The Mecaflex was a 35mm SLR, initially made in Germany starting in 1951. Design was by Heinz Kilfitt, designer of the original Robot camera and the Kowa Six. First sales were in 1953. Bodies were made for Kilfitt by Metz Apparatefabrik in Fürth, Germany; in 1958, body production was moved to a company called S.E.R.O.A. in Monaco - until the end of production in c.1965. Lenses were made by Kilfitt's company, based in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, but apparently manufacturing in Munich, Germany.
The camera was unusual in having a flip-up cover on top which both opened the waist-level viewfinder and uncovered the top-plate controls - winding lever, rewind knob and shutter release. Another slightly odd feature was the use of a 24×24mm frame format, giving 50 exposures on a 35mm film - like the Robot.
Some photos show a release button standing above the cover, and the winding lever having a slot allowing use with the cover closed; others show level and release hidden inside the cover. Some pictures show the Mecaflex with various other finders, including what looks like an add-on prism type[1].
The Mecaflex had interchangeable lenses, made by Kilfitt, and a Prontor leaf shutter - with a setting ring (1-1/300 + B) around the lens mount.
Links[]
- Mecaflex 35mm cameras on Submin.com
- Mecaflex on Kilfitt.org
- Mecaflex on UKCamera.com (English & German)
- Mecaflex on robot-camera.de (German, with lots of pictures)
- Seroa Mecaflex, Metz Mecaflex and User manuel on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand