Camera identification, pls

Minox · Mar 12, 2023

I am interested to see if anyone here knows anything about this type of camera. Looks like some sort of TLR, but I cannot understand why (apparently) there is no waist viewer or prism. The folding view frame could be an alternate way of viewing, but even so...

Only two shutter speeds, Z and M (Zeit and Moment?). Film format is probably 127 or thereabouts.

I do not have or own this camera, so cannot offer any more details on it, sorry. If I may, it does resemble (somehow) to the Agfa Flexilette/Reflex camera), but obviously it does not have anything to do with it.

Thank you for your assistance!

Don_ih · Mar 12, 2023

The knurled knob makes it look like it's the size of a Hit camera.

koraks · Mar 12, 2023

Minox said:
I cannot understand why (apparently) there is no waist viewer or prism.

Probably because it's tiny!

Minox · Mar 12, 2023

Could be.

Tel · Mar 12, 2023

I think the fact that it uses 127 film is significant. Most 127 cameras were cheap models targetting amateur point-and-shoot users. The Rollei Baby, Yashica 44 and Primo Jr were exceptions to the rule. Many camera makers sold cheap 127 cameras, beginning with Kodak's Brownie No. 0 (or perhaps earlier). Like most such cameras it would have been "focus-free" with a fixed-focus lens needing only a crude framing device. Frame up, fire the shutter (in time or instant mode) and advance the film. The comparison to the "Hit" cameras is apt: likely of generic manufacture and sold under different brand names.

Don_ih · Mar 12, 2023

Tel said:
the fact that it uses 127 film is significant

It reminds me of old bakelite 127 cameras - but I doubt this camera uses film that wide. If you look at the details, this seems to be a subminiature camera like a Hit camera.

As to the original question, if that top lens is a viewing lens, then there's a rectangular hole at the top of the camera that serves as the viewing window - like an old box camera.

Minox · Mar 12, 2023

Thank you all for your replies, appreciated. It seems this camera was made in Romania, unknown year (believed to be between 1936 to 1955. I am not at all an expert on cameras, but as far as I know the production of anything smaller than 35mm was unknown in that country, and more so after 1945 when the communists came into power (the sub-35 became illegal, for reasons easily understood). That is why the 127 (or something near this format) sound more logical, at least to me.

Curious thing, this camera. Again, thank you !

Minox · Mar 12, 2023

Don Heisz said:
As to the original question, if that top lens is a viewing lens, then there's a rectangular hole at the top of the camera that serves as the viewing window - like an old box camera.

This is probably true, thx.

Dwight Anderson · Mar 12, 2023

Perhaps it takes Bolta sized film, that's paper backed, unperforated 35mm film. It bears more than a passing resemblance to the original Boltavit camera, although the reflex viewer makes it pretty unique.

Camera identification, pls

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