Corfield 66 SLR Medium Format Camera
Photo thanks to Lionel Hughes
Home Page - [email protected]
Related Links:
Corfield Camera History Pages
(Bev Parker) [10/2000]
Medium Format on a Budget
The Corfield 66 is a British made single lens reflex camera rarely seen
in the U.S. market. The British optical industry had a very
craftsman-like approach to camera construction, producing a limited
number of very serviceable medium format cameras.
During the early
post-war
period, currency controls also provided some incentives to local production
too. When these currency controls were dropped, these smaller
protected industries simply were unable to compete against the then
much lower labor costs of Japanese and German competitors. K.G. Corfield
Corp. made many 35mm Leica clones under the Periflex name from 1948 to
1961, when they went out of the camera business (and closed entirely
in 1971).
The Corfield 66 was the last gasp for the company, coming out in early 1961.
Sources (McKeown) suggest only 300 or so cameras were made. Besides 120
rollfilm, the Corfield 66 could use cut sheet film, and featured a 1
second to 1/500th second focal plane shutter. The 95mm f/3.5 Lumax lens
was on an interchangeable mount, but so far as I know was the only lens
made for this camera or mount.
The British optical industry continues to provide unique resources for
photographers to this day, including a unique lens recoating company called Optical
Instruments in Balham, London.
CORFIELD 66 SINGLE LENS REFLEX c. 1961. (PIC) Less than 300 made due to camera production being stopped by the Guinness Co. who had bought the Corfield Company. . Instantly interchangeable 120 roll film back. 10 speed vertical F.P. shutter, 1/10 to 1/500 sec. Adjustable synch. Quick return lockable mirror. Breech block mount 4 element Lanthanium glass F3.5 95mm. Lumax lens with click stops. Usual but very slight cleaning marks on this apparently soft coated lens. Edges of covering material lifted in places as usual on these, else excellent. Original outfit case.
[email protected] wrote:
> Can anyone tell me where I might find one of the Corfield WA67 cameras? It > is a 6x7 shift camera with 47mm Super Angulon lens. Not quite large format, > but hopefully close enough to submit an inquiry here.
Bromwell sells these in the US, they are manufactured in England. I
spoke to Corfield a few months ago, they are planning to redesign the
camera soon. Hopefully they will adapt it to use Mamiya RZ backs ( It
now accept only RB backs ). Interchangeable lenses would be a
possibility too, I would think.
Harold Clark
[Ed. note: if anyone has info to share regarding history etc. please
respond to this request too! Thanks!]
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000
From: Bev Parker [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Corfield Cameras
Dear Robert,
I was delighted to see your web page on the Corfield 66 SLR camera. I only
learned of Corfield's existence a couple of weeks ago and being from
Wolverhampton I was intrigued to think that we actually made high quality
cameras here. Do you have any information on the company itself?. All that
I have managed to find so far is the Merridale Street address and a long
list of products. I did manage to find the phone number of a guy who went
to school with Ken Corfield, but sadly he hasn't seen him since before the
second world war and so knows nothing about the photographic business. A
friend and myself do a local history website and would love to include
something about Ken Corfield's company. Please can you help, any
information will be most useful. Do you have any suggestions as to where I
might look to find out more.
Regards
Bev
Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2000
From: Bev Parker [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Corfield Cameras
Dear Robert,
Its been sometime since I last contacted you about Corfield cameras. Since
then I've got a lot of information about the company, and have put a
section about it on our website. If you want to have a look at it, the URL
is:
http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/home.htm
The article is in the virtual museum, which is accessible from the front
page. When you enter the museum you will see a Corfield poster on the
wall.
Click on that to read the article.
If you do have a look at it, please let me know what you think, as any
feedback is most useful.
Regards
Bev
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 From: Ian Stolerman [email protected]> Subject: Corfield To: [email protected] Dear Robert I have been looking at your nice web site about the Corfield 66 camera and other Corfield matters. May I with respect suggest an amendment to the site since the reference to Corfield 35 mm cameras as 'Leica clones' is inaccurate and demeaning. The 35 mm Periflex cameras were highly original designs using a unique focusing mechanism not found in any other camera. It is true they used a Leica screw mount and the shape of the camera resembled the classic Leica, but there were several major differences. The full story is on another web site that may be of interest to you. I hope you find this message useful. I have no connection with Sir Kenneth Corfield other than an interest in similar photographic products. http://www.corfield.org/camera/corfield.htm With best wishes Ian StolermanEnd of Page