The Camera Site

Single Lens Reflex Cameras, SLR

Canon A-1 Canon A-1

Konica Autoreflex T3Konica

Miranda Auto Sensorex EE Miranda EE

Petri FTPetri FT

Canon AV-1 Canon AV-1

Konica Autoreflex T3 (n)Konica Autoreflex

Miranda TM Miranda TM

Praktica FX Practica FX

Canon EOS IXCanon EOS IX

Leica R4
Leica R4

Nikon F3 Nikon F3

Praktica B 200 B 200

Canon FT QL Canon FT

Mamiya ZE (Quartz)
Mamiya ZE

Nikon F 401sNikon f 401s-thb

Praktica MTL 50 MTL 50

Carena KSM 2
Carena KSM
Mamiya ZM Mamiya ZM

Nikon F 801sNikon F-801s

Ricoh XR-S Ricoh XRs
Chinon CEII MemotronChinon CE II  

Nikon FE/FE2Nikon FE

Ricoh XR-2s Ricoh XR2s

Chinon CM-4Chinon CM 4  

Nikon FM2 Nikon FM2

 
Edixa ReflexEdixa Reflex Mamiya NC 1000s Mamiya NC

Nikkormat FTn Nikkormat

Ricoh KR-10XRich KR10

Exa IIb Exathb

Mamiya ZE-X Mamiya ZE-X

Olympus OM-2SOlympus OM-2S

Topcon Unirex Topcon Unirex

Exakta (Ihagee) Exakta

Minolta Dynax 60Minolta Dynax

Olympus OM-1 Oly

Yashica TL Electro X Yashica Electro X
Fujica ST605Fujica 601

Minolta SRT 101 Minolta

  Zenit 12 CD Zenit 12

Fujica ST801 Fujica 801

Minolta XG2 Minolta XM

Olympus E-500Olympus Evolt

Zenit 3MZenit 3M

Konica Auto-ReflexKonica

Minolta X-700
Minoltax700

Pentax Spotmatic Asahi Pentax

Zeiss Ikon Icarex35Icarexs BM

Konica Autoreflex TKonica T

Minolta XG-M
XGMthb
Pentax MZ-5nPentax MZ-5n

Zeiss Ikon Contaflex
Contaflex II

       
Single-lens reflex features
(from an old Fujica brochure)


In a single-lens reflex camera the viewfinder image is formed by the camera lens. Thus, the viewfinder image is always the same, allowing for framing tolerances, as that which subsequently appears on the negative or slide. No separate viewfinder is necessary when the camera lens is changed or when attachments such as close-up lenses, extension tubes, bellows or tele-extenders are used.
In the older single-tens reflexes, this principle was simply achieved by placing a movable mirror at a 45 degree angle behind the lens to redirect the image through 90 degrees to a ground glass screen in the top of the camera. The mirror was so placed that the

distance from its surface to the film and to the viewfinder screen were the same. Thus, the viewfinder screen could also be used for focusing.When the image was accurately focused on the screen it must also be in focus on the film.The 35 mm camera for example is nearly always used at eye level so an ingenious five-sided prism (pentaprism) was designed to sit on top of the focusing screen to turn the image-forming rays through another 90 degrees so that the user could look in the direction of the subject while he took his picture. But that is not all the pentaprism does. It also corrects the lateral reversal that would be present if simple mirrors were used, so that the viewer sees an upright, right-way-round image on his screen.
The final part of the 35 mm single-lens reflex viewing system is the eyepiece lens, focused on the

 

viewfinder screen via the reflecting surfaces of the prism. This is a magnifying eyepiece which enables the viewer to see an image that appears nearly life size when the standard 50 mm lens is attached to the camera.

Single-lens reflex operation
The main refinements that have been added to the original single-lens reflex design are the instant return mirror and the automatic diaphragm.
Early cameras of this type were rather slow in operation and a little disconcerting to the user. Although the mirror automatically flipped up out of the light path when the shutter release was pressed, it stayed there, blacking out the view through the eyepiece until the film was wound on for the next exposure - an operation that also tensioned the shutter.

Similarly, as it is always advisable to view and focus the image at its brightest, the user had constantly to open and close the lens diaphragm between shots. Inevitably, he frequently forgot to stop down after
focusing and overexposed his film by shooting unintentionally at full aperture.The modern single lens reflex overcomes both of these problems. The mirror not only rises automatically just before the shutter opens but also returns to the viewing position when the shutter closes. The viewfinder blackout is barely noticeable at the faster shutter speeds.
The diaphragm setting problem was overcome by linking the operation with a simple push rod or sliding lever mechanism emerging.
     
©2008 Reijo Lauro