Difference between revisions of "Wrayflex"
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| − | }}The '''Wrayflex''' was a [[35mm]] [[SLR]] made by the British company [[Wray]] after World War II. There were | + | }}The '''Wrayflex''' was a [[35mm]] [[SLR]] made by the British company [[Wray]] after World War II. There were three different models, the first two had a low profile appearance and used a system of mirrors to provide the reflex viewing image. The very first, the Wrayflex I used the 24x32mm format and the second, the Wrayflex Ia had the standard 24x36mm format. Sadly their viewfinders were very dim compared to the pentaprism used on competitive cameras, and produced a laterally reversed image. The second version had a higher profile top plate and used a [[pentaprism]], and also had the standard 24x36mm 35mm format - it was known as the '''Wrayflex II'''. |
| − | + | All used the same series of lenses. The cameras used normal 35mm film cassettes. The 24x32 mm format was a problem for slide material films. | |
List of lenses in Wrayflex mount: | List of lenses in Wrayflex mount: | ||
* 35/3.5 Lustrar | * 35/3.5 Lustrar | ||
| + | * 50/2.8 Unilux | ||
* 50/2 Unilite | * 50/2 Unilite | ||
* 90/4 Lustrar | * 90/4 Lustrar | ||
Revision as of 03:06, 27 July 2011
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| Additional photos of Wrayflex here. image by freddybabe (Image rights) |
The Wrayflex was a 35mm SLR made by the British company Wray after World War II. There were three different models, the first two had a low profile appearance and used a system of mirrors to provide the reflex viewing image. The very first, the Wrayflex I used the 24x32mm format and the second, the Wrayflex Ia had the standard 24x36mm format. Sadly their viewfinders were very dim compared to the pentaprism used on competitive cameras, and produced a laterally reversed image. The second version had a higher profile top plate and used a pentaprism, and also had the standard 24x36mm 35mm format - it was known as the Wrayflex II.
All used the same series of lenses. The cameras used normal 35mm film cassettes. The 24x32 mm format was a problem for slide material films.
List of lenses in Wrayflex mount:
- 35/3.5 Lustrar
- 50/2.8 Unilux
- 50/2 Unilite
- 90/4 Lustrar
- 135/4 Lustrar
The Unilite lens design was covered by Patents, later there would be a dispute with Corfield when the latter company introduced their 45mm Lumax f/1.9 lens for the Periflex camera range. Corfield unwittingly had infringed the Wray patent and were obliged to acknowledge this fact.
Links
- John Wade has published a book on the camera and its lenses - see www.wrayflex.co.uk for a copy
- Wrayflex user manual at Marriott's World
- instruction manual PDF manual at Mike Butkus' Orphancameras.com
- US patent: "Reflex camera with curtain shutter", describes the Wrayflex
- The British Camera 1840-1960 The Jim Barron Collection, Lot 8
- Wally Morley, 'The Wrayflex' in Photographica World, no. 64, March 1993, pp. 35-37.
