Difference between revisions of "Miranda T and TII"

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The Miranda T was the first camera from this renown camera maker, although it was named the Phoenix when the prototype was introduced in 1954, but it was changed due to a name conflict before production commenced. The Orion Camera Co. was established for the manufacture of the Miranda, starting in 1955, the cameras being engraved Orion Camera Co. above the lens mount. In 1957, after just two years of production, the name was changed to the Miranda Camera Co.
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The Miranda T is a 35mm SLR camera. It was an extremely advanced camera at the time of introduction, and especially so considering it being the first from this manufacturer, and by that time there was no really strong competition to inspire it's design, appart from perhaps the Contax S and the Exakta Varex. It was equipped with an interchangeble pentaprism finder from the start, and a sturdy bayonet lens mount, supplemented by a huge 44mm screw mount for accessories. The camera was supplied with the rare Zunow 1:1.9 f=5cm standard lens. An even rarer Orion Supreme 1:2.8 f=10.5cm lens was among the early supplementary accessory for this camera.
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The '''Miranda T''' is the first Japanese 35mm [[SLR]] camera with an eyelevel [[Pentaprism|pentaprism]] finder, launched in 1955 by the [[Miranda|Orion Camera Co.]] A prototype called the ''Phoenix'' was presented in 1954 by [[Miranda|Orion Seiki]], but the camera name was changed due to a trademark conflict.  
  
The Miranda T Orion is among the most sought after 35mm SLRs by camera collectors today. The two first digits in the serial number indicates the two last digits in the year of manufacture.
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The prototype enabled the owners of Orion Seiki to raise sufficient funds to establish the [[Miranda|Orion Camera Co.]], and start production in 1955. The camera is engraved ''Orion Camera Co.'' above the lens. In 1957, after just two years in existence, the company name was changed to [[Miranda|Miranda Camera Company]], and their products accordingly marked ''Miranda Camera Co.''.
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The Miranda T was an advanced camera at the time of introduction. It was the first camera made by this manufacturer, but they were already widely known for their engineering ingenuity, reputedly able to solve almost any problem, like special lens adapters for most cameras, even those otherwise considered impossible to match (see e.g. the [[Orion Coupler]]). A particular speciality leading up to the introduction of this camera was the [[Mirax]] reflex housing for use on rangefinder cameras. 
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The Miranda T is the first 35mm [[SLR]] camera specially designed for, and equipped with an interchangeable [[Pentaprism|pentaprism]] finder. The [[Contax S]], the [[Rectaflex]], and the [[Pignons|Alpa Prisma Reflex]] pioneered the use of a fixed pentaprism in 1949, and a prism finder was made available at an extra cost in 1950 for the [[Exakta Varex]]. The convenient Miranda slide-on prism mount concept is next seen on the 1957 Topcon R and the USSR [[Start (SLR)|Start]] in 1958, and the following year on the [[Canonflex]], while the 1959 [[Nikon F]] is based on the Exakta Varex mount, securing the prism by a number of hooks.
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The Miranda T is equipped with a dual lens mount, inherited from the [[Mirax]] reflex housing. It consists of a large-diameter 44mm screw mount and a sturdy external bayonet mount. The original standard lens was the rare [[Zunow]] 5cm f/1.9. Among the early interchangeable lenses available for the camera was the [[Supreme lenses|Orion Supreme 10.5cm f/2.8]]. The [[Focabell]] bellows, which actually preceded the Miranda camera, was also available from the start.
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A small number of these cameras were made available with shutter speeds to 1/1000 sec., known as the Miranda TII. It has a slightly different styling, including a black shutter-speed dial, and it was usually sold with the [[Arco lenses|Arco 5cm f/2.4]]. The Miranda camera with the ''Orion Camera Co.'' markings is among the most sought after 35mm SLRs by camera collectors today. The serial numbers have six digits in the 55xxxx range.
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
[http://www.cameraquest.com/orion.htm The Miranda Orion at Cameraquest]
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In English:
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* [http://www.cameraquest.com/orion.htm Orion Miranda T at Cameraquest]
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* Pages of the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200918225642/http://www.mirandacamera.com/ Miranda Camera website] (archived):
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** [https://web.archive.org/web/20200711135527/http://www.mirandacamera.com/_modelinfo/_t/model_t.htm Miranda T]
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** [https://web.archive.org/web/20200711135546/http://www.mirandacamera.com/_modelinfo/modelinfo.htm Miranda model detail table]
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In Japanese:
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* [http://miranda.s32.xrea.com/miranda/MSJ_html/early/early.html Early Miranda] at the [http://miranda.s32.xrea.com/ Miranda Society Japan]
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 35mm SLR]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 35mm SLR]]
[[Category: Miranda|Orion]]
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[[Category: Miranda|T]]
 
[[Category: M]]
 
[[Category: M]]
[[Category: O|Orion]]
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[[Category:T|T Miranda]]

Latest revision as of 07:12, 5 January 2022

The Miranda T is the first Japanese 35mm SLR camera with an eyelevel pentaprism finder, launched in 1955 by the Orion Camera Co. A prototype called the Phoenix was presented in 1954 by Orion Seiki, but the camera name was changed due to a trademark conflict.

The prototype enabled the owners of Orion Seiki to raise sufficient funds to establish the Orion Camera Co., and start production in 1955. The camera is engraved Orion Camera Co. above the lens. In 1957, after just two years in existence, the company name was changed to Miranda Camera Company, and their products accordingly marked Miranda Camera Co..

The Miranda T was an advanced camera at the time of introduction. It was the first camera made by this manufacturer, but they were already widely known for their engineering ingenuity, reputedly able to solve almost any problem, like special lens adapters for most cameras, even those otherwise considered impossible to match (see e.g. the Orion Coupler). A particular speciality leading up to the introduction of this camera was the Mirax reflex housing for use on rangefinder cameras.

The Miranda T is the first 35mm SLR camera specially designed for, and equipped with an interchangeable pentaprism finder. The Contax S, the Rectaflex, and the Alpa Prisma Reflex pioneered the use of a fixed pentaprism in 1949, and a prism finder was made available at an extra cost in 1950 for the Exakta Varex. The convenient Miranda slide-on prism mount concept is next seen on the 1957 Topcon R and the USSR Start in 1958, and the following year on the Canonflex, while the 1959 Nikon F is based on the Exakta Varex mount, securing the prism by a number of hooks.

The Miranda T is equipped with a dual lens mount, inherited from the Mirax reflex housing. It consists of a large-diameter 44mm screw mount and a sturdy external bayonet mount. The original standard lens was the rare Zunow 5cm f/1.9. Among the early interchangeable lenses available for the camera was the Orion Supreme 10.5cm f/2.8. The Focabell bellows, which actually preceded the Miranda camera, was also available from the start.

A small number of these cameras were made available with shutter speeds to 1/1000 sec., known as the Miranda TII. It has a slightly different styling, including a black shutter-speed dial, and it was usually sold with the Arco 5cm f/2.4. The Miranda camera with the Orion Camera Co. markings is among the most sought after 35mm SLRs by camera collectors today. The serial numbers have six digits in the 55xxxx range.

Links

In English:

In Japanese: