Ricoh 126C-Flex TLS

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image by OZBOX (Image rights)

The 126C-Flex TLS is an SLR for 126 film, with screw-mount interchangeable lenses. It was made in Japan by Ricoh, c. 1969. It was one of the very few SLRs made for the 126 cartridge format. The standard lens was a 55mm f2.8 Rikenon, but 100mm telephoto and 35mm wide-angle lenses were also available. It was fitted for flashcubes, and also equipped with a hot shoe and PC flash synch socket for mounting a flashgun. The shutter was limited to a range of 1/30 - 1/300s +B.

The 126c-Flex was also possibly unique in having an early form of shutter-priority auto-exposure with manual override. The camera uses a PX675 mercury battery for the metering and a 15-volt PX74 battery for the flashcubes. There is also a cable release socket and a tripod bush.

A modified version of this camera without the flashcube feature was sold by Sears as the Sears 126 TLS Reflex, and (with flashcube socket) by Foto-Quelle badged as Revueflex TLS-C.

Links

• User Manual on Mike Butkus' site.
• page on the 126c-Flex at the University of Texas
• Ricoh and Sears versions at Mr Martin's Camera Museum.
• Flickr photo of Ricoh version by Just Plain Curt