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Other Japanese 120 (6x6) TLRs

This page changes more often than any other, because there are so many variant Japanese TLRs, and I'm always buying new ones. To keep updating it as simple as possible, I have each maker's cameras start on a new line, so the layout is a little lengthy.

The roots of the Japanese camera industry go back to the late nineteenth century, and several fairly high-specification TLRs were produced in the late 1930s and early 1940s, latterly in response to a lack of German ones reaching Japan as the war in Europe began.  However, the explosion in production and model range dates from around 1950.

In the early 1950s, large numbers of American troops were based in (or passing through) Japan during the Korean War. It was partly their spending power which encouraged the development of a proliferation of manufacturers, many very small, to make products for them and for export to the USA. Cameras were a major part of this, which became the "golden age" of the Japanese TLR. There was a thriving pack of parts manufacturers (often making cameras themselves), and it can be very difficult to work out who made what. To quote one fellow collector: "A whole series of imaginatively-named TLR cameras found their way to America in the duffel bags of occupation troops returning home... Who knows the real story — there are tales of families assembling cameras in their kitchens, and no doubt there is much truth to those stories".

When the Japanese habit of creating new multiple variant names for only slightly different products is combined with the growing opportunity in the late 'fifties to manufacture on a subcontract basis for American and European distributors, pinpointing who exactly made a particular model can be nigh-on impossible.

Therefore, where attribution to an identifiable maker is possible, its name is used to classify the camera here. Key sources for this are Sugiyama and McKeown (see Reference Sources page); the former is pretty reliable where it has something classified, but McKeown occasionally gets it wrong or hedges his bets. In some cases, where information is just unobtainable and the camera isn't clearly the same as a known attributable one, I can only list by the name on the nameplate itself.

One frequent common factor across the various brands (including those on my other "Japanese" pages) is the post-war Tri-Lausar lens set, a Tessar-type lens that the Tomioka Optical Company (Japan's first independent lensmaker) had perfected in the 1920's. They must have been churned out by the million - perhaps half the TLRs from the early 'fifties used them, and many, many other cameras besides. Tomioka Optical Laboratory was founded in Tokyo in 1924, and taken over by Yashica in the 1960s - Yashica itself being finally absorbed by Kyocera in 1983 (the lens division continues in business and acknowledges its Tomioka roots). If you know more of this, EMAIL ME and I'll publish it here and credit you!

If you find any errors on this page or have any camera I might be interested in, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. Click on the small "thumbnail pictures below to go to larger ones.

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Alfa Cosmoflex II

According to Sugiyama, there were two Cosmoflex models, differing only by the shutter types used. This one is the Model II, with an S Luna shutter, made by whom I know not. McKeown adds nothing, merely repeating Sugiyama's details. The company was Alfa Optical Co., but I have no other details, although Sugiyama also says they produced an "Alfaflex". There are four or five Japanese websites which may have more, but I'm afraid my Japanese is too limited!

Taking lens is S. Cosmo 75mm f3.5
Shutter is S Luna 1 to 1/200

Alfa Cosmoflex II
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Biko-Do Manufacturing - Superflex

Biko-Do Manufacturing Company is credited by Sugiyama with four cameras, but he hints at others. Lewis' The History of the Japanese Camera says that the company's first product was the "Bikoflex" of 1948, but I can find no other reference anywhere - even on Japanese camera sites - so it must have been little more than prototype production. The same book says that production moved in mid-1948 to a new factory in Kami-Negishi and increased to 50 units per day.

My camera is essentially the one shown by Sugiyama as the Superflex BII of 1952, but with a different shutter name (his is an NKS shutter, although of the same specification and appearance - what's in a name?

Taking lens is Super-S 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Super 1 to 1/200

Biko-do Superflex
BII variant
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Dai-ichi Zenobiaflex

There is limited history detail available for this camera. Dai-ichi seems to have developed in 1947 out of a company called Okada which made medium format folders. After 1956, it became Zenobia, carrying on the name but for 35mm rangefinders only. The original Zenobia was a 120 folder from 1949.

The Zenobiaflex dates from 1953 and seems to have been a solitary TLR for the company. Interestingly, Sugiyama has it shown as a "Zenobiaflex I", which sort of implies another version, but I have found nothing to indicate that this was the case.

Either way, this is quite a nicely made camera, with a solid feel and fast shutter.

Taking lens is Dai-ichi Neo-Hesper 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Dai-ichi Rapid 1 to 1/500

Dai-ichi Zenobiaflex
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Dai-ichi Zenobiaflex

There is limited history detail available for this camera. Dai-ichi seems to have developed in 1947 out of a company called Okada which made medium format folders. After 1956, it became Zenobia, carrying on the name but for 35mm rangefinders only. The original Zenobia was a 120 folder from 1949.

The Zenobiaflex dates from 1953 and seems to have been a solitary TLR for the company. Interestingly, Sugiyama has it shown as a "Zenobiaflex I", which sort of implies another version, but I have found nothing to indicate that this was the case.

Either way, this is quite a nicely made camera, with a solid feel and fast shutter.

Taking lens is Dai-ichi Neo-Hesper 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Dai-ichi Rapid 1 to 1/500

Dai-ichi Zenobiaflex
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Dorimaflex

Now, this is an oddball! Sugiyama lists three Dorimaflexes - an AI, an AII and a B, all credited to "Tokyo Optical Works". Note that last word. "Tokyo Optical Co." is the maker of the Primo, Topco and a number of other TLR ranges, none of which are remotely like the Dorimas. McKeown picks up the information in Sugiyama only, with nothing to add, but lists "T.O.W." separately from T.O.C." - quite correctly I think. Karl Kahlau in his 2006 book has typically muddled up the two, and chose to list the Dorimas under the "T.O.C." head along with all the others.

Still with me? More complications arise from Gordon Lewis' entries on the Dorimas in his History of the Japanese Camera, which is normally quite accurate. He attributes the Dorimas (including a fourth and earliest "A" model) to "Miwa Shokai", which he also says made the successful Mycro minature (16mm film) camera range in the late '40s. None of the other authorities even mention this company, but the Mycro is clearly attributed elsewhere to Sanwa - and the Mycros all say "Sanwa Co Ltd." on their shutter escutcheons...

Ultimately, your guess is as good as mine on this (unless you know what it's all about - in which case let me know. There is an interesting further complexity, discussed on my Tokyo Optical Co. page. That is that there are clear links elsewhere indicating an association between Sanwa and T.O.C. It's all too much for me....

My camera is the one shown by Sugiyama as a model "B". there another picture of what I suspect may be an "A" from a Japanese auction on the linked page (click the thumbnail). Taking lens is Dorima Special 80mm f3.5
Shutter is unnamed 1 to 1/100

Dorimaflex B
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Doris Camera Co. Dorisflex

Almost anything one can say about this camera seems to be dwarfed by its fabulously inappropriate name (blame my warped British sense of humour if this goes over your head). It also seems to be a fairly original manufacture, with a shutter and lens I can't align with any other TLR.

There are five other Japanese "Doris" cameras - two "Baby Doris" 127 folders from 1939-41, attributed by Sugiyama to Prince Camera Works; and three 120 folders from 1952-4, attributed to Tokyo Seiki. One of the latter shares its lens name - Delta - with the Dorisflex. There might well therefore be an association between Tokyo Seiki and the mysterious Doris Camera Co.

The Dorisflex is rather crude, and unusual in being made from heavy steel pressings rather than diecast. That said, it seems to be generally functional, but presumably struggled in a very crowded market when launched in 1954. Making it was probably also rather expensive for what it is, and its weight would have been a turn-off.

Taking lens is Delta C 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Helio 1 to 1/200

Doris Dorisflex
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Elbow Elbowflex

Sugiyama shows this model as one of the rarer Japanese TLRs. Mine differs from the one he shows by having a 1/300 Rectus shutter rather than a 1/200 TSK, but looks otherwise identical. McKeown mentions both versions, but has no picture, mentioning that there are known minor variations in latch and shutter release details.

Elbow Camera Firm is printed below the nameplate; the company seems to have made only this model, but it's nicely put together from quality parts. If there is any more information out there about the company, I haven't found it yet. There is, however, an odd logo on the lid - a stylised conjoined "CK" (or perhaps "KC"). I have a vague recollection of seeing this somewhere else - can anyone let me know what it stands for?

Taking lens is Correct 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Rectus 1 to 1/300

Elbow Elbowflex
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Elmo Co. Elmoflexes

Almost a rhyming couplet with the preceding camera... According to McKeown, Elmo was founded by a Mr Sakaki in 1921, as Sakaki Shokai, chiefly focusing on movie equipment. between 1938 and 1955, they produced several different Elmoflex TLRs. The later models (Elmoflex III and IV) were well-specified, boasting Olympus Zuiko lenses and Seikosha Rapid shutters.

Elmo Elmoflex (II?)

This camera is an earlier model which doesn't exactly fit any of the variants in McKeown or Sugiyama. It seems to fall somewhere between the listed Elmoflex I of 1943 and the IIIB of 1949, with the lens used in the Elmoflex Junior of 1947. It has the nameplate used on the IIIB, but the shutter of the I. Perhaps it is the model II, which is missing from both reference works?
Taking lens is Lausar 75mm f3.5
Shutter is NKS 1 to 1/200

Elmoflex IIIF

This is one of the later models; only the IV is shown as later in Sugiyama. It's a nicely-specified camera with a very good lens and shutter set.

Taking lens is Olympus Zuiko 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Seikosha Rapid 1 to 1/500
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Fuji (Fujiko) Lyraflex J

This is another of those cameras with some mystery attached to it. Fuji Kogaku (Fuji Optical Co) is credited by Sugiyama with producing this Lyraflex J model and a similar variant called the Lyraflex F, both in 1941 (the later differs by nameplate, lens surround and a slightly faster shutter only, so far as I can see). It's a nicely-made camera with a quality feel to it, and one would suspect it's one of the better ones the Japanese manufacturers produced after the supply of Rolleis and Ikoflexes from Germany dried up.

This is NOT the well-known Fuji Photo Film company (for this, go to my information page on the Fujicaflex), which now makes digital cameras, but an outfit called Fuji Kogaku Seiki. There is still at least one (very small) company called this still operating today, making precision instruments, but it is said only to have started in 1979 making precision machinery - I wonder if it has some roots in the 1940s business? There also seems to have been a binocular maker of this name into the 1960s, so they may all be connected.

Now an interesting angle. Sugiyama shows two further Lyraflexes, but these are credited to a different company called Katsuma Optical Works in 1953. They are geared-lens models dated 1953 and seemingly a bit cruder and more basic than this earlier one. However, they also have the Terionar lens, so there must be a direct historical linkage - perhaps Fuji Kogaku sold the camera business in order to concentrate on binoculars? If anyone knows more, please let me know!

Taking lens is Terionar 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Fujiko 1 to 1/200

Fuji Lyraflex
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Fujita "Fujitaflex"

The first Fujita I bought was the C below, and I spent quite a while trying to puzzle out who made it - even the web mentions are very thin. The very knowledgeable Canadian who sold it to me said in his ad: "This camera is not in McKeown's. I suspect it's a Tougodo product - its lenses are marked "Fujitar" and Tougodo put Fujitar lenses on the TLRs it made for Sears Roebuck". This seemed to make sense, although I was also intrigued as to whether there was a link to Fujita Optical Co, who built the rather odd Fujita 66 SLR series in the late 'fifties (Sugiyama, page 110).

Then in late 2004, I was offered a camera I had never heard of, a Fujita-AB, in mint boxed condition in the US. I bought this and started to obtain some answers. The box for the AB states the maker as Fujita Kogaku Kogyo Ltd., which means Fujita Optical Co. The company was at that time located in Urawa City the regional capital of Saitama Prefecture on the Ara River near Tokyo. The name suggests that they made lenses before becoming a camera manufacturer, and one suspects that they had a strong inter-relationship with Tougodo, explaining the use of each other's parts. Perhaps Tougodo even did some or all of the manufacture?

The box also says the camera is a "Fujitaflex" although the ~flex part does not appear on it (or the C) anywhere. A web search for Fujitaflex turns up absolutely nothing in any country, so it clearly wasn't a name which was used for these rare cameras.

The AB is clearly the earlier model, and the C shows some significant improvements. Think of a later Tougodo Toyocaflex without the selenium meter, and this is what you'd have. It's typical of the world's perversity that the only other AB I've ever heard of turned up on eBay UK a week after I bought mine!

Fujita-AB

The name is a bit odd, almost implying an earlier "A" model? However, there is no mention of it in the literature. A basic but well-made camera with a nice feel to it - like Tougodo's.
Taking lens is Fujitar 75mm f3.5
Shutter unnamed (Copal?) 1 to 1/300

Fujita-C

This is a much-improved model, with bayonet-1 filter mounts, automatic frame advance on knob, but clearly based upon the same robust aluminium castings and solid knobs/fitments.
Taking lens is Fujitar 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Copal MX 1 to 1/300
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Hachiyo Alpenflex

Sugiyama lists six different Alpenflex model photos, including the "Alpen-MO", which is what I have as the Alpem M - see below. McKeown seven plus the Alpen-M and a "Supre-Macy" brand for Macy's of New York, but he has no photos of any of them. Hachiyo Optical Co. seems not to have made any other camera types.

Hachiyo Alpenflex IO

This is the second of two similar variants shown in Sugiyama, dating c1952. It came in very nice condition from the collection of the late Col Bill Arps, a well-known collector in the eastern US.
. Taking lens is Hachiyo ALPO 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Orient II 1 to 1/200

Hachiyo Alpenflex I (?)

I think this is a plainer-finish variant of the rather fussy-looking Alpenflex I models in Sugiyama, based on the shutter type, which seems unique to the Model I. This indicates at least eight separate models.
Taking lens is Hachiyo ALPO 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Orient II 1 to 1/200

Hachiyo Alpenflex Z

This model is listed in Sugiyama, but not McKeown, although the latter lists an unpictured model with a Copal B shutter, which might be this one. Unusual kinks in nameplate make it readily identifiable.
Taking lens is Hachiyo ALPO 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Copal 1 to 1/300

Hachiyo Alpen-M

This is the rare Alpen-M - th only one I've ever seen. It is essentially the same design as the contemporary Alpenflex IIS. For reasons I don't understand, Sugiyama calls this the Alpen-MO.
Taking lens is Hachiyo ALPO 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Orient III 1 to 1/200
One model I don't have is an Alpenflex IIS, with the Orient III shutter. This is fairly uncommon, but a picture of a fairly grotty one is HERE
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Halma and Prinz Cameras

McKeown lists five 120 TLRs and two 127s as Halma, but has no mention of either of the Prinz models. Sugiyama only mentions one 127 Halma TLR at all. My very expert fellow TLR collector, Terry Hardy, has provided a 1960 advert which says the Halmas were made by Tohko Co. Ltd. of Osaka (see page link below). I searched the web at length to see if such a company still existed, but without result, so I thought must have been taken over or closed at some time thereafter.

Then I received the following note from Koji Namikawa of Hiroshima, who has kindly provided further information (I have slightly edited his words for clarity):

I will inform that the name of the manufacturer was understood from having known the relation between Halma and Prinz. Manufacturer is Hara Factory Ltd. Address is 461 Shimootiai Yono, Saitama, Japan. President is Giiti Hara. This company is a company that made Lustre Flex. Tohko is like a distributor. The company name when Lustre Flex is made is Luster Optics. When Halma and Prinz were made, it seems to have changed the name to the Hara Factory. The address and the president of the Lustre Optics and Hara factory Ltd are the same. This thing has been understood from material that describes the camera manufacturer (as part of the) inspection for export. As for Lustre from 1956-58, Halma and Prinz from 1961-64 has received the inspection according to this material.

There was no doubt in my mind that these are all by the same maker (but Mr Namikawa has very helpfully confirmed this). All the basic parts are identical - knobs, viewfinder, cases, chrome/stainless bits, and all have the shoe in the same very unusual (and rather silly) place on the right side. The Halma and Prinz Flex have the same Halmar taking lens. The Halma and Prinz Auto are practically identical, although the Prinz Flex seems a little earlier.

What I had previously no knowledge of - and which does not appear in any of the reference texts - is that Halma developed out of Lustre Optics. Looking now at the Lustre models (see lower down this page), one can see that there are certain similarities - particularly in the style of the latch for the back. At some point, I shall aim to combine all the Halma and Lustre models under one entry. Any further information will be gratefully received! The Prinz models were definitely made for sale by Dixons Photographic in the UK. There is nothing on the cameras to indicate this, but I have been able to confirm from a seller on eBay that he had a Prinz Auto with the original packaging, on which was stated unequivocally "manufactured exclusively for Dixons". It is known that from early in his career, Stanley Kalms of Dixons used to travel to Japan to have models made for Dixons' range - for which I believe the Prinz name was always used. I contacted Dixons' corporate affairs people for more details, but unfortunately found them unhelpful and dismissive - "not corporate policy" to help!. Clearly too occupied with conning the public...

Below the 120 TLRs' there is a note on an unusual 127 TLR I have obtained, called the PRINZ 44. I now know that this is another Halma-sourced model, but read the details for yourself!

There's a little more information on Halma on a linked page, including a picture of the Halma Auto (I don't have one, so if you want to sell one or know where it can be found PLEASE LET ME KNOW) and a Halma advert from the fifties (courtesy of Terry Hardy, who is always generous with his fountain of knowledge on Japanese TLRs). To see the page, click here.

Halma Flex IIB

Quite solid, and apparently fairly well made. The spec matches the description of a IIB in McKeown. This particular one is in nice, clean condition.
Taking lens is Halmar 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Copal MXV 1 to 1/500

Prinz Flex (Dixons)

This feels several years older than the Halma, and has red window film counting. I'd guess it's very similar to the Halma Flex I listed in McKeown.
Taking lens is Halmar 80mm f3.5
Shutter unnamed 1 to 1/300

Prinz Auto (Dixons)

This is the one which seems very like the Halma Flex IIB (left). Lenses and one or two other differences, but overall it's hard to tell them apart.
Taking lens is Tri-Lausar 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Copal MXV 1 to 1/500

Prinz 44 (made by Halma)

At right is a thumbnail pic which links to the page for an unusual little camera - my Prinz 44 4x4 TLR for 127 film. As I've said elsewhere in this site, I don't usually buy 127 models, because space is already an issue for the large numbers of 6x6s I collect. However, this one intrigued me, for reasons explained in detail on the linked page.
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Isokawa Isocaflex Model I

Obscure in the extreme, Isokawa is credited with just this single model, so far as the standard texts are concerned. The same model appears on a few Japanese collectors' websites, but that's about it. One of those sites seems to say that there was a Model II with self-timer, but no one has any picture of it if so. The example in Sugiyama is stated to have an "Isunar" lens; mine is an "Isukor" as are the other web ones, but the difference may be a mistake. I suspect they may be rebadged Tri-Lausars anyway.

Taking lens is Isukor 75mm f3.5
Shutter unnamed 1 to 1/200*
* One Japanese website states the shutter is an "IKK"

Isokawa Isocaflex
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Kanto Amiflex II

Another rather mysterious manufacturer, although a website I found lists Kanto Optical Industrial Co. in Tokyo as a binocular maker in 1959, which is probably around 5-6 years after the Amiflexes were made. I think this is a Model II variant, although it differs from the specs for the model in Sugiyama and McKeown, with a faster shutter and slightly different lens name. It's a geared-lens, fairly simple beast, but works quite well. There's some commentary on Robert Monaghan's Medium-Format site, which is quite complimentary about the lens quality.

Taking lens is AMITAR 80mm f3.5
Shutter labelled "AMI" 1 to 1/300

Kanto Amiflex
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Kigawa Graceflex

Kigawa was called Optochrome up to around 1940 (McKeown), and was responsible for the better-known Tubasa cameras, in various formats (including a Tubasaflex and a Rectaflex 120 TLRs, both fairly similar to this Graceflex - the frontal treatment is the only noticeable variation, from the pictures in Sugiyama). A simple but functional design made from assembled metal pressings rather than castings.

Taking lens is Bessel 80mm f3.5
Shutter unnamed "K.K.K. 1/10 to 1/200

Kigawa Graceflex
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Konishiroku Photo Industry (Konica)

Konica traces its history to 1873 and the opening of a photographic import and sales business called Konishi-ya in Tokyo. It became Konishi Honten in 1876, and a recognised major supplier of photographic material and imported cameras during the last part of the nineteenth century. In the early 1900s, Konishi set up a manufacturing subsidiary, Rokuosha, to produce cameras, including the 1903 "Cherry", the first Japanese camera to have a brand name. In 1907 it marketed the first Japanese SLR, the Sakura Reflex Prano with a Tessar f/6.3 lens. These early models were all direct copies of Western cameras.

Konishi Honten became Konishiroku Honten in 1921, and K.K. Konishiroku in 1936. At this point, cameras were still made by Rokuosha as a separate group business. In 1931, Konishiroku Honten moved into quality lens production, making a f/4.5, 4-element H-type lens with Jena glass, named "Hexar" and based on the Carl Zeiss Tessar lens. The "Hexar" label continued on Konishiroku's top-quality lenses to 1959, when they were renamed "Hexanon".

Konishiroku moved into aerial cameras and X-ray equipment around 1937, changing name again in 1943 to Konishiroku Photo Industry Co. 1948 saw the launch of the first Konica brand 35-mm camera and 1960 the introduction of the Konica F, the world's first single-lens reflex camera with a built-in exposure meter. In 2003, Konica merged with Minolta, and Konica Minolta, finally ceased production of cameras in 2006.

The first Koniflex (later known as the Koniflex I) arrived in 1952, when the company was producing a series of folding medium-format "Pearl" cameras alongside its 35mm "Konica" series, and variants of it seem to have sold until around 1955/6. The TLR route was never a major one for Konishiroku, and even this more common Koniflex is rare now. This early model morphed into a later one with interchangeable front lenses - the standard 85mm fitted to mine (below) and a Tele-Koniflex front lens of 135mm.

From the literature and details on specialist Japanese sites (one of the useful ones is translated HERE), I have found it very difficult to pin down the boundary between the Koniflex I and II models. Further commentary on this is on the linked Koniflex page (click thumbnail pic below). In 1957, the extraordinary Koniflex IIB model was launched with interchangeable lens sets of 85mm and 135mm and autostop winding. I do not have one of these, so if you have one to sell LET ME KNOW.

The final twin-lens product in this family is the monster Koni-Omegaflex, which had its origins in Konica's taking over the Omega 6x7 format professional press camera series from Simmon Bros of the US, developing it into the Koni-Omega Rapid and finally adding a second focusing lens. For a page on these predecessors, look HERE.

The base design of the Koni-Omegaflex is NOT a reflex, as it uses the focusing lens directly at eye level onto a ground glass screen. However, the standard reflex attachment available modifies it to this.

Koniflex (Probably Model II)

This is my Koniflex, which I believe to be a model II - see my deductions on this on the linked page by clicking the thumbnail pic. It has the removable standard taking lens elements, which unscrew on a fine thread. The viewing lens has a very long thread, and I wonder whether this is designed to double for both normal and telephoto use? I'd very much like a Tele-Hexanon 135mm front set for this, so if any one has one available, LET ME KNOW.
Taking lens is Konishiroku Hexanon 85mm f3.5
Shutter is Seikosha Rapid 1 to 1/400

Koniflex

Koni-Omegaflex

Monster 6x7 offspring of Omega (US) and Konica (Japan). Not a true TLR, but the optional reflex finder fits to rear and makes it behave like one. This is also shown in my "Japanese" pages, since it was actually manufactured by Konishiroku in Japan.

Taking lens Konica Hexanon 90mm f3.5
Shutter Seiko B 1 to 1/500

Koni-Omegaflex
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Kowa Kalloflex Automat KII

The Kalloflex was the first camera made by Kowa, who went on to be better known for a series of quirky Kowa Six and 66 SLRs sort-of competing with Hasslelblad et al, one of which is also pictured right. The Kallo name was used until 1960, when Kowa became the norm, with a sizeable range of 35mm rangefinders ('50s/'60s) and SLRs ('60s/'70s). Later cameras were regarded as rather cheap and unreliable. Perhaps Kowa reacted to the slow sales of the Kalloflex because of its high cost for the quality offered?

The Kalloflex was a revelation for a first-time Japanese camera and is widely regarded as one of the top five Japanese TLRs. It's beautifully made with a combined winder lever and focus knob on the right for ease of handling. It has aperture/speed view windows above the viewing lens like Rolleiflexes, big aluminium slab sides, and feels like it's hewn from solid billet. One of the nicest TLRs around. This one is the last (of three) models and the second Automat in the brief production run of two years.

Taking lens is Prominar 75mm f3.5
Shutter Seikosha-MX 1 to 1/500

Kowa Kalloflex KII

Kowa Six
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Lauterflex

For a brief moment, I have been the proud possessor of my very own "Googlewhack" - a search on Google which produces only one result worldwide. At the time of my writing this, there is no reference anywhere on the Web to the Lauterflex, making it probably the rarest camera I possess! It's just a great pity that it's such a scruffy one at the moment. I shall have to undertake a comprehensive refurbishment soon.

Since I have found no reference to the Lauterflex in any reference source, I have looked for similarities to other models. It has a superficial similarity to both the Crystarflex and to early Beautyflex models. However, the lens is different from those of either, being the widely used Tri-Lausar. At this stage (until someone tells me otherwise) I'm working on the belief that the Lauterflex was probably built in tiny quantities by a very small independent manufacturer copying others' designs and buying parts off-the-shelf.

ANY BETTER INFORMATION GRATEFULLY RECEIVED!

Taking lens is Tri-Lausar Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter is NKS-SC 1 to 1/200

Lauterflex
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Lustre Optical LustreFlex

Sugiyama shows two LustreFlex models - a "C" and this, which is called the "Export Model". McKeown seems to have lifted this information direct, but shows no pictures. Mine is slightly different from the Export version shown in Sugiyama, having the logo on the top which he shows only on the "C".

For a better understanding of the Lustre company, read my entry for Halma/Prinz above. The Halma cameras appear to have been successors to Lustre, all made by a company known as Hara.

The logo itself seems to say "Lustrix" or something similar - the lettering is a shade obscure. It's quite a neatly-made model, functioning reasonably smoothly for its age.

Taking lens is Tri-Lausar Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter is Synchro-Super 1 to 1/300

LustreFlex
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Lustre Echoflex (Model 2?)

This is an interesting one. Sugiyama shows only an earlier model (no bayonet mounts, a slower shutter and a very different nameplate); it is listed as "maker unknown", with four-star rarity. McKeown has two models: the first the same as the Sugiyama one; the second the same as mine shown here - both listed without maker attribution.

This one turned up in someone's cupboard in a camera bag also containing a Yashica-44 and various filters and supplementary (telephoto) lenses. Fortunately, the seller listed all this in an obscure corner of eBay, and I was able to buy the lot quite cheaply!

It's a conventional design, which McKeown dates - correctly I think - as c1955. What put me on a trail was the letters "LKK" on the flash shoe. Looking through the catalogues, the most likely candidate for these initials is "Lustre Optical Works" (maker of the Lustreflex above) My Japanese is very limited indeed, but the word "koki" means something like "optics" and routinely appears in lensmakers' and camera manufacturers' names. Various other words such as "kogaku" (="ancient learning") or "koken" are often strung alongside it. I therefore think "Luster Koki K~" is a distinct possibility.

Comparing the Echoflex to my Lustreflex and to another shown in Sugiyama clinched this for me. The bodies are identical, as are most of the fitments (to one or other Lustreflex model) - catch, knobs, strap mount, counter, etc.

The only residual mystery is, why was it made - did Lustre make it for an overseas distributor?
Taking lens is Echor Anastigmat 75mm f3.5
Shutter is Synchro-Super 1 to 1/300

Echoflex
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Nippon Koken/Nihon Optical

An interesting company, with a complicated history. There are three cameras associated with it, two "Nikkenflexes" and a "Nikkoflex". The comprehensive story is told by the German website http://www.lausch.com/ersterteil.htm, which tells how Nippon Kogaku (the famous Nikon) developed a prototype Rolleiflex copy called the Nikoflex in 1946, but had troubles obtaining reliable shutters, eventually abandoning it in 1948, partly because its 35mm camera was beginning to sell seriously. In 1950, Nihon Optical Research (which I think is probably synonymous with Nippon Koken) launched its Nikkoflex (note the additional "k"). Nikon seems to have objected to use of a similar name, despite its withdrawal from TLRs, and Nihon Optical eventually agreed to change the name to Nikkenflex - but not until perhaps 1,000 cameras had already been built. The first Nikkenflex, therefore, was simply a badge change from the Nikkoflex shown below.

McKeown lists this first model (with a space in the middle incorrectly, as the nameplate shows) as "Nikko Flex" (1950). He also has two Nikkenflexes (none of these three are pictured in McKeown), one with a similar description to the Nikkoflex (and also dated to 1950) and one very different with Rolleicord-style knob-focus (1953). Sugiyama pictures the Nikkoflex and later Nikkenflex only. So to clarify, the three basic models are:

o The original geared-lens Nikkoflex

o The same model with the nameplate changed to "Nikkenflex"

o A later Rolleicord-clone Nikkenflex

In my collection (below), I have three cameras - the original Nikko and two of the later Nikkens.

I have been unable to unearth any more detail on the company, although one website says that a Nippon Koken Systems Co. was in recent existence in Tokyo, whether or not related. I am certainly interested if anyone has more information, or indeed a Nikkenflex to sell! Incidentally, a week after I bought this another one turned up on eBay, but the front lens panel is black-painted, so there seem to be some variants.

Nihon Optical Nikkoflex

One of the original (c 1,000) Nikkoflexes made before the enforced name change. Sugiyama gives this a four-star rating for rarity, so I was lucky to track it down., It is solidly made, although not to a very high specification.

Taking lens is Koken Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter Lotus 1 to 1/200

Nippon Koken Nikkenflex

Sugiyama rates these as more common than the Nikkoflex version, although they don't turn up very often. This one is the "standard" model reported in McKeown/Sugiyama, well-made and in nice condition. As noted above, it's Rolliecord-based.
Taking lens is Nikken Lichter 75mm f3.5
Shutter TSK 1 to 1/200

Nippon Koken Nikkenflex Variant

This one is a bit of an oddity, differing from all the standard texts' descriptions in the lens name and shutter. It may of course just be a little "badge engineering" on both, since the specifications are pretty similar
Taking lens is Nikken Anastigmat 75mm f3.5
Shutter Nikken 1 to 1/200
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Nitto Photo Supply Elegaflexes

Nitto seems to have had at least two guises.  Sugiyama and McKeown both document three Elegaflexes, the one not shown here being the ISIS. The best information I have was gleaned from a useful Japanese website. This is chiefly concerned with the 35mm Leica copies made by the firm, but the quote which follows tells the general story:

"Both the Look and the Elega 35 were made by Nitto Seiko co. in Ayabe, a small city north of Kyoto. The Look was designed by Mr. Chatani, the inventor of a lateral movement metal focal plane shutter which later became the Copal Square shutter. The Look camera was sold through Mr. Chatani's Look Camera Corp. but it did not sell well and the manufacturing was difficult for Nitto Seiko and the camera didn't benefit them.  One year after, Nitto Seiko made the Elega 35, removing the rangefinder from the Look. This time Mr. Chatani was not involved. The Elega was sold through Doi Trading in Osaka. They also sold Elegaflex TLRs. It seems that they renamed themselves Nitto Photo Equipment Corp. and moved to Tokyo".

However, to complicate the matter, Lewis' The History of the Japanese Camera identifies "Toyo" as the manufacturer of the later Elegaflex, as well as a contemporary Larkflex.  Neither Sugiyama nor McKeown mention a Larkflex anywhere, but have a Toyo Seiki and a Toyo Kogaku separately listed, the former as maker of the Rolex TLR of 1952, which looks nothing like any Elegaflex.  I am inclined to believe that the Lewis attribution is more likely the one in error.

Elegaflex IB

This is the earliest model shown in Sugiyama, dating from 1950.  Relatively basic, but with a high-speed shutter - interestingly, sourced from Luster (q.v.).  This one came in good working order from Japan, with a few cosmetic paintwork scrapes.

Taking lens is Eleger Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter Lustre-Rapid 1 to 1/500

Elegaflex II

This particular model II camera is in generally good condition, but a little scruffy round the edges. Unfortunately, its shutter, whilst working, appears not to differentiate speeds at all, approximating one second on all settings.

Taking lens is Eleger Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter Chihaya 1 to 1/200
 
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OMS/Osiro Optical Co

This obscure company appears to have produced only two cameras - both TLRs and both in my collection here. Interestingly, neither the company nor its products appear in the two Kodak Museum-published histories of the Japanese camera, but they do feature briefly in McKeown, who dates the Marioflex to 1953 and the Osiroflex two years later. It looks like McKeown merely copied this information verbatim from Sugiyama, who shows a Marioflex version with a "Mario B" shutter, made by OMS Optical, and an Osiroflex credited to a name-changed "Osiro Optical Co".

For practical purposes, they pretty much qualify as the same camera.

Both cameras in Sugiyama have Rozeck lenses. Here's a complication. My Marioflex, with diamond-shaped OMS logo on the lid, has a lens labelled Osiro Kogaku Rozeck. The shutter is NKS-SC. So this is presumably a transitional model between the two in Sugiyama, but one is left to wonder what was the corporate history. A web search found nothing about this company, although an Oshiro Optical did operate in the fifties, making one or more 35mm cameras.

Any information gratefully received!

Taking lens is Osiro Optical 80mm f3.5
Shutter NKS-SC 1 to 1/200

OMS Marioflex

The first of the two models - rated a "three-star" rarity in Sugiyama

Taking lens is Osiro Optical 80mm f3.5
Shutter NKS-SC 1 to 1/200

Osiro Osiroflex

The later model - made after the company had changed its name - also "three-star"

Taking lens is Rozeck 80mm f3.5
Shutter NKS 1 to 1/200
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Otowa Optical Co Middl Flex

Otawa seems to have led a brief and low-impact life in 1952-3, credited with just two models in the literature - a 120 folder and the Middl Flex. The latter apparently appeared in some variant guises - whilst the specification doesn't vary, the one in Sugiyama has a cosmetically different lens surround from mine, sporting a truncated-squared-off ovoid shape around the viewing lens.

Any further information gratefully received.

Taking lens is VERY Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter Middl 1 to 1/200

Middl Flex
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Prince Camera Co. Prince Junior

This seems to be the only product of the Prince Camera Co., dated by Sugiyama to 1955 (the McKeown's entry seems to just replicate Sugiyama). Sugiyama does however, show a 1939 "Prince Baby Ref" fixed focus pseudo-TLR attributed to Prince Camera Works. There may be an association here, although neither company name variant shows up anywhere on the Web; it seems surprising that a camera company could stay in business over 16 years between producing only two models.

The Prince name was used by Fujimoto Manufacturing Co. for several prewar models, including a "Prince Flex" TLR in 1937, which is a rarity apparently modelled roughly on the Ikoflex "Coffee Can" of a couple of years earlier (see my Ikoflex page in the German section).

This Prince Junior is in nice condition and seems well-built for a small-volume product. Serial number 9016.
Taking lens is J-Luminar 80mm f3.5
Shutter Ceres 1 to 1/300

Prince Junior
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Seibi-do Rollekonter

Sugiyama identifies the Rollekonter as one of a number of TLRs made in Japan after German exports ceased in 1939, and deliberately mimicking German models. In this case, the name is a typically Japanese meld of "Rollei" and "Ikonta". This camera appears to be a transitional model sitting between the early Rollekonter II (1940) shown in Sugiyama and the A-II model (1941). It has the body, nameplate, logo and style of the former, together with the better shutter and lens of the latter - perhaps it is an "A-I"?.

The shutter is engraved as a Compur-Rapid, and it looks generally authentic; a questionmark is raised in one's mind by the name Kodak also engraved on the other side of the taking lens escutcheon, for no apparent reason. Having said all that, this is a remarkably well-made camera , solid and extremely functional. Although clearly well-used, the paint, leatherette, plating and lenses have survived in remarkably good condition, and the shutter is crisp in action.

The manufacturer is stated in Sugiyama as Seibi-do Co. (Mori Manufacturing). No better information can be found on the Web, where references are very sparse. These cameras seem to be as rare as hen's teeth and I count myself lucky to have found one.

Taking lens is Uhitonar Anastigmat 75mm f3.5
Shutter stated as Compur Rapid 1 to 1/500

Rollekonter II /
A-II hybrid











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Soligor (AIC)

The information here I have gleaned from a useful history at www.mirandacamera.com. and from the current German company site at www.soligor.com.

Allied Impex Corporation (AIC) imported both Miranda and Soligor cameras to the USA, owning both companies. AIC (originally Allied Import-Export Company) owned Soligor and Miranda from 1963 to its demise in 1978. Most models in the USA market carry the "AIC" tag or sticker, but this is not necessarily the case in European or other markets.

The present brand carrier, SOLIGOR GmbH Photo Optic Video Electronic was founded in Stuttgart early in 1968 under its former name AIC Phototechnik GmbH, changing its name to the present one in 1993. It somehow survived the collapse of AIC in the US, and continues in business today.

Soligor was best known as a lens supplier under AIC, being a primary supplier of lenses (although not the only one) to the Miranda Camera Co.

Soligor Reflex

I haven't been able to identify precisely who made this for AIC. It has superficial similarities to the Amiflex (Kantor) and to Crystar's gear-coupled models. However, it doesn't obviously share identical parts with either and the configurations are different. As AIC had the lenses named Soligor too, there are no firm clues. It's basic and not terribly well made.

Taking lens is Soligor Anastigmat 80mm f3.5
Shutter Rektor 1/5 to 1/300

Soligor Semi-Auto

According to McKeown, there is a Reflex II model which I don't have, and this is the third and last of three types sold. This one is a rebadged product of Tokyo Optical Co. - see my separate page - With rack focusing. It probably dates from around 1955/6 and has no apparent relationship to the Reflex model, with which it shares no obvious common parts. It has auto film stop and an exposure counter, although retaining knob wind - hence "Semi-Auto".
Taking lens is Tokyo Optical Toko 75mm f3.5
Shutter Rectus 1 to 1/300
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Yamato Koki Rippaflex

This has a lot of the looks of an early Tougodo model, but McKeown identifies it with Yamato, who produced a wide range of copies of Western cameras in the 'fifties and early 'sixties. Certainly there are some detail differences from the Tougodo contemporaries, but a lot of seemingly common parts too.

Unusually, this camera only appears in McKeown and not Sugiyama or other Japanese reference works.

Taking lens is Tri-Lausar 80mm f3.5
Shutter unnamed 1 to 1/300

Yamato Koki Rippaflex
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