Canon Canonflex
Canonflex described the mm SLR cameras for the Canon R mount. The first Canonflex appeared in May 1959, followed her with Canonflex RP, Canonflex R 2000 and Canonflex RM three other models. With the release of the Canon FX, the first camera for the subsequent Canon FL -mount production ended. It was the Canon Flex to the first SLR from Canon.
- 2.1 Canonflex RP
- 2.2 Canonflex R 2000
- 3.1 housing
- 3.2 viewfinder
- 3.3 metering
- 3.4 closure
Canonflex
Housing
What is unusual about the Canon Flex was the film advance lever on the bottom of the camera, he had to be pushed to 130 ° backwards. The arrangement should make it remarkably fast image sequence, but was a bit strange, which is why Canon very soon went off of it. However, the rewind crank was at the usual place at the top left on the housing cover. Prior to use of the rewind button had to be pressed, which was located near the transport lever. He also allowed for multiple exposures, where you pressed it after the first exposure and then stretched only the clasp with the advance lever.
The Canonflex characterized by clear controls, striking here was the very large wheel for the exposure time. She weighed 940 g without lens, their housing caps were plated, the viewfinder in black finished. In contrast to the Nikon F was back wall was open, it was therefore not drawn downward.
Viewfinder
The standard prism finder was held by elaborate guide rails and was thereby remove that one pulled him backwards. A waist-level viewfinder gave it as an accessory. The focusing screen, however, could not be replaced. An accessory shoe did not exist.
The Canonflex had a that time not yet self-evident -return mirror, the mirror so worked immediately after exposure and not only with the film transport back down.
Metering
The Canon Flex did not have a light meter, but it could be the front plug on the camera a special device. Then the shutter speed of the camera was coupled and it had to be transferred specified by a pointer instrument panel on the lens. This light meter worked with a selenium photocell.
Shutter
In the Canonflex a horizontal focal- cloth shutter was installed. Its shutter speed based on already halving, which was not granted. So the shutter speed has been wearing the label: B / T - X - 1 - 2 - 04.08.15 - 30 - 60 - 125-250 - 500 - 1000 The position X concerned the flash sync speed of 1/ 55 s, the. flash was connected to the housing cover with a sync cord left.
The release button could be disabled by turning the ring surrounded her. The Canonflex also possessed a self-timer, he was in the camera viewing direction right next to the lens and had to be wound up by turning.
Super Canomatic
The Canon Flex worked with lenses which had Canomatic or Super Canomatic. While the film transport was moving a lever to pull the Super Canomatic and when releasing the pin was pressed for dimming.
Canonflex RP and Canonflex R 2000
The models RP and R 2000 came out in September 1960, setting off from the original model.
Canonflex RP
The Canon Flex RP differed from the original model only by their built- prism viewfinder. Usually they also had a chrome cover, very few RP have been delivered with a black lid. For this purpose, the normal lens Super Canomatic R 50mm f / 1,8 belonged with black instead of chrome-plated clamping ring.
Canonflex R 2000
The Canon R 2000 differed from the Canon Flex by their faster shutter: A few months after the Konica F appeared with the Canon R 2000, the second lens reflex camera with a 1/2000 s exposure time. In contrast to the Konica Canon but did not have the Copal metal focal plane shutter, but as the other Canonflex a horizontally running cloth shutter. The flash sync speed was 1/55 s
Canonflex RM
The model RM appeared in April 1962 and remained until the appearance of the Canon FX in the program.
Housing
The film advance lever was on the Canon Flex RM at the usual place top right. The RM usually had a chrome-plated, rarely a black cover.
Viewfinder
The RM had a built- prism viewfinder, which turned out smaller than that of the RP so that the camera is only 92 mm instead of 100 mm high built. They, too, weighing only 680 grams without lens.
Metering
The main difference from the other Canonflex consisted in light meter. He worked as the accessory instrument of the other Canon Flex, so had a selenium cell and was coupled to the shutter speed. The aperture value could be read on an instrument left of the viewfinder. The film speed was set to 800/33 ° at shutter between ISO 10/11 ° and ISO.
Shutter
The Canonflex RM also had a cloth closure whose time range up to 1/ 1000 s handed, but his flash sync time was already 1/60 s, so that there was no need setting X at shutter more.
Dissemination
From the original model, only about 16,000 specimens have been built from the RP about 9,000 copies and the R 2000 just 9,000 copies. The RM Canon produced about 70,000 times. In Germany the Canonflex remained virtually unknown because of the many local cameras in the UK and the USA but she had already found a low incidence.