Mihamaflex
The Mihamaflex is a Japanese 6×6 TLR. The brand name "Mihama" exists in Spring Camera and 35mm leaf-shutter rangefinder, but it is not clear if this model is a product of the same manufacturer.
General description
An advertisement in the Camera Friend October 1954 Illustrations are in the lower left corner. image by KazumaK (Image rights) |
The existence of the Mihamaflex was described in some of the documents, but in reality, the only sources were an advertisement in the Camera Friend October 1954 and an article in "Photo Art rinji zōkan no.69"[1]. And the illustration in "Photo Art rinji zōkan no.69" was taken from the advertisement. In the illustration, the camera is depicted as a Rolleiflex-like form. Specifically, the wheels on the left and right sides of the lens are used to set the shutter speeds and diaphragm.
The actual Mihamaflex does not have such a form. The shutter speed and diaphragm are set by the shutter unit itself.
The shutter is unmarked (B, 1–300). It has front-standard focusing operated by a wheel on the side of the body. Uses a red window for film advance counter. The finder screen is only frosted glass plate, no fresnel lens. It has sports finder.
The lenses are 80mm f/3.5, and the marking is TORI RAOZRE ANASTIGMAT. This marking is similar to the product name of Tomioka Tri-Lausar lenses, but it is probably an unrelated product.
A camera with the same lens is listed in The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras as a Rexoflex, presumably by the same manufacturer.[2]
TORI RAOZRE ANASTIGMAT lenses image by KazumaK (Image rights) |
Pictures
front image by KazumaK (Image rights) |
right image by KazumaK (Image rights) |
left image by KazumaK (Image rights) |
rear image by KazumaK (Image rights) |
top image by KazumaK (Image rights) |
bottom image by KazumaK (Image rights) |
Pictures are taken by me, collection of camera shop in Kita-ku, Tokyo (Approved for publication).
Notes
Bibliography
- Advertisement in the Camera Friend (カメラフレンド) October 1954. p.70.
- Photo Art Rinji Zōkan Nigan-refu kamera zensho (フォトアート臨時増刊・二眼レフカメラ全書, Photo Art special issue: All the TLR cameras). August 1954, no.69 of the magazine.