Reflex Korelle Early SLR MF Camera
Photo thanks to Darryl Schaeffer
[email protected]
The Reflex Korelle 6x6cm SLR was produced by Franz Kochmann Co. of Dresden, Germany
in 1935, shortly after the Noviflex SLR. The original model
had a shutter speed from 1/10th second to an overly optimistic 1/1000th second, while
the later models were more accurately labeled as 1/20th second to 1/500th second. The
next variant added slower speeds down to 2 seconds. The final model III pushed the high speed
back towards a claimed 1/1000th second. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras
(1992-3) notes that WEFO of Dresden also produced a similar model after WWII called the
Meister Korelle (or Master Reflex in the USA market). These cameras are often found for $100
depending on the condition (often bad, as many were well used, and this was the economy
SLR of its time).
This Reflex-Korelle 6x6 SLR is one of the earliest examples of a classical medium format single lens reflex camera. The features of this 6x6 SLR have been copied in a large number of subsequent camera designs.
Reflex-Korelle 6x6 SLR 120 roll film camera. This has speeds from 1/25th to 1/500th. On the slow speed dial it goes to 2 seconds. The more expensive model went to 2 seconds. The shutter material looks good as does most of the leather. The leather has some very minor wear spots. All the speeds are "very slow". It does fire, but nothing is accurate. It has some spots on the mirror, but it is very viewable. No missing parts that I can see. It has the Schneider Radionar 2.9 7.5cm lens. #977234. The glass looks good. I can see no serial number on the camera.
Photo Notes:
This is a fine classic single lens reflex 120 camera. 120 film is readily
available at
your local camera store. This camera takes twelve 6x6 exposures
with a focal plane
shutter that still works well but has not been checked for
accuracy. Shutter speeds
25 to 500. and a built in self timer that works too. Focusing is
smooth as is the
diaphram. The lens is a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 80mm f 2.8!!! Built
in magnifier for
fine ground glass focusing and sport finder. The focusing hood is
not as springy as it
used to be. Serial No. 02021 makes this an early classic
collectable as well as a fun
user. I judge the condition of this camera to be excellent given its
age , made in 1935
Franz Kochmann, Dresden, Germany. see additional pic. below.
From: [email protected] (peters)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: ? Anyone know about the Reflex-Korelle ?
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998
I believe (not sure) that this is the camera that early in WWII, the
Navy started advertising to buy them from civilian photographers.
Reason? To use them as periscope cameras in submarines to photograph
the results of torpedo firing.
bob
[email protected] (Avuroski) wrote:
>Just purchased one and I'm looking for anyone who has knowledge/experience with >these cameras. Does anyone know where I might find additional lenses? Are >they compatible with other Zeiss lenses of that time period? Any info greatly >appreciated- >Andrew Uroskie >[email protected]
From: [email protected] (HRfoto)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: ? Anyone know about the Reflex-Korelle ?
Date: 18 Jul 1998
I own a Relfex Korelle, still with its original box and instruction
manual. However, mine is equipped with a 75mm Schneider Radionar.
Unfortunately, the instruction book does not mention any of the other
lenses available for it. As far as other Schneider or Zeiss lenses
fitting this camera, I am sure they would have to be made specifically for
this camera, to assure proper lens to film plane distance. I would be
interested in finding out more about this camera also.
Heinz Richter
HRphotography
Date: Sat, 01 May 1999
From: David Pinnegar [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reflex Korelle
I was fortunate to find a Reflex Korelle in a camera shop recently and
it was an "affordable" entry into a medium format SLR . . .
The photos it takes are brilliant, putting the best of 35mm to shame,
but the camera is not the fastest to use. After focussing, stopping down
the lens to f11 for exposure makes the screen almost impossible to use.
I'm debating whether to have the mirror resilvered.
My specimen came with 13.5cm, 15.0cm and 18cm lenses, the 15 and 18
lenses having been coated. All of these telephoto lenses display serious
flare and _must_ be used with a lens hood. But excellent they are.
The best book on old cameras was written by the Christies South Ken
expert, Edward Holmes, called "an age of cameras". In it, he mentions
the vital need of all these old lenses to be used with hoods when
stopped down.
The problem with modern use of the Reflex Korelle is a lack of ability
to take a wide angle lens . . . any ideas? I have used a 0.6 wide
converter in front - but there's a trace of barrel distortion, not
surprisingly.
A camera I've always wanted was a Kodak 120 panoram...
David Pinnegar B.Sc. A.R.C.S
[Ed. note: this camera is already sold, but provided as a pricepoint ;-)]
From: "Mark Kronquist" [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace
Subject: FS Reflex Korelle 2 1/4 SLR with case and manual
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999
EX cosmetics works great but there is corrosion on the MIRROR (yes). There
still is a useable image Victar Lens.
$100 shipped US sound fair?
Mark
[email protected]
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2000
From: "R. A. Beals" [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reflex Korelle Lenses
LENSES - The Reflex Korelle I and II had a narrow throat with 40.5mm
screw thread lens mount. Due to "unofficial" marketing by dealers
almost every brand of German lenses plus Dallmeyer in Britain and
American lenses in the U.S. were available on these cameras. Matanle in
"Classis SLRs" says that they were commonly found with about ten
different standard lenses: 75mm f3.5 or f2.8 Tessars and Xenars, an 80mm
f2.8 Tessar, the 80mm f1.9 Primoplan, and low cost three-element lenses
such as f3.5 and 2.9 Schneider Radionars and Ludwig Victars. (I have had
the 75mm f3.5 Tessar, excellent, one of the best, and the 75mm f3.5
Victar, perhaps the worst, and so poor that the abberatioins show on the
ground glass at open aperture. R.A.Beals, [email protected])
The Korelle III of 1938 with a larger throat and different lens mount
is listed with the better Schneider and Zeiss lenses, and it was the
basis for post-war Meister Korelle/Master Reflex with a bayonet mount.
There were Tele-Xenar, Tessar, and Tele-Magor lenses available from
105mm to 400mm size, plus unoffical offering of other brands.
There were no wide angle lenses for the Korelle becasue of the large
moving mirror. Aside from being uneconomic, attempting to adapt modern
retrofocus wide angles would be difficult because of the narrow throat.
HISTORICAL - The Reflex Korelle first marketed in 1935 by Kochmann of
Dresden was not the firrst 120 size roll film reflex camera, or even the
first 6x6 roll film reflex, but it was the first 6x6 to be produced in
significnat quantity. The Noviflex by Eichapfel, also of Dresden, made
in 1934 was the first 6x6, but reportedly only a few hundred copies were
produced and it is very rare.
The National Graflex introduced in 1933 was the first modern 120 roll
film reflex. It made ten 6x7 images per roll. This was also the year
Ihagee of Dresden introduced the Exakta VP Reflex with 127 size roll
film. And, the Ensign Roll Film Reflex introduced in Britain in 1922 is
apparently the first reflex for 120 size film. The very earliest roll
film reflex cameras for any size film were the 3A Graflex (122 film) in
1907 and the 1A Graflex (116 film) in 1909.
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2000
From: "R. A. Beals" [email protected]
To: Robert Monaghan [email protected]
Subject: Re: Reflex Korelle Lenses
Thanks for your reply. Sorry, I do not have a web page to link. Since
sending you the earlier message have received three pieces of
information.
1940 Camera Directory (Pop Photo) shows Burke & James importer,
Korelle III with 3 1/4-in. (80mm) f2.8 Zeiss Tessar in bayonet mount.
1959 Photo-Dealer directory of used cameras shows Master Reflex (also
called Meister Korelle) Ercona Corp. importer, standard lenses 80mm f2.8
Zeiss Tessar or 85mm f3.5 Hugo Meyer in interchangeable screw thread.
One source says later pre-war and post-war Korelle cameras may be
found with both 55mm screw thread and bayonet, whether from the factory
or field modified is not known. Mantanele mentions 55mm screw thread
lenses for the Korelle III which taken with 1940 itrem above appears for
confirm dual mountings exist. Perhaps someone out there has a sample to
confirm this.
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000
From: Steve Bittles [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reflex Korelle
I am currently rebuilding a 1935 Reflex-Korelle. The camera is in excellent condition, but the shutter curtains are shot (holed). I called a place back east to get shuttercloth, and they said, "why not just use new curtains? Exakta 66 curtains fit perfectly".
IE, they are saying, that (apparently) that design hasn't changed in 65 years! New curtains, $80.00. Saves cutting and forming.
Yours,
S bittles
From: [email protected] (DaveHodge)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: what camera is this lens for ?
Date: 22 Feb 2000
The original Korelle Reflex thread was 40.5 mm. But in 1938 they changed
to a 55 mm thread to accommodate a wider selection of lenses.
[Ed. note: presumably long sold, but this ad info may be of
interest..?]
Date: 25 Oct 1999
From: [email protected] (Rayfir)
Newsgroups: rec.photo.marketplace.medium-format
Subject: FS. Two Korelle Reflexs
Model 1 with Victar 75mm F3.5,Shutter appears to work,dried out, may need
replacing, mirror dull. Condition Good. Asking $85 + S&H Model 11 with
75mm F2.8 Schnieder Xenar.Shutter Winds but needs work, this camera looks
great. Condition Excellent.With instruction pamphlet. Asking $$125 + S&H
Two rare cameras which are fixable and a great addition to any collection.
From Medium Format Mailing List:
Date: Sat, 03 Feb 2001
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [medium-format] Primar-Reflex II - Filmloading?
Per,
Send me a JPEG attachment of what part you are missing from Reflex-Korelle
and I may be able to send you one - also send your mailing address. I have
a collection of parts from these cameras I have used to repair one and
another.
I have had many Reflex-Korelle cameras over the years and am now down to
two. A good standard model which had the shutter curtains replaced with
newer materials that still work fine.
And, a rare chrome model III made in 1941 and never sold in the US. I also
used Korelle parts to repair a Japanese Korelle copy - Reflex-Beauty.
I collect older 6x6cm reflexes including Agiflex III, Master Reflex
(Meister Korelle) and the rare Noviflex (which started the Korelle design)
plus Exakta 6x6 1939 and 1954 models.
Thank you for the additional background on Warner Oland.
As for the liquid you used to soften old curtains - did you put in on the
front (Rubber) surface or the back (fabric) surface?
Two main problems with Korelle Reflex:
1- The cable detaches from the wind knob to the shutter winding knob. This
can be fixed but is tricky. It is a steel cable which does not break, but
comes out from under a screw fitting tightened over one end.
2- The shutter curtains dry and get harder (also in Master Reflex) and
then will not lie flat and they rub against the rear aperture plate and
travel slowly because of the friction. No amount of adding spring tension
to them will help them move faster. If you remove the rear aperture plate
they operate quite fine. With the plate replaced they drag slowly. The
rear plate can be set back away not touching the curtains, which changes
the plane of focus and then the ground glass has to be moved up to match
this. It is a defect in design that this rear plate was always made to be
too close to the curtains.
As for information-
I am looking for information on Primarflex concerning the manufacture of
the camera from 1936 (Bentzin) to the East German nationalized industries.
These later cameras made from about 1947 to 1954 have many variations in
parts and style and various manufacturers listed:
Curt Bentzin Goerlitz Kamera Werke Gorlitz Primar Kamera Werke Gorlitz
Feinoptische Werke Gorlitz
Who was Curt Bentzin (made cameras back into the teens at least) and what
happened to him and the owners of this company?
The first postwar versions (Kamera Werke Gorlitz) were very primitive, and
not of the fine quality of the original 1936 models.
The later 1952-54 models were again of fine quality and could deserve
being called Feinoptishe Werke. - Who were they, part of Meyer in Gorlits
or some other company? Did they make anything besides Primarflex cameras?
All of the models from 1936 have ther same basic inner design and parts
made to better or worse quality. Most of the inner parts are
interchangeable in all of the models - although some of them look slightly
different.
I have several working models and several which do not work properly. It
has always been a dream of mone to get a later model in really Mint
condition and then have this restored with new curtains to 100% excellent
operating condition.
I once had an Astraflex which I restored to working really well. Generally
the curtains travel really slowly compared to a focal plane shutter
Bronica.
On the Astraflex II, I increased the spring tension until the curtains
traveled really fast. I took this camera on a trip to Las Vegas and
California, along with a small 180MM tele. I said I would trust this only
and no other camera to get good pictures. All of the pictures came out
great!
Eventually the shutter began to drag years later and in trying to increase
the tension on the curtains I tore the curtain material. That was the end
of that camera.
Ken Ruth (Photography on Bald Mountain) - who advertises in Shutterbug can
fix anything. He restored a Master Reflex for me and made new curtains for
it.
He is the one who could really make a Primarflex work!
Best,
Sam
...
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: [email protected] (FLEXARET2)
Date: Sun Feb 25 2001
[1] Re: Q: How to strip down a Reflex-Korelle
Be careful - it may be the cable from the wind lever to the shutter
winding gears that is detached.
Your greatest problem is the shutter timing gears popping out of sequence.
Unless you are expert in repairs and can retime these or the camera cost
you nothing and you don't care - don't open it.
- Sam Sherman
From hasselblad mailing list: Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2002 From: [email protected] Subject: [HUG] Re: hasselblad V1 #1622 With reference to MF SLRs pre-Hasselblad, take a look at Ivor Matanle's "Collecting and Using Classic SLRs," published by Thames and Hudson, 1996. First 6x6cm SLR was the 1934 Noviflex from Eichapfel of Dresden. Interchangeable lenses available on second (1937) model. Second one was Reflex Korelle (or Korelle Reflex) of 1935 from Kochmann of Dresden. It had interchangeable lenses from the beginning and went through 5 models before the war. After the war it surfaced as the Meister Reflex (or Master Reflex) and later the Reflex 66. Before the war Reflex Korelle was imported by Burke and James in Chicago, and their name appeared on the nameplate under the "Reflex Korelle" name. Neither of these camera lines had interchangeable backs. There were, of course, a variety of sheet-film SLR's much earlier, and apparently there were several SLR's in larger roll-film formats pre-1934. Unfortunately the book does not give a chronological listing of cameras, so it is difficult to figure out which was the first of any type. >From my perspective, Victor's main contribution was the modular design and the standardization of camera interfaces so accessories could be used on many models. Best regards, David Hodge, Churchville, MD