Dear Hans van Veluwen, Winsor Crosby and kazuya matsumoto,
Vision Age 2 has a bit about the Eyeflex under the article the Zuiko Story
(2) A History of Olympus Cameras on pages 35-37.
There are 2 pictures: Olympus Eyeflex A Model the Olympus Eyeflex B Model.
The illustration you put up on the e-sif site at:
http://www.taiga.ca/~esif/om-sif/camhistory/eyeflex.jpg
is like the Model B picture in my Vision Age 3 page 37.
<< It looks like it's based on the
Baby Rolleiflex 44 for 4x4cm film, with a built-in selenium cell for auto
exposure, also supporting manual exposure. After blowing up the scan I can
decipher it has a 60mm/F2.8 lens >>
Srot on!
My article says:
Besides 6x6 cameras Olympus developed the Olympus Eyeflex (also called the
Olympus Eye 44), now called the Olympus phantom second camera.
A 4x4 twin-lens reflex auto exposure camera using 127 roll film.
It was the first test sample of Olympus EE (Electric Eye) cameras.
Very cute, it says.
The Olympus Eyeflex which could have been the first Olympus AE camera (aren't
they sure?), was developed in 2 versions, A and B. Only model A was announced
to the public in May 1959.
Both models: taking lens was 60mm focal length. A had f/3.5, B had f/2.8,
also true for finder lenses. These lenses were all D.Zuikos (4 elements).
Model A had winding knob, exposure number in red window in back.
Model B had winding lever and "automat" winding mechanism with start mark.
Both models had self-cocking shutters.
Both had film wound from top to bottom.
Film was bent at 90 degrees at the bottom - difficult when printing, but with
top to bottom winding film was not bent until after actual camera exposure.
Had patented Olympus film stabilizer to keep film flat.
Texs were OK even with 127 narrow width film (?).
models A and B had different AUTO exposure mechanisma.
Model B had 2 small ammeters with aperture blades in place of indicator
needles - basic mechanism of Bell Howell Type EE system.
Model A had more conventional set-up - ordinary lens-shutter type aperture
blades. Stop down first -release aperture blades - aperture blades opened up
and stopped by the ammeter needle positioned according to light intensity -
aperture blades had a braking mechanism to prevent the hitting needle too
hard and moving it. You could hear this braking mechanism. Shutter release
button unlocked so exposure taken when aperture blades open in correct
position.
Auto mechanism of Model B was much simpler! But B model had narrower exposure
range (shutter speed / ASA). ALso with A-Model, you could re-position camera
after determining eaposure.
Only the A-model was released. Maybe because Olympus wanted to gauge public
opinion and set a stage for 4x4 cameras. Also both at completed prototype
stage, mechanically OK, but requiring further design improvements, it says.
Decline in 4x4 popularity TLRs meant that R&D was stopped. Also develpopment
of AE for 35mm was completed and came out in 1st Olympus AE camera. (Olympus
Auto 1958 or Auto Eye 1960?).
Specifications:
Olympus Eyeflex Model A:
Taking Lens: 60mm 1:3.5 D. Zuiko
Finder lens: Same as above
Shutter: Seiko SLV, 1-1/500 & B, self-timer, M & X terminals
Film: 127 roll film
Negative Size: 4x4 cm
Film winding: By winding knob. Exposure number through window,
self-cocking
AE system: Shutter-preferred AE with aperture control lever
Olympus Eyeflex Model B:
Taking Lens: 60mm 1:3.5 D. Zuiko
Finder lens: Same as above
Shutter: Seiko S, 1-1/500 & B, self-timer, M & X terminals
Film: 127 roll film
Negative Size: 4x4 cm
Film winding: By winding lever. Auto stop by start mark, self-cocking
AE system: Shutter-preferred AE with floating aperture
>From illustration: Aperure settings: 2.8 - 16 plus AUTO.
Both had HUGE selenium metering cell as you said, Winsor!
Fascinating stuff!
Dave Bellamy.
http://members.aol.com/synthchap/
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