Kalloflex TLR Camera
Photo thanks to [email protected]

Kalloflex TLR Camera
Photo courtesy of Bo Hultberg

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Photo notes:

This rather uncommon camera was made by Kowa Optical Works and has a Seikosha B, 1-500 shutter with MX synch. The lens is a Prominar 3.5/75 and is clear. Shutter and diaphragm smooth working. The most unique feature is the focus knob is concentric with the wind crank and the shutter is on the left permitting you to hold the camera in the left hand with the shutter release under the thumb. Focus and winding is done with right hand.

Kalloflex Twin Lens Reflex Camera Ad
Source: Modern Photography, Dec. 1956, p.56

From Rollei Mailing List:
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001
From: william lawlor [email protected]
Subject: [Rollei] Re: Kallowflex

The Kowa-built Kalloflex TLR is a stunning piece of workmanship, and is as rugged as they come but the Prominar 3.5 75mm taking lens is bit behind the Rokkor's sharpness and contrast...at least on the examples I have compared.

............

Nolan, it is nice to hear from another Kallowflex veteran. I bought mine in 1955 with my paper route money and still have it. I estimate it has seen about a thousand rolls through it. The co-axial wind and focus controlls were the perfect solution to the Rollei shuffle.

Regards, Bill Lawlor

From Rollei Mailing LIst;
Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001
From: Nolan Woodbury [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Rollei] Re: Kallowflex

Hi Bill,

> Nolan, it is nice to hear from another Kallowflex veteran. I bought
> mine in 1955 with my paper route money and still have it. I estimate
> it has seen about a thousand rolls through it. The co-axial wind and
> focus controlls were the perfect solution to the Rollei shuffle.

I'd like to re-state my eariler comment about the sharpness of the Kalloflex's Prominar taking lens; It is very sharp- as sharp (using Ektachrome EPP 100) as my best Tessar and Rokkor lenses, but the images seem to lack that certain "ommph" in contrast and color rendition that I get regularly from my Rollei's. In fact, it was these findings that really caused me to embrace the Rolleiflex line...every single Rollei I have purchased has been an excellent shooter, producing amazing results from camera to camera. Much more constant than other makes I own and use. This I attest to better quality control, and perhaps better service and treatment/handling from previous owners. Those people lucky enough to buy a new Rolleiflex 3.5 Automat were (for the most part, I assume) certainly much more serious about photography, and experienced enough to handle a expensive camera in the correct fashion.

I think the Kalloflex's claim to fame may be that its the largest fixed-lens TLR ever made. I was told by someone that the Kalloflex was made specifially for press corps duty, and Kowa fitted the camera with large protective aluminum slabs on each side of the camera's main body. The focusing knob is machined (not cast) from billet as well, and the standard slides on solid brass tubes. A quality unit. I spent a fortune getting my first Kalloflex fixed correctly (like yours Bill it had seen many, many rolls of film. 20 years of daily shooting for a New York newspaper) but have since found two more (with case and caps) with very little wear. I haven't shot them yet, but plan of doing so very soon.

Nolan Woodbury