Ilford Sportsman (original)

Sportsman original is a series of 35mm film viewfinder or rangefinder cameras made by Dacora for Ilford and introduced 1957 to 1959. There are 4 styles (versions) of the original Sportsman camera.

Models and info are according to Maurice Fisher and McKeown's

See also the article Ilford Sportsman series.

Sportsman Style 1 (original)

Ilford Sportsman original (1957) image by Rich1078346 (Image rights)

• Introduced in 1957
• Lens: Dacora Dignar 45mm f/3.5 max.aperture f/16
• Shutter: Vario 3-speed 1/25-1/50-1/200 + B w/ X flash sync.
• Direct vision viewfinder
• Same with the Dacora Dignette

Sportsman Style 2

Ilford Sportsman Style 2 image by Symon Pierce  (Image rights)

• Introduced 1959
• Significant style change than Sportsman original
• Lens: Dacora Dignar 45mm f/3.5 max.aperture f/16
• Shutter: Vario 3-speed 1/25-1/50-1/200 + B w/ X flash sync.
• Large eye-level viewfinder with luminous guide lines
• Interlocking film-wind and shutter setting to prevent double exposure

Sportsman Style 3

Ilford Sportsman Style 3 image by Raúl Sá Dantas  (Image rights)

• Introduced 1959
• Some mechanical and cosmetic changes than Style 2
• Lens: Dacora Dignar 45mm f/3.5 later f2.8
• Shutter: various, like Vario, Pronto, Prontor SVSL
• Bright frame viewfinder

Sportsman Style 4

Ilford Sportsman Style 4 (rangefinder) image by the-hospice-of-st-francis  (Image rights)

• Rangefinder introduced in 1960 and in 1962 other models
• Lens: Dacora Dignar 45mm f/2.8
• Shutter: Pronto 4-speeded 1/30-1/250 +B and X flash sync.

Links

• in Photographic Memorabilia by Maurice Fisher
• in Lippiches Kameramuseum
• in Peter's Ilford page
• in Sylvain Halgand Collection :
  • Ilford Sportsman
  • Ilford Sportsman
• Sportsman manuals Sportsman Booklet 1957 [2] [3]