Difference between revisions of "Ensign Selfix 8-20"
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The '''Ensign Selfix 8-20''' was a folding camera sold by [[Ensign]]. It uses 120 film and can take either eight 6x9cm or twelve 6x6cm frames per roll. | The '''Ensign Selfix 8-20''' was a folding camera sold by [[Ensign]]. It uses 120 film and can take either eight 6x9cm or twelve 6x6cm frames per roll. | ||
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| + | ==Description== | ||
| + | The '''Selfix 8-20''' was the first new design made by [[Ensign]] after WWII. | ||
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| + | The '''Ensign 8-20''' was described a contemporary catalogue as "probably the finest roll-film camera, designed successfully to beat all the German competition both in optical and mechanical performance". The camera body is die-cast metal covered in black morocco leather. A tripod bush is in the centre of the base plate. | ||
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| + | The camera has a 105mm.f/3.8 Ross Xpres lens and an [[Epsilon]] 8-speed shutter. There is a standard cable-release socket but the [[flash synch|flash synch socket]] is not standard and the special [[Ensign]] connectors are virtually unobtainable nowadays. | ||
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| + | The top of the camera body is finished in satin chrome. The '''Selfix 8-20''' takes either eight 6x9cm or twelve 6x6cm exposures on 120 rollfilm. There are folding masks in the back of the camera to allow either format to be selected and the viewfinder has markings for both. That was a clever idea, since most cameras with optional masks for changing negative size were dettachable and therefore became lost. | ||
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| + | In 1952 this camera was priced at £29 4s. | ||
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| + | ==Models== | ||
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| + | ===Ensign Selfix 8-20=== | ||
| + | The ''regular'' Selfix 8-20 is a viewfinder camera. | ||
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| + | In the centre of the top plate is the folding Albada finder, with markings for both formats - 6x6 and 6x4.5. At each end there is a wheel; the left one is for film advance, the right one is a depth-of-field scale. | ||
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| + | ===Ensign Selfix 8-20 Special=== | ||
| + | The '''Ensign Selfix 8-20 Special''' has a different top cover, designed to house a non-coupled rangefinder and a direct optical viewfinder. | ||
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| + | The optical finder has a sliding mask to accomodate for composition of 6x6 or 6x4.5 pictures. There is also a cold shoe on top of the [[rangefinder]], and the [[Epsilon]] shutter that the Selfix 8-20 usually has is flash synchronized with standard 3mm plug. | ||
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| + | This camera was sold for £26 10s in 1953. | ||
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| + | ===Ensign Selfix 8-20 AutoRange=== | ||
| + | The '''Ensign Selfix 8-20 AutoRange''' was the high-end model, made only during three years, between 1955 and 1958. Today, the camera commands high prices in the secondhand market. | ||
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| + | It had a coupled [[rangefinder]], and film plane focussing system. The lens was a Ross Xpress 105mm f/3.8 colour-corrected<ref>This is identified by three colored dots (red, green and blue) engraved on the front element inner rim, together with the lens name and specifications.</ref> on a 8-speed [[Epsilon]] shutter. | ||
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| + | ==Notes== | ||
| + | <references /> | ||
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| + | ==Links== | ||
Revision as of 01:06, 29 December 2012
The Ensign Selfix 8-20 was a folding camera sold by Ensign. It uses 120 film and can take either eight 6x9cm or twelve 6x6cm frames per roll.
Description
The Selfix 8-20 was the first new design made by Ensign after WWII.
The Ensign 8-20 was described a contemporary catalogue as "probably the finest roll-film camera, designed successfully to beat all the German competition both in optical and mechanical performance". The camera body is die-cast metal covered in black morocco leather. A tripod bush is in the centre of the base plate.
The camera has a 105mm.f/3.8 Ross Xpres lens and an Epsilon 8-speed shutter. There is a standard cable-release socket but the flash synch socket is not standard and the special Ensign connectors are virtually unobtainable nowadays.
The top of the camera body is finished in satin chrome. The Selfix 8-20 takes either eight 6x9cm or twelve 6x6cm exposures on 120 rollfilm. There are folding masks in the back of the camera to allow either format to be selected and the viewfinder has markings for both. That was a clever idea, since most cameras with optional masks for changing negative size were dettachable and therefore became lost.
In 1952 this camera was priced at £29 4s.
Models
Ensign Selfix 8-20
The regular Selfix 8-20 is a viewfinder camera.
In the centre of the top plate is the folding Albada finder, with markings for both formats - 6x6 and 6x4.5. At each end there is a wheel; the left one is for film advance, the right one is a depth-of-field scale.
Ensign Selfix 8-20 Special
The Ensign Selfix 8-20 Special has a different top cover, designed to house a non-coupled rangefinder and a direct optical viewfinder.
The optical finder has a sliding mask to accomodate for composition of 6x6 or 6x4.5 pictures. There is also a cold shoe on top of the rangefinder, and the Epsilon shutter that the Selfix 8-20 usually has is flash synchronized with standard 3mm plug.
This camera was sold for £26 10s in 1953.
Ensign Selfix 8-20 AutoRange
The Ensign Selfix 8-20 AutoRange was the high-end model, made only during three years, between 1955 and 1958. Today, the camera commands high prices in the secondhand market.
It had a coupled rangefinder, and film plane focussing system. The lens was a Ross Xpress 105mm f/3.8 colour-corrected[1] on a 8-speed Epsilon shutter.
Notes
- ↑ This is identified by three colored dots (red, green and blue) engraved on the front element inner rim, together with the lens name and specifications.
