Difference between revisions of "Beautyflex"

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m (Removed ref to Beauty Camera Company as they didn't make any TLRs)
m (New info, repetition removed, correct chronological order (phew!))
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The '''Beautyflex''' are a series of Japanese 6×6 TLR cameras made by [[Taiyōdō|Taiyōdō Kōki]].
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'''Beautyflex''' are a series of Japanese 6×6 TLR cameras ''with 80mm lenses'', and made by [[Taiyōdō|Taiyōdō Kōki]].
  
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There were quite a number of different models produced. There is a big difference in the focusing system between early Beautyflexes and the  later ones. Early ones have front lens cell focusing with gear coupled taking and viewing lenses. The later ones have the traditional lens board movement focusing.
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Early models have front lens cell focusing with a toothed-gear that coupled taking and viewing lenses, while later models have lens board movement focusing.
 +
 
 +
As was common practise among 1950s Japanese camera manufacturers, a number of the Beautyflex models where rebadged (made for other sellers with an altered identity) with modest specification changes, and rebranded (just given an alternative name for the manufacturer themselves to sell in different markets). The attribution of rebadges and rebrands can sometimes be tricky, but a good rule of thumb is - if the objective lens is not 80mm, Taiyōdō Kōki did not make it.
  
 
== Beautyflex III ==
 
== Beautyflex III ==
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An early geared-lens model that is thought to date to about 1950, and features a Doimer 80mm f3.5 lens set in a TKK shutter with speeds of 1/10 to 1/200.
 
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== Beautyflex IV ==
 
 
{|class=floatright
 
{|class=floatright
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|{{Flickr_image
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{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/clcosta/3897357633/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/clcosta/3897357633/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/3897357633_810b1d9c56_n.jpg
 
|image= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/3897357633_810b1d9c56_n.jpg
 
|image_align= right
 
|image_align= right
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|image_text= Geared-focus Beautyflex IV
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|image_text= Beautyflex IV
 
|image_by= Claudio Costa
 
|image_by= Claudio Costa
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
}}
 
}}
 
|}
 
|}
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* Geared-lens focus
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* Thought to date to about 1950
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* Doimer 80mm f3.5 taking lens
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* TKK shutter with speeds of 1/10 to 1/200
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* "T" logo on the viewfinder lid
  
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Thought to date to about 1951, the IV features a Doimer 80mm f3.5 lens set in a TKK shutter with speeds of 1/10 to 1/200, and is very similar to the III.
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== Beautyflex IV ==
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* Thought to date to about 1951
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* There appears to be early and late versions where the former  resembles the III and the latter resembles the V.
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*
  
 
== Beautyflex V ==
 
== Beautyflex V ==
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<div class="floatleft plainlinks" style="margin:0px 25px 15px 0px;">
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* Thought to date to about 1953
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* Closely resembles the later model IV with key differences
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* 1. Rounded triangle TKK logo on the viewfinder lid
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* 2. Etoal 1/10 to 1/200 shutter with front-mounted release
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* 3. Stylised lens surrond
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* 4. Synch plug socket bottom right
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* 5. Modified catch for the back
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* The Beautyflex V was rebranded as the (early) CSL '''[[Photoflex]]'''
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== Beautyflex S ==
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandsvig/6806443110/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/morecamerasthantalent/5394926390/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6806443110_49c499fda8_n.jpg
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|image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5394926390_da8ea86105_n.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Beautyflex V
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|image_text= Beautyflex S
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|image_by= brandsvig
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|image_by= MC JC
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|image_rights=  non-commercial
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|image_rights=  with permission
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}}</div>
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}}
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* This model introduced the transition from gear coupled taking and viewing lenses to lens board movement focusing
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* Production period : c.1953
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* Thought to date to about 1954.
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* Format : 6 x 6 cm on [[120]] type [[rollfilm]]
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* Lens: Beauty 80mm f3.5
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* Known Lens/Shutter combinations : <br/>Doimer Anastigmat 3.5/80 mm lens in a ??? shutter
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* Shutter: NKS-FB MX 1 to 1/300
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* Filter Sizes : ?
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* Neither the S or the T featured the rounded triangle TKK logo on the viewfinder lid, as introduced in the V and carried forward to the D.
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* Flash synchronization : ??? 
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== Beautyflex T ==
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* Lighmeter system : none
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* Also thought to date to about 1954
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* Double exposure prevention : ???
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* Looks similar to the S except that there is no decorative connecting block between the two lenses
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* Color Finish : Black
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* Lens: FC Telmer 80mm f3.5
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* Color Leatherette : Black
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* Shutter: TKK MX 1 to 1/300
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* Dimensions WxDxH : ??x??x?? mm
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* The Beautyflex T was rebadged as the '''[[Wardflex_(metal)|Wardflex I]]''', which was in turn rebranded by TKK as the '''[[Gen|Gen-flex]]''' (i.e. the Gen-flex is a copy of the Wardflex II rather than a copy of the Beautyflex T)
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* Weight: ??? grams
 
  
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{{br}}
 
  
 
== Beautyflex D ==
 
== Beautyflex D ==
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}}&nbsp;
 
}}&nbsp;
 
|}
 
|}
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* Production period : c.1955
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* Thought to date to about 1955
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* Format : 6 x 6 cm on [[120]] type [[rollfilm]]
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* Several Known Lens/Shutter combinations:
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* Known Lens/Shutter combinations : <br/>Tri-Lausar 3.5/80 mm lens in a Taiyodo Koki Synchro-MX shutter <br/>Biokor 3.5/80 mm lens in a Taiyodo Koki Synchro-MXV shutter <br/>Biokor 3.5/80 mm lens in a [[Copal]]-MX shutter  
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* 1. Biokor 3.5/80 mm lens in a Synchro-MX 1 - 1/300 shutter
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* Filter Sizes : ?
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* The Biokor/Synchro-MX variant was rebadged as the '''[[Wardflex_(metal)|Wardflex II]]''', and rebadged by TKK as the (late) CSL '''[[Photoflex]]'''
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* Flash synchronization : Socket on frontpanel, M- and X-synchronization 
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* 2. Biokor 3.5/80 lens in a Rectus 1 - 1/300 shutter
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* Lighmeter system : none
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* 3. Biokor 3.5/80 mm lens in a [[Copal]]-MX 1 - 300 shutter
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* Double exposure prevention : Yes
 
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* Color Finish : Black
 
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* Color Leatherette : Black
 
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* Dimensions WxDxH :  ??x??x?? mm
 
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* Weight: ??? grams
 
  
 
{{br}}
 
{{br}}
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== Beautyflex S ==
 
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{{Flickr_image
 
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/morecamerasthantalent/5394926390/in/pool-camerawiki/
 
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|image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5394926390_da8ea86105_n.jpg
 
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|image_align= right
 
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|image_text= Beautyflex S
 
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|image_by= MC JC
 
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|image_rights=  with permission
 
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}}
 
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{{br}}
 
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== Beautyflex T ==
 
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The '''Beautyflex T''' was produced in the mid-1950s. It uses a FC Telmer 80mm f/3.5 optics as well as a TKK MX shutter with speeds of 1 to 1/300 of a second.
 
  
  

Revision as of 15:02, 19 December 2022

Beautyflex are a series of Japanese 6×6 TLR cameras with 80mm lenses, and made by Taiyōdō Kōki.

Early models have front lens cell focusing with a toothed-gear that coupled taking and viewing lenses, while later models have lens board movement focusing.

As was common practise among 1950s Japanese camera manufacturers, a number of the Beautyflex models where rebadged (made for other sellers with an altered identity) with modest specification changes, and rebranded (just given an alternative name for the manufacturer themselves to sell in different markets). The attribution of rebadges and rebrands can sometimes be tricky, but a good rule of thumb is - if the objective lens is not 80mm, Taiyōdō Kōki did not make it.

Beautyflex III

3897357633_810b1d9c56_n.jpg
Beautyflex IV
image by Claudio Costa (Image rights)
  • Geared-lens focus
  • Thought to date to about 1950
  • Doimer 80mm f3.5 taking lens
  • TKK shutter with speeds of 1/10 to 1/200
  • "T" logo on the viewfinder lid

Beautyflex IV

  • Thought to date to about 1951
  • There appears to be early and late versions where the former resembles the III and the latter resembles the V.

Beautyflex V

  • Thought to date to about 1953
  • Closely resembles the later model IV with key differences
  • 1. Rounded triangle TKK logo on the viewfinder lid
  • 2. Etoal 1/10 to 1/200 shutter with front-mounted release
  • 3. Stylised lens surrond
  • 4. Synch plug socket bottom right
  • 5. Modified catch for the back
  • The Beautyflex V was rebranded as the (early) CSL Photoflex

Beautyflex S

5394926390_da8ea86105_n.jpg
Beautyflex S
image by MC JC (Image rights)
  • This model introduced the transition from gear coupled taking and viewing lenses to lens board movement focusing
  • Thought to date to about 1954.
  • Lens: Beauty 80mm f3.5
  • Shutter: NKS-FB MX 1 to 1/300
  • Neither the S or the T featured the rounded triangle TKK logo on the viewfinder lid, as introduced in the V and carried forward to the D.

Beautyflex T

  • Also thought to date to about 1954
  • Looks similar to the S except that there is no decorative connecting block between the two lenses
  • Lens: FC Telmer 80mm f3.5
  • Shutter: TKK MX 1 to 1/300
  • The Beautyflex T was rebadged as the Wardflex I, which was in turn rebranded by TKK as the Gen-flex (i.e. the Gen-flex is a copy of the Wardflex II rather than a copy of the Beautyflex T)


Beautyflex D

2913040938_f61d344635_n.jpg
Beautyflex D; bayonet filter mount
image by Nis Jensen (Image rights)
46920649482_f1e068bfbc_n.jpg
with Tri-Lausar 1:3.5 f=80mm lenses
image by Sebastian Freitag (Image rights)
 
  • Thought to date to about 1955
  • Several Known Lens/Shutter combinations:
  • 1. Biokor 3.5/80 mm lens in a Synchro-MX 1 - 1/300 shutter
  • The Biokor/Synchro-MX variant was rebadged as the Wardflex II, and rebadged by TKK as the (late) CSL Photoflex
  • 2. Biokor 3.5/80 lens in a Rectus 1 - 1/300 shutter
  • 3. Biokor 3.5/80 mm lens in a Copal-MX 1 - 300 shutter



Beautyflex 2.8

16586641006_3bde1dfb11_m.jpg 16425599550_f95af3ef54_m.jpg16405311247_6445bbe963_m.jpg
16426812979_bc20dcd85f_m.jpg16425574610_03679028e3_m.jpg16425579390_48c25b015b_m.jpg
Taiyo-Dou Kohki Beautyflex , Canter f2.8/80mm taking lens.
Early model, No filter bayonets
Images by yalluflex. (Image rights)


7959320478_05e5a40e56_m.jpg 7959303236_0b44dc8969_m.jpg7959327066_8605de9fd3_m.jpg
7959317260_1c9cba9235_m.jpg7959312678_df3d6074c3_m.jpg7959309996_2faee5b359_m.jpg
Taiyo-Dou Kohki Beautyflex , Canter f2.8/80mm taking lens.
Late model, filter bayonets on both lenses
Images by yalluflex. (Image rights)


Bibliography

  • Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten (私の二眼レフカメラ展, Exhibition of twin lens reflex cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P. 26.

Links

3387062062_399b065886.jpg
Comparison with a
better-known Japanese TLR
image by kavandje (Image rights)

In Japanese:

In English;


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