TLR
To have a list of TLR cameras, see the Category: TLR.
TLR is an acronym for Twin Lens Reflex. What does that stand for?
- Twin Lens — The camera uses two lenses, one for viewing and for taking.
- Reflex — Refers to the mirror used behind the viewing lens to make focusing possible.
Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) cameras are "two-eyed" cameras such as the classic Rolleiflex. They normally consist of two lenses on the front of the case, with a waist-level ground glass viewfinder on the top, surrounded by a folding viewing hood.
The scene viewed by the top lens (the viewing lens) is reflected by a mirror onto the ground glass screen. The image seen on the ground glass is back to front (left is right, right is left) which can take some getting used to.
The bottom lens (the taking lens) exposes the film. This means that, unlike SLR cameras, the viewed image is not exactly the same as the image recorded on the film — the difference being the distance between the centre of the viewing lens and the centre of the taking lens. This discrepancy is known as parallax error, which can be corrected by lifting the camera until the taking lens is as high as the viewing lens was when the image was composed.
Well-known TLR manufacturers are Rollei, Yashica, and Seagull. Popular and beautiful TLRs were also made by Japanese companies such as Mamiya prior to the 1970s.
The vast majority of TLRs take 120 film and expose 12 pictures in 6×6cm format. Some models did take 127 film and expose 12 pictures in 4×4 format, and there are a few models using other formats (e.g. the Superfekta and Ontoflex took 6x9cm images; the Agfa Flexilette and Contaflex TLR used 35mm film).
Pros
- TLRs are typically very quiet.
- Viewfinder image matches image size on film.
- No viewfinder blackout during exposure.
- TLRs use leaf shutters, which can sync with a flash at any speed.
- TLRs are waist-level cameras. Subjects are usually more relaxed and less likely to pose for photographers using waist-level cameras.
Cons
- Parallax is a problem at close distances.
- Reversed image (image is upright but reversed left to right).
- Unlike an SLR, no impression of depth-of-field can be given in the viewfinder, as the viewing lens has no diaphragm.
- Most don't have interchangeable lenses (exceptions: Mamiya C series and Koni-Omegaflex).
- Can be relatively large and heavy (depending on brand and model).
Pseudo TLRs are simpler versions of a "full" TLR, but without the focusing features.
Links
In English:
- TLR shutter repair at Rick Oleson's website
- Medium Format on a Budget: TLR at TheBokeh.com
- TLR page at the Medium Format Photography Megasite
- Points to watch when buying a TLR, in a page at Rolleigraphy
- Barry Toogood's good site on TLR: www.tlr-cameras.com
In Japanese:
In French:
