A typical Kinora reel contains a brass core that holds 640 curved photographic images printed on bromide paper, each measuring 24mm x 19mm. The brass core of the Kinora reel includes a small hole used to mount the reel onto the Kinora viewer. The round shape of the Kinora reel and the curved form of the image cards are distinctive features of the Kinora system.
Most Kinora reels were printed reproductions of professionally shot films, which people could buy or rent for home viewing. Over 600 different reels were available in total.
Kinora reels featured a wide variety of subjects and genres, including child portraits, moving trains, comedic sketches, sports events, nature, newsreels, trick films and public parades.