- REDIRECT Template:Japanese postwar 6×6 TLR
The Alfaflex (アルファフレックス) is a Japanese 6×6 TLR made by Alfa Camera Seisakusho from mid-1952 to early 1954.[1]
Description
The Alfaflex is a regular copy of the Rolleicord. The focusing is done by moving the front plate back and forth and the film advance is controlled by red window. The focusing and film advance knobs are on the photographer's right, and the focusing knob is surrounded by a depth-of-field scale. The back has a single red window in the middle, protected by a vertically sliding cover. There is a magnifying lens in the viewing hood but no sportsfinder. The name ALFAFLEX is inscribed on a nameplate above the front plate, and the company name ALFA or ALFA OPTICAL CO. is written in small characters underneath.[2]
Versions
The Alfaflex was featured as a new product in the July 1952 issue of Ars Camera.[3] It was offered along with the Cosmoflex in an advertisement dated March 1953.[4] No price was indicated and the camera name was simply "Alfaflex". In this advertisement and in the two actual examples observed,[5] the lenses are S. Cosmo 75/3.5. They are engraved ALFA Opt. Co. The shutter is a TSK giving B, 1–200 speeds. The release lever is directly placed under the shutter casing and the synch post is buried in the front standard at the bottom. The shutter is marked TSK on the speed rim and TOYO S.K.CO on the shutter plate.
There were perhaps two versions of the Alfaflex. The example pictured in Sugiyama is presented as an "Alfaflex II", and Lewis mentions an Alfaflex I and an Alfaflex II.[6] It is said in this page at Japan Family Camera that the "original model" has Alfa 75/3.5 lenses and that the "Alfaflex II" has S. Cosmo lenses and a self-timer. However no self-timer is visible on the cameras observed so far with S. Cosmo lenses.
The Alfaflex was eventually superseded by the Cosmoflex, a slightly improved model.
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Item 374.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), ISBN 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P. 80 (brief mention only).
- 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). P. 49.
- Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Item 2050.
Links
In Japanese:
- ↑ Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 346.
- ↑ ALFA: example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2050. ALFA OPTICAL CO.: example observed in an online auction.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 346.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Shashin Salon, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 117.
- ↑ Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 2050, and example observed in an online auction.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 2050; Lewis, p. 80.