Regula I Models

Regula I models
Regula I-P model image by Morinaka_2010 (Image rights) Manufacturer: King Date of Production: 1949-1953 Type of Camera: Viewfinder Film Type: 35mm Focus areas: 4ft-Infinity Viewfinder: Yes

The Regula I series of models (includes I, I-A to I-P etc.) was a series of 35mm cameras made by King KG in the early 1950's, the first camera King ever made was the Regula I. The following models share the same basic body design but each one varies with different lenses, shutters and other parts like the winding knobs and frame counter.

Things the models have in common are: -

• A small but chubby body made from aluminium, usually covered with a hard wearing nylon leatherette
• A manually cocked Prontor or Vario shutter
• A triplet lens usually made by Steinheil, though some are marked as King Regulon
• Basic viewfinder with no frame lines
• King logo (except on III) and accessory shoe on top of the viewfinder hump
• Frame counter (two different designs) and shutter release on the top between the viewfinder and film advance
• Film rewind switch just under the film advance (lets you rewind the film when done)
• 1/4" Tripod socket on the bottom of the camera
• Two metal plates around the film gate that show the model name and serial number
• Two small loops of metal either side of the camera's top plate for use with split rings for a neck strap
• The size is around 130mm * 80mm * 70mm (width*depth*height) and they weigh around 350-400g

The film counter will only count when there is film in the camera, this is via a toothed wheel that sits in the film perforations; it is also connected to the shutter and will prevent the shutter from firing until the counter has increased by one (double exposure prevention).

Regula I Models

Regula I

Only known information on this is that it was the original prototype for the I series that was displayed at a local photo show in 1949.

Regula I-D

This has a King Regulon 50mm f/3.5 lens, goes from f/3.5 through to f/16. The shutter is a Prontor-SV and the speeds are bulb, 1s, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/300th. This model has a lever wind for the film advance. The shutter also has a self timer lever for about 8 seconds. There is a PC socket on top of the lens for flash synchronization.

Regula I-F

This has a King Regulon 50mm f/4.5 lens, goes from f/4.5 through to f/16. The shutter is a Vario and the speeds are bulb, 1/25, 1/75 and 1/200th. This model has a lever wind for the film advance. There is a PC socket on top of the lens for flash synchronization.

Regula IP

This has a Steinheil Munchen Cassar 50mm f/2.8 lens, goes from f/2.8 through to f/16. The shutter is a Prontor-S and the speeds are bulb, 1s, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/300th. This model has knobs for both the film advance and rewind. The shutter also has a self timer lever for about 8 seconds. There is a PC socket on top of the lens for flash synchronization.

Regula I-P

There are two versions of this model, one has a Steinheil Munchen Cassar 50mm f/2.8 lens with lever for the film advance and knob rewind, the other has a Staeble-Werk Kataplast 50mm f/2.8 lens with knobs for both the film advance and rewind. Both go from f/2.8 through to f/16. The shutter is a Prontor-S and the speeds are bulb, 1s, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/300th. The shutter also has a self timer lever for about 8 seconds. There is a PC socket on top of the lens for flash synchronization.

Regula I-Po

This has a Steinheil Munchen Cassar 50mm f/2.8 lens, goes from f/2.8 through to f/16. The shutter is a Pronto and the speeds are bulb, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/200th. This model has knobs for both the film advance and rewind. The shutter also has a self timer lever for about 8 seconds. There is a PC socket on top of the lens for flash synchronization.

Regula II

This has a Staeble-Werk Kata 50mm f/3.5 lens, goes from f/3.5 through to f/16. The shutter is a Prontor-S and the speeds are bulb, 1s, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/300th. This model has knobs for both the film advance and rewind. The shutter also has a self timer lever for about 8 seconds. There is a PC socket on top of the lens for flash synchronization.

Regula II ST

This has a Steinheil Munchen Cassar 50mm f/3.5 lens, goes from f/3.5 through to f/16. The shutter is a Prontor-S and the speeds are bulb, 1s, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/300th. This model has a lever wind for the film advance and a knob for the rewind. The shutter also has a self timer lever for about 8 seconds. There is a PC socket on top of the lens for flash synchronization. This is basically identical to a I-P but has a f/3.5 lens instead of a f/2.8 lens.

Regula III

This has a Enna-Werk Ennar 45mm f/4.5 lens, goes from f/4.5 through to f/16. The shutter is a Vario and the speeds are bulb, 1/25, 1/75 and 1/200th. This model has knobs for both the film advance and rewind. There is a PC socket on top of the lens for flash synchronization but the camera lacks an accessory shoe. The top plate also lacks the engraved King logo and instead has Regula engraved on the viewfinder hump.

Gallery

Regula I-D image by Just Plain Curt (Image rights)

Regula I-P - Top section image by Morinaka_2010 (Image rights)

Regula I-P - ID plates image by Morinaka_2010 (Image rights)

Regula II image by Morinaka_2010 (Image rights)

Links

• Irregular Regulas by Helen Smith