This camera was on a table of ‘give-aways’ at the Boston Camera Fair. I think the seller didn’t want to pack up all the stuff he had brought, so he put a message on the table, “Free to Take”. I took this with no expectations of whether it worked or not. I was drawn to the look of the light meter on the top.

The camera was produced from 1963 to 1969. That link states that it had interchangeable finders, which I didn’t know until I read it on there. I promptly took the one on this example off to check. This other website has lots of technical details and a copy of the manual.

The metered viewfinder is where the T in the title comes from and where the scripted ‘T’ can be found. The last link also stated that there are two shutter buttons with unscrewable sections, which are usually lost. On my example, both screw parts were still there. The two buttons were to allow the body to accept two lens mounts. Talking of the light meter, this one reacted to light when a battery was inserted. I checked the other important functions, and the shutter seemed fine, the counter worked, and the light seals were ok. I couldn’t find a fault in it. So why was it on the junk table?

I loaded it with a roll of Agfa Pro APX 400 and went for a rainy walk around Tatton Park. I mainly stayed in a dark wooded area, which meant I had to use a slow shutter at times and with the lens wide open. The viewfinder had a circular micro-prism, but no split screen. I found it a little hard to focus at times. This didn’t detract from the enjoyment of using the camera. The solid weight and style added to my overall experience.

Once I returned home, I developed the film in pyro, and for some reason, it came out quite overexposed. I haven’t really had this with pyro before. It might have been the very hot weather, well into the 30s. Anyway, it made the results very grainy. The ones that would probably have been underexposed have come out quite well.

I definitely wanted to give this camera another chance as I wasn’t sure if the issues were the film, the developing or the camera. The shots where the exposure and focusing were correct have a lovely look to them.

So I loaded the camera with a roll of Exeter 100 and went for a walk around Gargrave, which was stunning. Saying that, the route took me through a field with three massive bulls. My heart skipped a lot until I got to the other side. I went over the style and up the road to another field and was confronted by three sheep. What is it with threes?? Anyway, I thought to myself, these are big sheep, much bigger than usual. Then I saw, very clearly, they were rams and they did not like me in their field. One took a step closer, so I wafted my guidebook and said NO, and it listened. It watched me the whole way across the field. It made me more nervous than the bulls, to be honest.

On the walk, I finished the whole film and developed it in Rodinal when I got home. Throughout the walk, the shutter sounded perfect. I kept it on 1/125th and used the top shutter button. I was sure this film would be good. BUT, the same issue was apparent; the shots were overexposed. They also seemed to have a drop off in focus at the edges, maybe it was the lens. As the light was even throughout the walk, I kept the lens on f2.8, which my phone meter said was the correct exposure. Interestingly, the meter on the camera agreed, so I think that is working. Here are the results.

There is no camera movement in the shots. I should be able to see if the shutter was slower than expected, causing the over-exposure. The lack of movement again makes me think the overexposure is not the body but the lens. The only issue is, I don’t have another Miranda mount lens.

Another possible source of the issue is the shutter button. There are two, and I only used the one on the top of the camera. What would happen if I used the one on the main body? I checked by opening the back and watching the shutter curtain. Sure enough, I noticed a difference. When I used the top button, the shutter speeds did not match the selected speed. They did match when I used the body button. I tried oiling the buttons, which often worked on Exacta models. I found the slower speeds only matched when I kept the button pressed longer.

I decided to try one more half a roll of film. I used Exeter 100 again and told myself to only use the button on the body. I should have unscrewed the top button because I promptly forgot. I had taken a few shots, then remembered and took a couple more of the fire weed, remembering to switch shutters.

The exposures are better, but still off. The shots also show the focus dropoff. This camera needs a service and a new lens, neither of which I can afford right now. So, I think I will put this one back in my junk box and wait for a change in circumstances.

Oh, and to check it wasn’t the development, I swapped the film into the Rollei 35T halfway through, and they came out fine. Here are a couple taken in Howarth from that half.

My overall thoughts, I like this camera, and if I had a good one, it might be one I use. But as I am getting paid only when I work, and I have lots of cameras, this isn’t one I am going to spend any more time or money on right now. If you can get a good one, I think you would be very happy with it, no matter which viewfinder you have. The look of the T viewfinder is an acquired taste though.