Difference between revisions of "Firstflex"

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''See also the [[Firstflex 35]] SLR models.''
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/graustark/2922690867/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3191/2922690867_d0991bbc7a_z.jpg
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|image_text= Two Firstflexes. The camera on the left matches the specification of the Firstflex I, except for the style<br/>of the nameplate. The low serial number also suggests an early type. That on the right<br/>is a 1952 Firstflex II with Albada finder (missing its leatherette surround).
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|image_by= Graustark
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|image_rights= with permission
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The '''Firstflex''' are Japanese 6×6cm TLR cameras for 120 film, made by [[Tokiwa Seiki]] in about 1951-55,<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p922-3.</ref> with the viewing and taking lenses linked by external gear-teeth. McKeown lists several models, describing them as cheaply made:
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* Firstflex I (1951): First Anastigmat 80 mm f/3.5. Unidentified shutter, 1/10 - 1/200 second plus B, synchronised with an ASA bayonet. Nameplate in upright capitals, chrome-on-black. A very similar camera is named the '''Kenflex''' (pictured below).
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* Firstflex II (1951): First anastigmat as above, shutter speeds 1/5 - 1/200 second, plus B, synchronised with an ASA bayonet, now on the camera body. Nameplate in italic capitals (as illustrated below), the same text style as that of the Kenflex.
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* Firstflex II (1952): Lens now engraved as a ''Special'' First Anastigmat (but still 80 mm f/3.5), in an MSK-II shutter, with speeds 1 - 1/400 second, plus B, still synchronised with an ASA bayonet, now once again mounted on the shutter. Embossed chrome nameplate. Focusing hood incorporates an eye-level [[viewfinder#Albada finder|Albada finder]].
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* Popular Firstflex PII (1953): Special First Anastigmat, in unidentified shutter with speeds 1/10 - 1/200 second, plus B.
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* Firstflex LIII (1955): First Anastigmat in MSK-II shutter; very much like the 1952 camera, but without the Albada finder.
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All the cameras use a winding knob for advancing the film, with a [[red window]] in the back, with a sliding cover.
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/30634008@N08/7731916952/in/pool-camerawiki/
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|image= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7115/7731916952_8e3c617c9a.jpg
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|image_text= 1951 Firstflex II
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|image_by= bokuwanihongasuki
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{{Japanese postwar 6×6 TLR (A–L)}}
 
{{Japanese postwar 6×6 TLR (A–L)}}
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==Notes==
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Among other [[TLR]] products, Firstflex seem to have made the Firstflex 35 [[SLR]] - the later models of which used the mirror as a shutter.
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<references/>
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
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* ''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.&nbsp;27.
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* ''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.27.
  
  
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== Links/Sources ==
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== Links ==
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* [http://rawhiti.tripod.com/firstflex35.html Firstflex 35 (early & later models) & Plusflex 35 variant] on [http://rawhiti.tripod.com/ Chris Sherlock's Camera Pages]
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* Firstflex among [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/Tokiwa.html First TLR cameras] on [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/ Barry Toogood's tlr-cameras.com]
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* [http://www.tlr-cameras.com/Japanese/Tokiwa.html First Cameras on  Barry Toogood's tlr-cameras.com]
 
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 6x6 TLR]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 6x6 TLR]]
 
[[Category: F]]
 
[[Category: F]]
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[[Category:120 film]]

Latest revision as of 06:26, 3 December 2022

See also the Firstflex 35 SLR models.

2922690867_d0991bbc7a_z.jpg
Two Firstflexes. The camera on the left matches the specification of the Firstflex I, except for the style
of the nameplate. The low serial number also suggests an early type. That on the right
is a 1952 Firstflex II with Albada finder (missing its leatherette surround).
image by Graustark (Image rights)

The Firstflex are Japanese 6×6cm TLR cameras for 120 film, made by Tokiwa Seiki in about 1951-55,[1] with the viewing and taking lenses linked by external gear-teeth. McKeown lists several models, describing them as cheaply made:

  • Firstflex I (1951): First Anastigmat 80 mm f/3.5. Unidentified shutter, 1/10 - 1/200 second plus B, synchronised with an ASA bayonet. Nameplate in upright capitals, chrome-on-black. A very similar camera is named the Kenflex (pictured below).
  • Firstflex II (1951): First anastigmat as above, shutter speeds 1/5 - 1/200 second, plus B, synchronised with an ASA bayonet, now on the camera body. Nameplate in italic capitals (as illustrated below), the same text style as that of the Kenflex.
  • Firstflex II (1952): Lens now engraved as a Special First Anastigmat (but still 80 mm f/3.5), in an MSK-II shutter, with speeds 1 - 1/400 second, plus B, still synchronised with an ASA bayonet, now once again mounted on the shutter. Embossed chrome nameplate. Focusing hood incorporates an eye-level Albada finder.
  • Popular Firstflex PII (1953): Special First Anastigmat, in unidentified shutter with speeds 1/10 - 1/200 second, plus B.
  • Firstflex LIII (1955): First Anastigmat in MSK-II shutter; very much like the 1952 camera, but without the Albada finder.

All the cameras use a winding knob for advancing the film, with a red window in the back, with a sliding cover.


7731916952_8e3c617c9a.jpg
1951 Firstflex II
image by bokuwanihongasuki (Image rights)


Japanese 6×6 TLR
Postwar models (A–L)
6×7cm Koni-Omegaflex M
6×6cm
A–L
(edit) 		Accuraflex | Aires Automat | Airesflex | Aires Reflex | Akumiflex | Alfaflex | Alpenflex | Amiflex | Autoflex | Beautyflex | Bikor-Flex | Bioflex | Companion | Copenflex | Cosmoflex | Crown Flex | Crystar Flex | Crystar 25 | Dorimaflex | Dorisflex | Easternflex | Echoflex | Eicaflex | Elbowflex | Elegaflex | Eleger Reflex | Elicaflex | Elizaflex | Elmoflex | Firstflex | Fodorflex | Fujicaflex | Geltoflex | Gnoflex | Graceflex | Halma Auto | Halma Flex | Hobiflex | Honorflex | Isocaflex | Itohflex | Kalloflex | Kallovex | Koniflex | Krimsoflex | Larkflex | Laurelflex | Luminaflex | Lustreflex | Lyraflex
Prewar and wartime models and postwar models (M–Z) ->
Other TLR, pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Other Japanese 6×6, 4.5×6, 3×4 and 4×4 ->

Notes

  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). p922-3.


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.27.


Links

Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Firstflex&oldid=219073"