Airesflex Twin Lens Reflex Camera
Photo thanks to Joseph Cohlsen
[email protected]
This camera is another example of the nice Japanese post-war twin lens
reflex cameras, including some unusual features (see photo notes below).
The Airesflex TLRs were made in the period from 1953 to 1955. Besides the
Copal shutter (1 second to 1/300th), a Seikosha-Rapid shutter (1 second
to 1/500th) variant was also produced.
Besides the Airesflex, Aires also produced an Aires Automat TLR (6x6cm)
and Airesflex model Z (6x6cm). These Aires TLRs had the potential of
using Nikkor lenses, in which case their prices are triple the value of
the Coral or Zuiko (Olympus) lensed models. With Nikon lenses, you might
ask $250-400 US and up, depending on condition, versus under $100 US for
the lesser Coral or Zuiko lensed models.
The point here is more that the collectibility of these early Japanese
cameras may be determined more by the optics than the camera manufacturer
itself. Nikon's status as a collectible camera and optical maker is
largely responsible for these price differentials. The non-collector
seeking a user twin lens reflex camera might be quite happy with either
the Zuiko (Olympus) or Coral lensed cameras too.
These twin lens reflex 6x6cm cameras are not generally considered
collectible cameras. The Aires Camera Industries Co. Ltd. of Tokyo
produced a number of 35mm cameras through the early 1960s. The Aires
Viceroy was a clone of the Super Ikonta featuring 6x6cm and 6x4.5cm dual
formats on 120 rollfilm.
This is a Beautiful Vintage AIRESFLEX 2-1/4 x 2-1/4 Twin Lens Reflex camera from Aires Camera of Japan. The Airesflex has a 75mm F3.5 (to F22) Showakoki AC Coated Coral lens in a Seikosha Rapid Shutter. Speeds are B & 1 to 1/500th. Its Other Features Include Automatic Exposure Counter, "X" Flash Sync. with a Standard PC Tip, Sportsfinder, Fine Focusing Magnifer, Uses Standard 120 Rollfilm, & has a Removable Back. Note snap-on lens cover at right which Covers the Taking Lens - and the Rest Pushes on Over it - Odd but Sort of Beautiful in an Art-like Sense.
I have one of these. The build on the Airesflex is not that great -
similar to the many mediocre Japanese cameras that were produced in mass
quantities, but the lenses are good. Aires also made their with a Zuiko
lens as well as their own branded Coral lens.
Todd
....
From: Stephe [email protected] Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Tower reflex / nikon lensed TLR? Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 I won a bid on an old TRL I've only seen a couple of time before. It was one of their higher end models, looks like a rolleiflex or a minoltacord but has nikkor glass. I have a small tower camera collection, some were made by maymia but this one has got me wondering who might have made it. I know nikon never made a TLR but both lenses are nikkors from the 50's? and look like they are TRL only style lenses i.e. f3.5 and f3.2 75mm leaf shutter type. It doesn't look exactly like my minoltacords (looks like a side knob focus) and nothing like a maymia. I have to assume it was made in japan from the nikon glass it has. The taking lens says 'NIKKOR-Q-RED3 1:3.5 f=7.5cm Nippon Kogaku Japan' viewing lens says 'View NIKKOR "red C" 1:3.2 f=7.5cm Nippon Kogaku Japan' Any idea's or links? -- stephe http://www.geocities.com/kievgurl/
From: Stephe [email protected] Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Tower reflex / nikon lensed TLR? Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 Stephe wrote: > It doesn't look exactly like my minoltacords (looks like a side knob > focus) and nothing like a maymia. I have to assume it was made in japan > from the nikon glass it has. I talked to a friend and he said aries camera of japan made them. I found this link: Mine looks like the knob wind version except it says tower reflex across the top. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/shinsaku/hiura/camera/mednikkor/aires/aires-e.html And from the test shots here, looks like this might be a really good user for $65! http://www.ne.jp/asahi/shinsaku/hiura/camera/mednikkor/aires/aires-test/index.html -- stephe http://www.geocities.com/kievgurl/
From: "David J. Littleboy" [email protected] Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Tower reflex / nikon lensed TLR? Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 "Stephe" [email protected] wrote: > > And from the test shots here, looks like this might be a really good user > for $65! Wow! I hope the Fuji GS645S I just bought does as well. FWIW, here's another page: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/shinsaku/hiura/camera/mednikkor/aires/aires.html http://www.ne.jp/asahi/shinsaku/hiura/camera/mednikkor/aires/aires-test/index.html It's a Tessar type lens, and all the shots on that page are at full wide-open aperture. (Translator's note: !!!!!!!!WOW!!!!!!!!!! This disproves the theory that Tessars are funky wide open.) In the first shot, the foliage looks blurred because it's out of focus. Note that the detail image is equivalent to a 900mm lens with a 35mm. The detail in the steelwork is at about 25 lines/mm (lines or line pairs???) but observed with a 30x loupe, it appears that the lens is resolving 30 to 40 lines/mm. The detailed images are taken through a cheap microscope (??? "Teresuko maikuro", whatever that is) with a Coolpix 910, which involves a lot of image degradation. In the second shot, there's a bit of camera shake due to the slow shutter speed, but you can still read the ASA and DIN on the film. The third shot is at "Hotaru no Sato" in Takino. (Our CEO (my wife) has never heard of it), off season. He focused on the section of the waterwheel shown in the detail. The grain in the wood is much clearer with a 30x loupe. David J. Littleboy Tokyo, Japan
From: "Siu Fai" [email protected] Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Subject: Re: Tower reflex / nikon lensed TLR? Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 Here is another link to the Aires: http://people.smu.edu/rmonagha/mf/airesflex.html I have an Aires Automat with a Coral lens and I'm not impressed by it. But then, your Nikkor is probably better. Siu Fai
From: [email protected] (FLEXARET2) Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format Date: 19 Mar 2002 Subject: Re: Tower reflex / nikon lensed TLR? The Tower Reflex with crank wind and Nikkor lens is the "Airesflex or Aires Automat". Some history - I had always wanted the Aireflex cameras way back when and while walking down Canal Street (in later years) passed the Manhattan Novelty Co., importer of those Aires cameras back in the 50s. It seemed too good to be true, but yes, I bought some of those old "New" cameras from them. I sold most of them, even the Nikkor model and kept only the standard Aires Reflex (formerly Airesflex) with the low end Coral lens. They came with 3 lens types - Nikkor, Olympus Zuiko (also available on Mamiyaflex Aotomatic) and the lowly Coral. I made a series of tests with the Nikkor and the Coral and could not tell the difference. As I had always wanted an Airesflex with the knob wind as a kid, I have kept that. - Sam Sherman
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