Difference between revisions of "Koniflex"
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The '''Koniflex''' is a 6×6 [[TLR]] produced by [[Konica|Konishiroku]] in the early 1950s. | The '''Koniflex''' is a 6×6 [[TLR]] produced by [[Konica|Konishiroku]] in the early 1950s. | ||
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| + | The Koniflex is slightly unusual in its 85mm lens (rather than the customary 75–80mm). The View Hexar viewing lens is f/3.0 (and, thanks to a condenser, the screen is fairly bright); the taking lens is a Hexanon with five elements in three groups. | ||
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| + | The entire lens assembly moves in order to focus. One can focus "beyond infinity" in order to retract the lens assembly further within the body; this not only saves some space but also locks the shutter. | ||
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| + | The shutter is a Seikosha Rapid (B, 1–400). | ||
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| + | The Koniflex uses semi-automatic film advance; you align the start mark against two red dots, close the back, and use a knob on the right<ref>"Left" and "right" in this discussion are from the point of view of the photographer taking a photograph.</ref> to wind until winding stops as "1" appears in a small window on the left; after cocking and firing the shutter (below and to below and to the left of the taking lens respectively), you press the button within the wind knob, release it, and wind on till winding stops as "2" appears in the window — and so forth. | ||
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| + | An accessory shoe is on the left. The finder hood contains a large magnifying glass and the front of the hood can be flipped out of the way to create a sports finder. | ||
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| + | The '''original Koniflex''' (sometimes referred to as '''Koniflex I''') was released in early 1953. It has a Kodak-style flash terminal. | ||
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| + | Minor improvements were made in mid-1955: baffles to cut internal reflections, a double exposure lock (with override at the front centre of the left-hand side), and an improved catch to hold the back closed. The flash terminal is now PC. (This camera is now often referred to as the '''Koniflex II'''; Konishiroku did not call it this at the time, and the nameplates of both versions simply say ''KONIFLEX''.) | ||
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| + | ==Notes== | ||
| + | <references /> | ||
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| + | ==Sources / further reading== | ||
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| + | *{{Showa10}} Items 516–7. | ||
| + | *Kanno <!-- I don't know the reading of his personal name. -->(管野経敏). "A kara Z no kokusan niganrefu" (AからZの国産二眼レフ, Japanese TLRs from A to Z). In ''Miryoku saihakken: Nigan refu: Firumu kamera ha e no messēji'' (魅力再発見・二眼レフ：フィルムカメラ派へのメッセージ, Fascination rediscovery: TLRs: A message to film cameras). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppansha,<!-- Yes, this is how the company writes its name. --> 2006. | ||
| + | *Miyazaki Shigemoto (宮崎繁幹). ''Konika kamera no 50nen: Konika I-gata kara Hekisā RF e'' (コニカカメラの50年：コニカI型からヘキサーRFへ, Fifty years of Konica cameras: From the Konica I to the Hexar RF). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 2003. ISBN 4-257-12038-X | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
Revision as of 14:18, 2 August 2006
The Koniflex is a 6×6 TLR produced by Konishiroku in the early 1950s.
The Koniflex is slightly unusual in its 85mm lens (rather than the customary 75–80mm). The View Hexar viewing lens is f/3.0 (and, thanks to a condenser, the screen is fairly bright); the taking lens is a Hexanon with five elements in three groups.
The entire lens assembly moves in order to focus. One can focus "beyond infinity" in order to retract the lens assembly further within the body; this not only saves some space but also locks the shutter.
The shutter is a Seikosha Rapid (B, 1–400).
The Koniflex uses semi-automatic film advance; you align the start mark against two red dots, close the back, and use a knob on the right[1] to wind until winding stops as "1" appears in a small window on the left; after cocking and firing the shutter (below and to below and to the left of the taking lens respectively), you press the button within the wind knob, release it, and wind on till winding stops as "2" appears in the window — and so forth.
An accessory shoe is on the left. The finder hood contains a large magnifying glass and the front of the hood can be flipped out of the way to create a sports finder.
The original Koniflex (sometimes referred to as Koniflex I) was released in early 1953. It has a Kodak-style flash terminal.
Minor improvements were made in mid-1955: baffles to cut internal reflections, a double exposure lock (with override at the front centre of the left-hand side), and an improved catch to hold the back closed. The flash terminal is now PC. (This camera is now often referred to as the Koniflex II; Konishiroku did not call it this at the time, and the nameplates of both versions simply say KONIFLEX.)
Notes
- ↑ "Left" and "right" in this discussion are from the point of view of the photographer taking a photograph.
Sources / further reading
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Items 516–7.
- Kanno (管野経敏). "A kara Z no kokusan niganrefu" (AからZの国産二眼レフ, Japanese TLRs from A to Z). In Miryoku saihakken: Nigan refu: Firumu kamera ha e no messēji (魅力再発見・二眼レフ：フィルムカメラ派へのメッセージ, Fascination rediscovery: TLRs: A message to film cameras). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppansha, 2006.
- Miyazaki Shigemoto (宮崎繁幹). Konika kamera no 50nen: Konika I-gata kara Hekisā RF e (コニカカメラの50年：コニカI型からヘキサーRFへ, Fifty years of Konica cameras: From the Konica I to the Hexar RF). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 2003. ISBN 4-257-12038-X
Links
In English:
- Sample photos (and one more) by the Koniflex II, by Takasaki Motohiro
In French:
In Japanese:
- Koniflex restoration by Kan
- Koniflex II CLA at Takasaki Motohiro's Shiroto shashinki shūri kōbō
- Koniflex II from Kawamasu Camera
- Koniflex and Koniflex II from Kitamura
- Koniflex II at TLR Milestone
- Koniflex I and Koniflex II at Konica Minolta "old and new"
- Koniflex at Classic Camera Beginners' Club
