Asahiflex

Here is my copy of the Asahiflex IIB with a 50/3.5 Takumar M37 screwmount lens. This camera was available from 1954 through 1956 in every market except the United States, where they were named the "Tower 23".

1954AsahiflexIIb1954 asahiflexasahiflex iibasahiflex 2basahiflex 11b

1954 Asahiflex IIb. This is the 3rd release of the Asahiflex.

1st - Asahiflex I
2nd - asahiflex Ia
3rd - Asahiflex IIb
4th - Asahiflex IIa

The original Asahiflex (Asahiflex I) was the first Japanese 35mm camera, which was based on a 1939 German design. A second release was produced, the Asahiflex IA, with some minor modifications for flash use.

Like most Asahi cameras, there were slight adjustments made during the production cycle. The original IIB has an arrow to point to the shutter speed, whereas later models (like this one shown) use a triangle. After the IIA was released, a round plug will be shown on the front of the camera, presumably so that Asahi could make a single camera housing for both models.

The Asahiflex IIB (Shown here) introduced a unique feature of automatically bringing the mirror down to it's original position using an "Instant Return Mirror". This innovation was a coup for Asahi, as both rangefinder and other 35mm designs required manual intervention to return the mirror to the original position, which caused a condition known as "Mirror Blackout"

1954AsahiflexIIb1954 asahiflex

Here is my Asahiflex IIA, which was the last of the Asahiflex line to be released from 1955 through 1957.

AsahiflexIIAasahiflex IIAAsahiAsahiKogakukogaku50mm3.5

The Asahiflex IIA was a slight improvement over the IIB, introducing slower shutter speeds (note front dial).

AsahiflexIIAAsahiKogakukogaku50mm3.5asahiflex IIA35mm single lens reflex

Here is the exterior box for the IIA. The fcatory would write the model, lens and serial numbers in the appropriate areas of the top decal.

AsahiflexIIA

I was happy to see the serial numbers matched those that were on the camera and lens inside.

AsahiflexIIA

Finally, the interior box for the IIA. This box is in amazing shape and is much more modern than what I was expecting from the 1950s.

AsahiflexIIA

Asahi Optical Company M37 to M42 Adapter.

In 1957, Asahi release the "Asahi Pentax" and with it, they increased the diameter of the lens mount to 42mm. To help customers transition from their Asahiflex to the new camera format, Asahi released this adapter to allow the continued use of existing 37mm lenses.

AsahiflexM37 to M42M37M42adapterAsahiAsahi AdapterAsahi Optical