Mansfield Skylark
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Mansfield Skylark image by Zardoz17 (Image rights) |
Mansfield Skylark (by Yamato) image by Diana Houlihan (Image rights) |
Skylark was the name for no less than four rebadged cameras distributed by Mansfield Industries of Chicago, Illinois.
Contents
Cameras
- the 1957 Skylark, rebadged from the Argon[1] rangefinder camera which was the export version of the Windsor 35 by Toko Photographic Works. This rangefinder camera featured a 45mm / f1.9 lens, shutter speeds B, 1s to 1/500s.
- the 1957 Skylark E was a Royal 35M by Royal Camera Company, rebadged for Mansfield. Like the 35M, this rangefinder camera had a Tominar 45mm / f1.9-f16 lens, shutter speeds B, 1s to 1/500s with an uncoupled selenium meter,
- the 1957 Skylark V, from the Royal 35P, was a meterless rangefinder camera with a Cimenar 45mm / f1.9-f16 lens, shutter speeds B, 1s to 1/300s.
- the 1961 Mansfield Skylark was a slightly modified Palmat Automatic by Yamato Optical Company. This last Skylark was an fixed-focus automatic-exposure viewfinder camera with coupled selenium meter, Mantar or Luminor 40mm / f4 lens, shutter speeds B, 1/10s to 1/200s. It does not take a battery, its selenium meter was driven by light alone. Exposure compensation was set by a lever on the numbered scale on the lens, based on an ASA/DIN film guide inset on the camera’s lift-off back. This was the only Skylark that was actually engraved with “Mansfield” as well as the “MI” crest logo seen on the earlier versions.
Mansfield Skylark V image by Valdormar (Image rights) |
Skylark E image by Colin J. Clark (Image rights) |
User notes
The best little camera that no one's heard of! It is pretty easy to use, but I haven't been able to develop a complete roll yet as the winding mechanism tends to tear the film! (writes Camerapedia editor Dhoulihan)
A great 100% manual rangefinder. This Skylark V was in very unusable condition when it came my way. Now a very nice & worthwhile addition. Nice photographs come from this camera. (writes Camerapedia editor Valdormar)
Additional Pictures
Mansfield Skylark (Yamato), showing film guide and internal workings image by Diana Houlihan (Image rights) |
Mansfield Skylark, film guide determines lens setting image by Diana Houlihan (Image rights) |
Mansfield Skylark, flash settings guide image by Diana Houlihan (Image rights) |
Mansfield Skylark, underside of camera showing Yamato logo image by Diana Houlihan (Image rights) |
Notes and References
- ↑ Sugiyama/Naoi “Collector’s Guide to Japanese Cameras” code #3099, p.140.
Links
- La collection d'appareils photo anciens
- [Views of the camera and sample shots http://westfordcomp.com/classics/mansfieldskylark/index.htm] at Westfordcom.com
- Greenspun.com thread
- Photo.net thread
Sample Image Galleries
PBase sample photos[1]