Super Ricohflex TLR
A fully manual 6×6 format camera, without light meter, using knob film advance with “red window”. Some models can use 35mm or 127 film (with two separate adapters). Using 127 film requires a Super Ricohflex with the multiple red windows on the back (plus the insert). Click here for photo. Some Super Ricohflex’s came with the Auto-Stop feature (though the red window was still present). It was also available as a user installed option.
Only the differences from (my) Model VII are noted.
Taking lens: 8cm f3.5 Anastigmat, same as VII but with more surfaces AR coated. On my Super Ricohflex all 6 surfaces are AR coated. This improvement over my Model VII may be due to the Super being a higher model or just because mine was made later. I have never noticed a difference in contrast between my VII and Super. And I use them for taking stereo photos so I take simultaneous shots under the same lighting conditions with both of them. (I always shoot with len shades ever since I have got them.) Lenses on later model cameras may be labeled 80mm.
Shutter: Riken shutter has two additional speeds (compared to VII): 1/10 and 1/200. The shutter cocking lever on mine is in a different location than the VII. It is below the taking lens, rather than at the 8 o’clock position of the VII. Other Super Ricohflexes have the cocking lever in the 8 o’clock position (this type appears to be more common than my type). The leaf shutter has three blades. Later models may have Riken shutter which has speeds from 1/10 to 1/300 plus a self timer.
Viewing lens: 8cm f3.5 Same as VII but all 6 surfaces are AR coated.
Flash: My camera is synced for electronic flash (X-sync) only. The 1/50 speed is marked in red which appears to indicate that it is the only flash sync speed. (On my camera the flash sync is a bit off at all speeds so I can’t tell for sure). Mine has a PC connector. A coldshoe is provided at the top of the left side (viewed from behind the camera). The factory installed Auto-Stop camera I know of doesn’t have the cold shoe (it is present on the case).
Film advance: same as VII. But the advance knob has a “film minder” dial that helps you remember whether there is colour or B&W film in the camera, and its speed. Some models have the Auto-Stop feature. This is known to be a factory and a user installed aftermarket option.
via Super Ricohflex TLR.
Omegaflex Twin Lens Reflex Camera
The Koni-Omegaflex M (from 1969..) is an unusual twin lens 6x7cm camera. A nice feature is the use of the same film magazines as the Rapid M. You can add an optional reflex viewing attachment. Besides the 90mm lens, you could also buy the 135mm f/3.5 Hexanon and the 180mm f/4.5 Hexanon lenses in this TLR mounting too. As the posters note below, the original goal was to compete against the then popular Rollei TLRs, while offering interchangeable lenses and the “ideal” or 6x7cm format (less cropping on prints) plus the convenience of interchangeable film magazines. Great idea, but a heavy camera that probably got clobbered by the switch to SLRs like Hasselblad and Bronica in the 1960 timeframe?
Sawyers Mark IV
Sawyers are best known for their viewmaster 3D viewing system, where stereo images are arranged on a wheel. To complement this range, they commisioned or rebadged a number of cameras (including the Ace Ajoy renamed the Nomad). Most of these cameras were of course 35mm stereo, and are highly collectable. However their most noteworthy 127 offering was a regular (though rather nice) TLR – the Sawyers Mark IV.
The designation Mark 4 is a bit strange, as there was never a 1, 2 or 3. I can only imagine that the 4 refers to the 4×4 format, and the Mark bit was put in to give a Japanese camera that Mark Twain/Tom Sawyers link to America culture.
The image and manual were submitted by Dave Schneller who inherited his Mark IV (S#274930) from his father. The following is quoted from http://medfmt.8k.com/mf/sawyer_mark_IV.html by Karl Bryan
The Sawyer’s Mark IV twin lens reflex cameras are a rebadged Primo Jr. Type 1. Manufactured by Tokyo Optical Co. and imported by the Beaverton, OR GAF Co. (makers of the Viewmaster). The Sawyer’s Mark IV Type I was in production from 1958-1959. This camera is a 4×4 format utilizing 127 film. Note that the proper lens cap acts as a shutter release lock.
Shutter is a Seikosha MXL, B, and 1-500 speed with M, F, X flash synch. The camera shutter has markings for EVS (Exposure Value System, also known as the Light Value System). The EVS is a cross coupled system between shutter speed and aperture with EVS values from 3-18. The aperture and shutter settings are viewable from the small window above the viewing lens.
The lens is a Topcor 60, f2.8 multicoated, four element, 3 group, tessar design. F stops are from 3.5f to 22f, film wind is by crank with automatic setting of the shutter. Filters are the typical Bay 1 type.
Film setting is by the red window to frame 1, and then it is automatically indexed. When first installing film, wind the crank until the number 1 appears in the red window in the back of the camera, depress the button above the wind crank and slide the button next to is towards the back of the camera. This set the frame counter to 1, then film indexing automatically occurs every time the film crank is wound.
Focus is by knob with an ASA reminder dial in its end. Above the focus knob is a Depth of Field scale. The film chamber is baffled for flare control.
The ground glass has a fresnel lens with center focus spot and cross hair etched lines for aid in composition.
Finally for your 127 using enjoyment: The Sawyers Mk IV manual.
via 127:Sawyers.
TLRgraphy 