The Mecaflex was designed by Heinz Kilfitt, a watch maker in Munich, who also designed the first Robot camera which he sold to Otto Berning and Co in Dusseldorf. Kilfitt sold the Mecaflex design to Metz Apparatefabrik. Metz made the bodies whilst Kilfitt supplied the lenses. The deal went wrong and Kilfitt had the bodies made by S.E.R.O.A. in Monoco in 1958. Most where made in satin chrome with black covering with the last 100 with brown lizard skin covering when the factory closed.
Shown at Photokina in 1951 it went on sale in 1953. UK importer J J Silber sold the camera for £55 8s 6d.
It measures 10 x 6 x 6.5cm, easily fitting into the palm of your hand. It takes 50 exposures 24x24mm on standard 35mm film. The standard lens is a Kilfitt-licensed Benoist Berthiot f2.8 40mm.
The top plate flips up to review the waist level viewfinder. A square aperture in the top plate opens forming an direct line of vision eye-level view finder. The top plate also covers the shutter release and single stroke film advance, a rewind knob and film counter. An optional eye-level viewing attachment enables through the lens viewing at eye level.
The camera was original offered with a choice of two standard lenses, the Kilar 40mm f3.5 and 40mm f2.8. A 105mm f4 Kilar telephoto was also made. The lenses have a bayonet fitting.
Prices are typically 1000-1500USD but have sold at auction 2004/11/06 for 2375EUR (with two lenses, s/n 25343B).
Ebay 2006/03/25 550EUR+commission (#2054, mirror sticks, German instructions)
Links
http://www.kilfitt.org/Cameras/Mecaflex.htm
http://www.ukcamera.com/classic_cameras/kilfitt1.htm
http://robot-camera.de/ROBOT_Historie/Heinz_Kilfitt/MECAFLEX/body_mecaflex.html
The Mecaflex; A Square Format 35mm SLR by John Wade
