Topcon PR II

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The original Topcon PR was launched in 1959.

In 1960, the camera's specification was changed and the new model became known as the PR II, although the 'II' does not appear on the camera, user manual, or magazine advertisements of the time.

Briefly, the PR II differed from the earlier PR in that it had a Seikosha SLV shutter in place of a Citizen MV, plus an EV scale was added to the underside of the aperture dial. There were also some minor styling changes.

The Topcon PR II is quite different to more modern SLRs. It has a leaf shutter and automatic diaphragm (i.e. it automatically stops-down to the set f-stop on exposure, so focusing can be performed at full illumination), but it doesn't have an instant return mirror. The viewfinder blacks-out on exposure, and the film has to be advanced to re-set the mirror. It also has a viewfinder blind which closes at the moment of exposure to prevent stray light entry, and this similarly remains closed until the film is wound.

The ground glass focusing screen beneath the pentaprism had a plastic fresnel type plate lens to aid viewfinder brilliance. The 50mm f/2.8 lens is fixed, but there where supplementary lenses available, which attached to the front to produce 37mm and 85mm focal lengths.

The PR II is a very small camera; indeed it's a tiny bit smaller than the 1977 Pentax ME at 130mm wide and 82mm high.

The model was produced for just six months, also sold as the DeJur Dekon SR, and superseded by the Topcon Wink Mirror. This replacement model introduced an instant-return mirror.


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