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Graflex Century 35

 

The technical stuff:

Camera type: Rangefinder

Lens Type: Kowa

Shutter Type: Seikosha MX 1 - 1/500

 

 

An interesting camera this one is. I saw it on ebay and liked the look of it, I must have been the only one, because there were no bids against me and I won it for a small fee. A very unusual piece, at least in this country, probably common as dirt in America. This is a rangefinder branded with the name of Graflex, they of the famous American press camera the Speed Graphic. Presumably commissioned for the American domestic market, made in Japan by Kowa, and called the Century 35. I can't find much info for this one so I will have to use my powers of deduction to identify. I'm guessing late 50's, by the style, coupled rangefinder, quite possibly made during the American occupation. Sturdy build, quite heavy but this gives it stability, however it's nicely balanced and quite a joy to use. It got off to a bad start because I took this out on the road along with a Praktica which had a faulty lightmeter, consequently the first shots were poorly exposed. However, when I took it to Bibury I had a Praktica 5b which did a much better job of metering and the exposures are much better. As for the rangefinder, this was hopelessly out according to the calibration, I have a test point in the workshop which I know is exactly 7 feet but this was reading around 10, but the camera does have adjustment, and gave a pretty good account of itself afterward, note the close up shot in the park.

 

 

 

 

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