Kamarad II

The Kamarad II is a Czechoslovak TLR made in 1937 by the Bradac brothers in Hovorcovice. The Nameplate has Kamarad engraved in it, with a line connecting the top of the K and the d. Underneath it MII is engraved. It has some style elements the later Flexarets would share with it, like an engraved plate with vertical lines between the lenses. These lines give it something of an art-deco look.

Lenses

The taking lens is a 75/2.9 Trioplan, and so is the taking lens. It can be stopped down to f/16. Focusing is done by turning either lens, they're internally connected. The viewing lens has an engraved distance scale that can be matched with a depth-of-field scale on the body. Sometimes, the company logo is engraved where on a Rolleiflex, the aperture and shutter speed windows are.

Shutter and body

The Kamarad MII has a (B, T 1&ndsh;1/250s) Compur shutter. It is cocked with a small lever near the taking lens. A cable release thread is present. The shutter is fired with a Rolleicord style release under the taking lens.
The full metal body is covered in black leather. There's a small ruby window in the back for framecounting. The film is advanced by a winding knob on the right side. The tripod mount has a larger German thread.

Variations

After the Optotechnika takeover, the camera was renamed "Flexette". With a new Compur-S shutter, the Kamarad MII was renamed "Autoflex". The Kamarad II was sold in the United States under the name "Companion". Rare.