Difference between revisions of "Lyra Flex"

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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
* {{Showa10}} Items 299–301. (See also the advertisement for items 294, 298 and 303.)
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* {{Showa10}} Items 299–301. (See also the advertisements for items 294, 298 and 303.)
 
* {{Lewis}} P. 39 (brief mention only).
 
* {{Lewis}} P. 39 (brief mention only).
 
* {{McKeown12}} P. 329. (It presents a picture of a Lyra Flex J, identified by mistake as an original Lyra Flex.)
 
* {{McKeown12}} P. 329. (It presents a picture of a Lyra Flex J, identified by mistake as an original Lyra Flex.)

Revision as of 12:00, 28 March 2007

Japanese 6×6 TLR
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
6×6cm Elmoflex | First Reflex | Kiko Flex | Lyra Flex | Minoltaflex | Minoltaflex Automat | Minoltaflex military prototype | Nōman Flex | Ostenflex | Prince Flex | Ricohflex (original) | Ricohflex B | Rollekonter | Roll-o-Frex | Rorter Ref | Rorterflex | Sakura-flex | Simpuflex | Starflex | Taroflex | Valflex | Yokusanflex
Postwar models and other TLR ->
Pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Other Japanese 6×6, 4.5×6, 3×4 and 4×4 ->

See also the Lyraflex (postwar).

The Lyra Flex is a Japanese 6×6 TLR made by Fuji Kōgaku between 1938 and 1944.[1]

General description

The Lyra Flex is a 6×6 TLR with automatic film advance. The focusing is done by moving the front plate back and forth. The focusing and advance knobs are on the photographer's right, and there is a round exposure counter window at the top of the right-hand side plate. The focusing knob is surrounded by a depth-of-field plate, and it seems that the company name FUJIKOGAKU and the serial number are engraved on the top of the knob itself. There is a magnifying glass hinged to the front of the viewing hood and deployed by a small lever placed to the right.

The Lyra Flex

The original model, released in 1938,[2] has the shutter release on the right hand plate as well as double exposure prevention.[3] The nameplate says LyraFlex, with another marking underneath, Fuji kōgaku kikai seisakusho; and the shutter plate is black with FUJIKō inscribed at the top and FUJIKOGAKU at the bottom. The viewing hood shows a cross-like structure and there is perhaps a sports finder.

An advertisement dated March 1938 presented the original Lyra Flex with a Fujikō A shutter (T, B, 1–300), a Fujikō Anastigmat Goldar 75/3.5 four element taking lens and a Fuji–kō Anastigmat Terionar 75/3.2 viewing lens, for ¥190.[4]

The camera pictured in the advertisement has the FUJI KŌGAKU logo in the middle of the viewing hood. The actual examples observed do not have this logo and their nameplate has a slightly different shape.[5] At least one of them reportedly has a Terionar 75/3.5 taking lens.[6]

The Lyra Flex F and J

The Lyra Flex F and Lyra Flex J were offered between 1941 and 1944.[7] The shutter release is now at the bottom of the front plate, falling under the left hand fingers. It perhaps means that it is not linked any more to the auto-stop mechanism, and that double exposure prevention was abandoned. The viewing hood has no cross structure and no logo but the presence of a sportsfinder is confirmed. There are changes in the nameplate, marked LYRA FLEX in uppercase letters, and in the strap lugs. There is an exposure table on the back.

The Lyra Flex F and Lyra Flex J are equipped respectively with a Fujikō F and a Fujikō J shutter. Both shutters have T, B, 1–200 speeds, but the J has a selftimer. It seems to be the only difference between the two models. The shutter plate is sometimes black with white markings and sometimes yellowish with black markings. It is written FUJIKō at the top (usually in two parts: FUJ and IKō, with an arrow between both, sometimes also in a single word like on the previous model), and FUJIKōGAKU at the bottom.

The Lyra Flex F cost ¥230 in 1941[8] and the Lyra Flex J cost ¥252 in 1941[9] and ¥289 in 1942[10].

Notes

  1. Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 342–3.
  2. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342, says that it appeared in the new products column of the March 1938 issue of Asahi Camera.
  3. Double exposure prevention: advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 101.
  4. Advertisement published in Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 101.
  5. Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2011; example pictured at the bottom of this page of the tlr-cameras.com website.
  6. Sugiyama, item 2011.
  7. Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342–3.
  8. Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 100–1.
  9. Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100.
  10. Advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 101.

Bibliography

  • 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 299–301. (See also the advertisements for items 294, 298 and 303.)
  • Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P. 39 (brief mention only).
  • 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). P. 329. (It presents a picture of a Lyra Flex J, identified by mistake as an original Lyra Flex.)
  • Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Items 2011–2.

Links

In English:

In Japanese: