If you’re into Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) cameras you’ll love this site. It has a very simple name: TLR Cameras Website and it’s not all that attractively presented. It has a very ‘old style’ look to it, but it’s packed with information about TLRs of all kinds. The section on his collection (one of eight sections in all) contains sub-sections on:

  • American TLRs (mostly – some are rebadged Japanese)
  • British TLRs (not very extensive, just MPP from Kingston)
  • Chinese and Hong Kong TLRs
  • Czechoslovak TLRs – some of the nicest made
  • French TLRs (surprisingly many)
  • German – this button takes you to a sub-index
  • Japanese TLRs – this button takes you to another sub-index
  • Polish TLRs – all from WZFO’s factory
  • Russian TLRs – not just Lyubitels!
  • Other sections include:

  • Links to other sites with strong TLR content
  • A very abbreviated history of the TLR
  • Other bits and pieces of TLR history
  • Items for sale – surplus collectables
  • Key reference sources used for this site
  • Cameras I’d like to buy!
  • It’s a veritable treasure trove of information on TLRs. I never knew that there were so many different models of TLRs, from so many different manufacturers.

    The copyright notice on the site extends only as far as 2013, which makes me wonder if the site is still being maintained. A contact link provides a mechanism for getting in touch with the site creator.

    The camera above is my own Rolleiflex. I’m by no means an expert on the various Rolleiflex models, but according to the lists of serial numbers on the internet it’s a 1954 MX-EVS type 1 with 75mm f3.5 Schneider Xenar lens. This makes it about the same age as myself and it’s in similar condition: cosmetically not great and a bit worn around the edges, but still ticking. I bought it on a whim sometime in the 1980s. I think I used it twice and wasn’t too happy with the results (I’m sure it was because of my lack of familiarity with the camera and my photographic skills, which were much more rudimentary in those days). I tried it out again today. Everything seemed to work. The aperture opened as expected and the shutter fired with no problem. To my untrained ear the shutter speeds seemed to be working OK (e.g. 1/8th second sounded much longer than 1/60th). I’ve read that after not being used for such a long time it’s likely that the shutter speeds are off. I guess I’ll have to try it and find out and then possibly arrange for a thorough CLA. Focus was fine even if the viewfinder is a bit dim.

    I really like TLRs and I have a sneaky feeling that I might be on the verge of a GAS attack.

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