tojeem
Enthusiast
This may be a long post, so my apologies in advance.
The story starts when I decided to go camera-hunting at my local opp-shop. I managed to find this charming little camera: The Licom MXF-700. Here are some pictures.
There are only 4 aperture settings, ranging from f/6 to f/16: from "cloudy" to "sunny". The lens is fixed-focus, 50mm, and is made of glass. There's no shutter speed adjustment... Oh, and it says "Made in Taiwan" on the bottom. And that's pretty much it!
Then here's where it gets strange. Since I bought the camera, it's come to my notice that various other slightly different versions of the camera keep appearing online... but they're made by different companies. So far I've found seven:
The Konex MX-V
This one is identical to the Licom, except for the branding and what seems to be a light meter. Curiously, the placement of the light meter is of the same placement and size as a grooved plastic square on the Licom. Perhaps the camera body is sold to various retailers under different brands, with "addable" specs such as the light meter?
The Bentley WX-3
This one is very similar to the Licom, but is missing the prism-shaped top. The lens barrel, like the Konex, is identical to the Licom. Also the model numbers of these cameras seem similar: MX-700, MX-V, WX-3.
The Lavek LT-002
This one has a slightly different body design, especially around the grip. However the lens barrel is identical, and the viewfinder and strap lugs are identically placed. Note the red dot by the lens barrel; this too is another change from the first three cameras.
The Promax PX-600
Here the grip, lens barrel, rewind knob and prism-design are identical to the Licom. This version however has its viewfinder in the prism, and what seems to be a light meter next to it.
The Ninoka NK-700
An almost identical design to the Licom, with a few slight differences on the top and near the viewfinder.
The Elite MF-2X
This may be silver, but closer inspection will show that it is, in fact, another variation of the Licom. The shutter-release, prism top, strap lugs, viewfinder, trim, and once again the lens barrel are all identical here. One major difference is the light meter, which appears to be a copy of a Yashica design. There seems to be an accent above the "e" in Elite... perhaps this is a non-English model?
So that's it. Seven cameras, from seven different companies, which appear to be identical (or sharing identical parts). I thought I would share this discovery with you, in the hope that somebody may have information on these cameras: by whom they were made, when they were made, or, God forbid, if there are more variations with the same design! What do you think, RangeFinderForum?
Thanks for reading.
The story starts when I decided to go camera-hunting at my local opp-shop. I managed to find this charming little camera: The Licom MXF-700. Here are some pictures.
There are only 4 aperture settings, ranging from f/6 to f/16: from "cloudy" to "sunny". The lens is fixed-focus, 50mm, and is made of glass. There's no shutter speed adjustment... Oh, and it says "Made in Taiwan" on the bottom. And that's pretty much it!
Then here's where it gets strange. Since I bought the camera, it's come to my notice that various other slightly different versions of the camera keep appearing online... but they're made by different companies. So far I've found seven:
The Konex MX-V
This one is identical to the Licom, except for the branding and what seems to be a light meter. Curiously, the placement of the light meter is of the same placement and size as a grooved plastic square on the Licom. Perhaps the camera body is sold to various retailers under different brands, with "addable" specs such as the light meter?
The Bentley WX-3
This one is very similar to the Licom, but is missing the prism-shaped top. The lens barrel, like the Konex, is identical to the Licom. Also the model numbers of these cameras seem similar: MX-700, MX-V, WX-3.
The Lavek LT-002
This one has a slightly different body design, especially around the grip. However the lens barrel is identical, and the viewfinder and strap lugs are identically placed. Note the red dot by the lens barrel; this too is another change from the first three cameras.
The Promax PX-600
Here the grip, lens barrel, rewind knob and prism-design are identical to the Licom. This version however has its viewfinder in the prism, and what seems to be a light meter next to it.
The Ninoka NK-700
An almost identical design to the Licom, with a few slight differences on the top and near the viewfinder.
The Elite MF-2X
This may be silver, but closer inspection will show that it is, in fact, another variation of the Licom. The shutter-release, prism top, strap lugs, viewfinder, trim, and once again the lens barrel are all identical here. One major difference is the light meter, which appears to be a copy of a Yashica design. There seems to be an accent above the "e" in Elite... perhaps this is a non-English model?
So that's it. Seven cameras, from seven different companies, which appear to be identical (or sharing identical parts). I thought I would share this discovery with you, in the hope that somebody may have information on these cameras: by whom they were made, when they were made, or, God forbid, if there are more variations with the same design! What do you think, RangeFinderForum?
Thanks for reading.
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
My very first camera, ever, was one of these. The design I have (Yes, I still have it and it still works!) is the Bentley, though mine says Windsor. My parents got it as a freebie for going camping at a Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Campground in Plymouth, Indiana when I was 6 or 7 years old. That camera is what got my excited about photography, and I still have an album full of photos I shot with it. My dad soon showed me how to use his Olympus OM-G SLR (OM-20 outside the USA), and when I was 11 yrs old, he got me an OM-G, which was my entry to the OM system. The OM-G got broken when I was in a car accident at 16, but I still have the lenses he got me for it, which I use on an OM-4T now.
About the plastic camera: Its not a Holga, it really takes much better pictures. Not super sharp by any means, but surprisingly good for what it is.
About the plastic camera: Its not a Holga, it really takes much better pictures. Not super sharp by any means, but surprisingly good for what it is.
colyn
ישו משיח
Those are just a drop in the bucket. There are many more variations. These cameras were made as give aways for magazine subscriptions, opening bank accounts, etc back in the 80's and 90's.
I've never tried one but I suspect they are Holga quality..
I've never tried one but I suspect they are Holga quality..
rlouzan
Well-known
TIME camera clones also sold by OLD NAVY (multicolored body) in the 90s. The lens is almost as good optically to a OM 50mm Zuiko (up to 5 x 7" prints).
MickH
Well-known
Elite MF-2X... so cool in chrome.
rlouzan
Well-known
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
THanks for the link to the Flickr group, rlouzan.
rlouzan
Well-known
tojeem
Enthusiast
OP here. Thanks for the replies everyone. This is interesting stuff.
I'm amazed by the Time-branded camera in that second link, rlouzan. Who'd have thought Time Magazine, of all people, would give away toy cameras? Being a member of Generation Y, I had no idea the free giveaway camera was so widespread in the 80s and 90s.
I look forward to developing my first roll from this thing!
I'm amazed by the Time-branded camera in that second link, rlouzan. Who'd have thought Time Magazine, of all people, would give away toy cameras? Being a member of Generation Y, I had no idea the free giveaway camera was so widespread in the 80s and 90s.
I look forward to developing my first roll from this thing!