Miranda T and TII
The Miranda T was the first Miranda 35mm SLR camera, released in 1955. The prototype was introduced in 1954 as the Phoenix, but the name was changed due to a trademark conflict before production commenced.
The early cameras were manufactured by Orion Seiki, and are engraved Orion Camera Co. above the lens mount. In 1957, after just two years of production, the company name was changed to Miranda Camera, and the cameras were accordingly marked Miranda Camera Co. The early cameras are often called "Miranda Orion" today, but the correct name would be "Orion Miranda": Orion was the manufacturer's name and Miranda was the product's brand name.
The Miranda T was an advanced camera at the time of introduction. It was the first camera made by this manufacturer, which previously made the Mirax reflex housing for rangefinder cameras. It was the first Japanese SLR equipped with a pentaprism, a few years after the Contax S, Rectaflex and Exakta Varex.
The Miranda T is equipped with an interchangeable finder and a dual lens mount, with a large 44mm screw mount, inherited from the Mirax reflex housing and mainly used for accessories, and a sturdy external bayonet mount introduced specially for the camera. The original standard lens was the rare Zunow 5cm f/1.9. The Orion Supreme 10.5cm f/2.8 lens was among the early interchangeable lenses available for the camera.
The Miranda T with Orion markings is among the most sought after 35mm SLRs by camera collectors today. The serial numbers have six digits, of which the first two certainly indicate the year of manufacture.
Links
In English:
- Orion Miranda T at Cameraquest
- Pages of the Miranda Camera website:
In Japanese:
