Difference between revisions of "Wrayflex"
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Revision as of 00:46, 21 January 2013
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The Wrayflex is a 35mm SLR camera made by Wray from about 1950, the only British-made 35mm SLR.[1] There are three different models: the first two have a low profile appearance and use a system of mirrors rather than a pentaprism to provide the reflex viewing image. The first camera, the Wrayflex I,[2] makes images in a 24x32mm format; the second, the Wrayflex Ia,[3] gives the standard 24x36mm format. Other than this it is very similar to the first model; McKeown states that the frame-counter (which counts beyond 40 on the Wrayflex I because of the small format) is the easiest way to tell the two apart.[1]
Sadly the mirror viewfinders were very dim compared to the prism used on rival cameras, and produced a laterally reversed image. The third model, the Wrayflex II from about 1959,[4] has a prism, giving it a taller profile. It has the standard 24x36mm image format.
The cameras use normal 35mm film cassettes. The 24x32 mm format was a problem for slide films (the images would not fit neatly in standard mounts, and might be incorrectly cut by the processors).
All three cameras use the same series of lenses:
- 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 had unwittingly infringed the Wray patent and were obliged to acknowledge this fact.
All three models have a focal-plane shutter, with speeds ½ - 1/1000 second, plus 'B'. There are separate flash synchronisation sockets on the front of the camera for electronic flash ('E') and bulbs ('B'). The Wrayflex II also has a cold shoe on top of the prism;[4] (the cited example of the Wrayflex I at Westlicht also has a cold shoe).[2]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p1016-7.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wrayflex I serial no. 1579, with a Unilite 50mm f/2 lens, sold at the November 2004 Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna.
- ↑ Wrayflex Ia serial no. 2691, with 35 mm f/3.5 Lustrar, offered at the May 2012 Westlicht auction; several excellent pictures.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wrayflex II serial no. 4246, with Unilite 50mm f/2 lens, also offered at the May 2012 Westlicht auction.
Links
- Wrayflex user manual at Marriott's World
- User's manual (PDF) at Mike Butkus' Orphan Cameras.
- US Patent 2608922, Reflex camera with curtain shutter, describes the Wrayflex.
- Dummy Wrayflex I or Ia; lot 8 of the auction The British Camera 1840-1960 The Jim Barron Collection at Christie's, in December 2002 in London.
- Additional photos of the Wrayflex Ia in freddybabe's Flickr Photostream.
Bibliography
- Wally Morley, 'The Wrayflex' in Photographica World, no. 64, March 1993, pp. 35-37.
- John Wade, 'The Wrayflex Story' Wordpower Publishing; see www.wrayflex.co.uk.
