Ensign Roll Film Reflex
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| Ensign SLR Roll Film Reflex Camera image by SK Lim (Image rights) |
The Ensign Roll Film Reflex is a range of SLR cameras made in the 1920s by Houghton for 2¼x3¼-inch (6x9 cm) pictures on [120 film|120 roll film]. The same name refers to two models, of rather different levels of specification. These are both very poor cousins of the Ensign Reflex cameras made in larger sizes for plates; they have only a 'T' and 'I' shutter, rather than the focal-plane shutter which is the heart of the larger SLRs. There is another model, the Ensign Focal Plane Roll Film Reflex which has this.
The picture here shows a horizontally-oriented camera, with only a 'T' and 'I' shutter, but with a focusing anastigmat lens. Early Photography shows a tropical example of this camera, made from uncovered teak, with brass fittings.[1] Another example of this has been seen at Westlicht.[2] The horizontal camera is interestingly arranged: the film winding key is in front of the folding hood, as is the focusing knob. The camera has tripod bushes on the bottom and side.[2] It was also sold by Butcher as their Reflex Carbine.
Early Photography also shows a vertically-oriented 2¼B Roll Film Reflex, with a fixed-focus meniscus-achromat lens and 'T' and 'I' shutter.[3] The lens is an f/8 for viewing, stopped down to f/11 by a fixed stop that moves into position as the shutter is released.[4] McKeown lists this simple camera under the name Ensign Roll Film Reflex.[5] The notes at Early Photography state that that the opening blade of the shutter is attached to the reflex viewing mirror (rather like the Exa or Pilot Six).[3] The cameras are wooden-bodied; they were available in either black leather or (supposedly) wood-grain patterned cloth finish.[4][5]
That these two rather different cameras were regarded by Houghtons as part of the same range is illustrated by an advertisement in the BJP Almanac for 1925,[4]
Notes
- ↑ Ensign Roll Film Reflex, Tropical model with 4¼-inch Aldis f/6.3 Uno Anastigmat, at Early Photography.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ensign Roll Film Reflex, Tropical model with 4-inch f/4.5 Dallmeyer Anastigmat, sold at the sixteenth Westlicht Photographica Auction, on 5 December 2009; the listing incorrectly describes the camera as having a focal-plane shutter. McKeown also states this of the tropical model; this is probably due to confusion with the Focal Plane Roll-Film Camera, which was at first named the Ensign Speed Film Reflex; the notes on the focal-plane camera at Early Photography suggest that confusion with the simpler camera was the reason for the change of name.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 2¼B Roll-Film Reflex at Early Photography.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 2¼B Roll Film Reflex with 'wood grain' covering at David Purcell's Antique & Vintage Photographic Equipment. The thumbnail image of the BJP advertisement previously linked to a larger version.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover)., p401.
