Alpa Alnea 7

This article is a stub. You can help Camera-wiki.org by expanding it.

Alpa Reflex 7 image by Ryan Volpe (Image rights)

The "Alpa Reflex 7" was the most advanced of Pignons' first generation "Alnea" cameras. This was the last Alpa SLR with a coupled rangefinder.

Notable Features

• 45° viewfinder prism
• In-viewfinder markings for on-film reproduction size
• Coupled vertical coincident-image multifocal rangefinder
• Dual-hinged reflex mirror allowing collapsible lenses

Notable "Quirks"

Film Advance

Like all first-generation Alpa Alnea models, the 7's film advance is directly linked to the shutter rollers and turns simultaneously.

WARNING: any hindrance to the rotation of the advance knob can result in severe shutter damage.

RF Blackout

The lower rangefinder window is very easily obstructed due to its placement on the camera body.

"The Alpa Grip"

Both of these issues were known to the manufacturer and mitigated through the manual's espousal of what is described as "the Alpa grip."

Briefly, this entails holding the camera with the first three fingers of both hands wrapped on the leather only and resting the right and left index fingers on the helicoid ring until shutter release. It is quite easy from there to operate the film wind and change shutter speeds and aperture settings without moving the left hand.