The Asahiflex IIA is a historically significant 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera produced by Asahi Optical Company, the forerunner of the famous Pentax brand.
Introduced in 1955 and produced until 1957, the Asahiflex IIA marked a major technological step forward not only for Japanese camera manufacturing but also for the evolution of modern SLR design.
Technical Specifications:
- Model: Asahiflex IIA
- Manufacturer: Asahi Optical Co., Japan
- Production Years: 1955–1957
- Film Format: 35mm
- Lens Mount: M37 screw mount (37mm thread)
- Viewfinder: Waist-level reflex finder (top-down view)
- Auxiliary Viewfinder: Built-in optical (non-reflex) finder for quick framing
- Mirror Mechanism: Instant-return mirror – one of the first of its kind
- Shutter: Focal plane, horizontally-traveling cloth shutter
- Shutter Speeds: Typically B, 1/25 – 1/500 sec
- Metering: None (fully manual exposure control)
Lens: Takumar 50mm f/3.5 (Asahi-Kogaku)
- Focal Length: 50mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/3.5
- Lens Mount: M37 screw mount
- Manufacturer: Asahi-Kogaku (early name of Asahi Optical Co.)
- Construction: Simple, high-quality optical design
- Focus: Manual focus
- Aperture Control: Manual, click-stopped diaphragm
This lens is known for its sharpness and clarity, making it excellent for general photography, especially landscape and daylight scenes.
Key Advantages and Innovations:
- First Japanese SLR camera line – Asahiflex was Japan’s entry into the SLR market.
- Instant-return mirror – a groundbreaking feature at the time, allowing the mirror to return to viewing position immediately after exposure, reducing blackout time and improving shooting speed.
- Solid mechanical build – all-metal construction with precise manual controls.
- Reliable performance – despite its age, many working models still perform well today.
Historical Context:
The Asahiflex IIA emerged during a time when rangefinder cameras dominated the 35mm market. SLRs were still relatively rare and often bulky. With the Asahiflex series, Asahi Optical Co. laid the foundation for the development of more refined SLRs such as the Pentax series, which would go on to gain international acclaim.
It predates the popularization of the pentaprism, which allows eye-level viewing through the lens, but it introduced other key advancements like the instant-return mirror. This makes the IIA not just a collector’s item but a true milestone in photographic engineering.
Conclusion:
The Asahiflex IIA, paired with the Takumar 50mm f/3.5, represents a turning point in the development of 35mm SLR photography. It is a mechanically sophisticated, historically important, and beautifully crafted camera system. For collectors, vintage camera enthusiasts, or analog photography lovers, it offers a unique glimpse into the origins of modern SLR design.
