Any Topcon Uni fans in the house?

[Mike Michaelski]

Maybe not a fan, but I have a few!

I happen to have a bunch of the Topcon leaf shutter cameras/lenses. Starting with the Wink Mirror E, then the Wink Mirror S, the Uni/Auto 100, then the Unirex, and lastly the IC-1, which was the only focal plane (horizontal, cloth) shutter in the bunch. The "E" was not an interchangable lens model, but all the rest were. Lenses were limited to the 28mm f/4, 35mm f/3.5, 50mm f/2, 53mm f/2, 100mm f/4, two varities of the 135mm f/4, a 200mm f/4, and for the IC-1 an 87-205mm f/4.7 zoom. Vivitar did make a 2X teleconverter, but that's about all I've seen in this mount. They are loud in operation because of the sequence of operation: Shutter closes, aperture stops down, mirror swings up, bottom baffle swings down (Mirror and bottom baffle made a light tight area in front of the film), and when they are out of the way, then the shutter opens and closes. Then the mirror has to swing back down and the bottom baffle has to rise, making the light tight seal again before the aperture can open and the shutter is opened as well. Lots to go wrong in that lengthy sequence of events, and in the older cameras, it does quite often. I have a smattering of spare parts, and a large bunch of parts cameras, along with the factory repair manuals.
Mike

 

[Roger Hicks]

Basically no one made lenses in M-mount to be used on Leica M cameras. Not enough of 'em. There are now alternative M-mount bodies and alternative lenses for them, but this is a new development made possible, I believe and could be mistaken, by the expiration of Leica patents.

The latter is my understanding also. Another point is that because Leica screw (39mm x 26 tpi) can quickly and easily be adapted to Leica M via screw-on adapters, there were quite a few M-adaptable lenses well into the M-era, such as the Kobalux/Pasinon 21/2.8 and 38/3.5 from the 90s. Obviously a screw lens is a LOT cheaper to make and allows the lens to be used on far more cameras.

 

[Paul Howell]

Has anyone ever seen an aftermarket lens for the leaf shutter Kodak Retina SLR?

 

[Paul Howell]

Paul, Exakta made few, if any, lenses. The focal plane shutter Topcon SLRs are in Exakta mount. There are zillions of old lenses, mainly German but some "third party" Japanese, that will fit them. Given how good Topcors are, if I had a Topcon reflex I'd stick with them unless I had a special need that no Topcor could meet.[/QUOTE]

I think the Topcon B used the old Exakta mount with an external linkage, the D and Super D used the RE mount. I guess you can used the older lens on a D or Super D, but only in preset mode.

 

[Mark Layne]

Dear Dan,

Focal plane. Until you mentioned them, I'd forgotten the others -- which is presumably what a UNI is? Personally I'd hesitate to go near ANY leaf-shutter 35mm SLR.

Cheers,

Roger

Not even a Contaflex Roger. Ernst Wandersleb would be disheartened
Mark

 

[Roger Hicks]

Not even a Contaflex Roger. Ernst Wandersleb would be disheartened
Mark

Dear Mark,

As you say, not even a Contaflex.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Dan Fromm]

Not even a Contaflex Roger. Ernst Wandersleb would be disheartened
Mark

Why? I thought Wandersleb was a lens designer, not a mechanical engineer.