Asahiflex IIA - Antique and Vintage Cameras

Asahiflex IIA

1955

Asahi Optical Co.

Tokyo

Japan

Image of Asahiflex IIA

Lens:
f2.4, 58 mm Takumar, pre-set iris diaphragm to f22. Depth-of-field scale. 37 mm screw mount. Serial no. 68175 .

Shutter:
Focal-plane, speeds 1/2 - 1/500, B, T. X and F flash synchronisation.

Construction:
Metal body.

Format:
36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film held in cassette.

Focusing:
Helical to 2 feet.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through taking lens. Waist-level view-finder with magnifier, ground glass focusing screen with condenser. Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.
Instant-return mirror.
Auto-stop on film advance. Film advance tensions the shutter. Sprocket wheel reverses for re-wind. Shutter release interlocked to film advance. Exposure counter.

Identification:
Shutter dial with red '25' and 'x'. F synchronisation.

Serial Number:
61916 .

With:

  • Asahiflex Bellowscope. The extension rod is hinged and able to fold back over the body of the bellows. Scaled for 50 mm lens to 2.5 magnification and 100 mm lens to 1.3 magnification. In flock-covered box.
  • Asahiflex Extension Tube Set. Four tubes: III 21.1 - 22 cm; III 24.7 - 27.2 cm; II 31.8 - 49.9 cm; I 40.9 - 70.1 cm. The longest tube should be marked IV. In flock-covered box and outer cardboard box.
  • Lens cap. Ever-ready case.

Asahiflex IIA

1955

Asahi Optical Co.

Tokyo

Japan

Image of Asahiflex IIA

Lens:
f2.4, 58 mm Takumar, pre-set iris diaphragm to f22. Depth-of-field scale. 37 mm screw mount. Serial no. 80245 .

Shutter:
Focal-plane, speeds 1/2 - 1/500, B, T. X and FP flash synchronisation.

Construction:
Metal body.

Format:
36, 24 x 36 mm exposures on 35 mm film held in cassette.

Focusing:
Helical to 2 feet.

Attributes:
Reflex viewing through taking lens. Waist-level view-finder with magnifier, ground glass focusing screen with condenser. Direct-vision (lens/lens) view-finder.
Instant-return mirror.
Auto-stop on film advance. Film advance tensions the shutter. Sprocket wheel reverses for re-wind. Shutter release interlocked to film advance.
Exposure counter.

Identification:
Shutter dial with red '25' and 'x'. FP synchronisation.

Serial Number:
70767 .

With:
Asahiflex Bellowscope. The extension rod is hinged and able to fold back over the body of the bellows. Scaled for 50 mm lens to 2.5 magnification and 100 mm lens to 1.3 magnification.

The IIA was the last of the Asahiflex range. It was also the most advanced of the Asahiflex cameras having slow speeds as well as the instant-return mirror introduced in the earlier IIB.

The Asahiflex was an important camera being the first Japanese 35 mm Single Lens Reflex (SLR). All models shared the common characteristics of having a waist-level finder, focal-plane shutter and 37 mm screw-mount lenses.

  • The model I was introduced in 1952 with X flash-synchronisation and shutter speeds of 1/20, 1/30, 1/40, 1/60, 1/100, 1/200, 1/500, B.
  • The IA, 1953, was similar but included F as well as X synchronisation and geometrically arranged shutter speeds of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/200, 1/500, B.
  • The IIB, 1954, incorporated an instant-return mirror.
  • The IIA, 1955, was similar to the IIB but with additional slow speeds below 1/25.
There were several minor variations within each model. In 1957 the Asahiflex was dropped in favour of the new Asahi Pentax with fixed pentaprism.

References & Notes:
Sherfy, Asahiflex

Kine Exakta

Cnopm (Sport)

Praktiflex

Praktiflex II

Alpa-Reflex

Contax S

Pentacon F

Pentacon FB

Praktina FX

Praktica

Praktica FX2

Praktica IV F

Praktica nova

Praktica Super TL

Exakta Varex IIa

Exakta Varex IIb

Exakta VX 1000

Exakta RTL 1000

Exa

Edixa

Wrayflex I

Asahiflex IIA

Contaflex

Contaflex Beta

Contaflex Rapid

Contaflex Super (Old)

Contaflex Super B

Contaflex Super BC

Contaflex S

Contarex

Icarex

Bessamatic

Bessamatic

Bessamatic De-Luxe

Bessamatic m

Bessamatic CS

Ultramatic

Ultramatic CS

Leicaflex

Nikon Photomic FTN

Nikkormat FTn

Pentax S1a

Spotmatic

Canon F-1n

Zenith 3M

Pentina

Contaflex 126