the Kardon name. These details help distinguish civilian examples from later military versions [1][3].

Military PH-629/UF Version

The military version was known as PH-629/UF. It was adapted for cold-weather and field use, with changes including a larger advance knob, taller shutter release, eyepiece extensions, a handle on the slow-speed dial, satin chrome finish and a rear Signal Corps identification plate [1][3].

Pacific Rim Camera states that the government ordered about 1,650 cold-weather Kardons, with an additional overrun sold publicly. Mike Eckman gives a very close figure of 1,654 military Kardons ordered and delivered [1][2].

Relationship to Leica IIIa

The Kardon should not be entered as a Leica camera. It is an American Leica-compatible rangefinder inspired by the Leica IIIa and built around the same general screw-mount ecosystem. It should be stored as its own make and model, not as a Leica variant.

Useful aliases include Premier Instrument Kardon, Kardon Civilian, Kardon Military, Kardon PH-629/UF, American Leica and Kardon Leica Copy. These names should be treated as search terms, variant labels or listing metadata rather than separate base models.

Serial Number Notes

A reliable complete factory serial range is not safely published across the civilian and military versions. Civilian models usually carry a serial number on the top plate, while military examples often use the rear military identification plate instead and may lack the same top-plate serial format [3].

The safest database wording is Unknown, no reliable complete factory serial range published. Individual listings can still store visible serial numbers as listing metadata.

Collector Notes

The Kardon Rangefinder is rare and highly collectible because it is one of the few serious American Leica-compatible rangefinder cameras. It combines LTM compatibility, a 1/1000 second cloth shutter, separate viewfinder and coupled rangefinder windows, and a strong historical connection to wartime American precision manufacturing.

Collectors should check whether the camera is a civilian or military example. Military Kardons often have the rear Signal Corps plate, enlarged advance knob, taller shutter release, satin finish, eyepiece extensions and modified control layout. Civilian examples usually have a cleaner Leica-like appearance and shinier chrome.

Because surviving cameras may have mixed civilian and military parts, advertisement matching should not rely only on the title. The body controls, top plate, rear plate, serial position, lens focusing wheel and finish should all be checked where photos are available.

The Kardon Rangefinder should be stored as a separate LTM camera entry because it is a Leica-compatible M39 rangefinder and an important American branch of the Leica-copy ecosystem.

Sources

• [1] Mike Eckman. Premier Instrument Kardon, 1947. https://mikeeckman.com/2021/07/premier-instrument-kardon-1947/
• [2] Pacific Rim Camera. Premier Instrument, Kardon. https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/premier.htm
• [3] Pacific Rim Camera. Premier Kardon. https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/kardonppp.htm
• [4] CollectiBlend. Premier Instruments: Kardon Military. https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Premier-Instruments/Kardon-%28Military%29.html
• [5] Flints Auctions. A Premier Instruments Military Kardon Rangefinder Camera. https://www.flintsauctions.com/auction/lot/lot-227---a-premier-instruments-military-kardon-rangefinder-camera/