Voigtlander Brilliant Twin Lens Reflex Camera
Photo thanks to Robert D'Asto
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Brilliant TLR photosite [04/00]
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German-made Voigtlander Brilliant with 75mm f/4.5 Vaskar lens. This is one of the later, plastic bodied models with non-focusing finder lens. Self-timer. The finder image is also quite bright (hence the name of the camera, I presume). Original leather case accessory.
rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
From: Stuart Willis [email protected]
[1] Anybody with a Voigtlander Brilliant ?
Date: Wed Jan 20 04:56:41 CST 1999
Greetings from Sunny Queensland, Downunder.
I would be interested in exchanging a few lines with a Voigtlander buff
about the Voigtlander Brilliant.
Hoping to hear from someone ? ? ?
Stuart Willis
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mailto:[email protected]
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2000
From: Gordito [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Subject: Re: question about buying used TLRs
David M [email protected]
wrote:
> John Sparks wrote: > > > > The only "TLR's" that I know of that are not focusable are something > > like the Kodak Duoflex (there were probably similar cameras made by > > others in the 50's). These are really just box cameras with large waist > > level viewfinders and can't really be considered a TLR. They have no > > adjustable aperture and only one shutter speed in addition to no focus. > > > Sorry but you are completely wrong here. Of course they are twin-lens > reflexes. They have 2 lenses and a reflex mirror. They work on exactly > the same principle as a focusing TLR except they do not focus. Examples > are the Ansco Rediflex, Kodak Duaflex, Argoflex 75, Hollywood Reflex and > many many more. Some of these cameras have very good lenses and in fact > can outperform the Lubitel. Many of them unfortunately require 620 film.
A 120-format TLR that I am fond of is the Voigtlander Brillant.
They were made over a number of years and have different lenses
and different capabilities. My favorite is a tiny little thing
with a Scopar lens, scale focussing, 4.5-22, and shutter that
goes up to 300. No ground glass but a very large, clear magnifying
viewer and a frame counter so there're no light leaks. VERY sharp
pictures. I have another one with a Voigtar lens that is also
impressive. They are also very easy to take apart and clean.
From: Gordito [email protected]
Newsgroups: rec.photo.equipment.medium-format
Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000
Subject: Re: Voigtlander Brilliant
KFritch [email protected] wrote:
> Depends upon the model. What type of lens is on it? Lenses ranged from > Voightars on the low end to Skopar and Heliar on the high end. If it's a > Voightar, there's probably no point in using it for much else besides a nice > paperweight. The Skopars are capable of nice results and bring 40-50 dollars > in very nice condition.
I have one with the skopar lens that I really like. It's surprisingly
sharp and the only issue I have is with glare (like a glow around
bright objects, as opposed to flare which seems to show up all over.)
They are light and small, and easy to carry around. Some of them have
a frame counter which gets rid of the red-window-light-leak problem.
The lens is easy to take apart and clean, too, which contributes
a lot to the image quality.
Greg
From Rollei Mailing List: Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 From: Jens Dahlen [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [Rollei] Focus with the Brilliant Take a look at this page: http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/brilia_e.htm I think the Brilliant got it's name in the beginning of it's "brilliant-sucher" as the boxcamera like viewing with a convex lens. (correct me if I'm wrong, german friends). The better Brilliant has a matte spot in the center in the viewfinder, and you focus on that. This version really is a real TLR. Lubitel is a Brilliant copy, however not so brilliant. /Patric