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Bentzin Primarflex SLR c1936 and Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 105mm f/3.5 lens
Here’s an excellent example of a Bentzin Primarflex single-lens-reflex camera, fitted with an interchangeable bayonet mount Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 10.5cm f/3.5 standard lens. These cameras were made by Curt Bentzin of Gorlitz, Germany from 1935 (though this one is dated to 1936). The camera is a 6 x 6 cm (2 1/4 x 2 1/4 inch) medium format for exposures on 120 roll film, though plates and sheet film can also be used. The Primarflex was the original cube camera to which a lens was fitted, effectively the precursor to Hasselblads and other modern medium format ones.
The camera was made over an 18 year period with three pre-war versions and two post-war. In total only around 12000 were ever built and whilst there were variations on all versions they pretty much followed the original design, of which this particular camera was one of the first.
The camera is beautifully constructed with a metal core surrounded by panels of wood fitted with Morocco leather. This one can again be identified as an earlier model as it has the rare folding frame finder on the top for different focal length lenses.
The main winder on the right hand side has to wind the focal plane shutter, transport the film, switch the film counter, and lift the mirror (pretty advanced for 1935). Unfortunately whilst the mirror lifts and releases the shutter curtain winding mechanism is slipping, though the curtain is definitely not frozen.
The 70mm screw mount for the lens found on this camera again indicates it’s an early one as this was dropped in 1939 in favour of a bayonet style mount.
A beautiful, solid (1.4kg!) camera, and a lovely addition to a medium frame collection as an example of the first cube type body to be built.
Please study the pictures and ask if you need anything more detailed. Happy to provide any more detail as required.
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Category: Cameras and Photography:Vintage Photography:Vintage Cameras:SLR Cameras
Location: Haywards Heath