Who invented the camera lens?

Who invented the single lens reflex camera?

• Answer:

  THE STORY BEHIND YOUR MIRANDA As told by the "Miranda Camera Company" themselves. In 1946 Miranda Camera Company Ltd's pre­decessor firm Orion was established in Tokyo. Initially it manufactured a limited line of photographic prod­ucts, but most of its business was as a top notch service center for professional photographic equip­ment. The company continued to produce photo­graphic accessories for 35mm rangefinder cameras, but in 1948 they very quietly began investigation and development of a revolutionary 35mm SLR. While this development continued, the company consistently made news with pioneering products such as an adapter which allowed owners of Leica type cameras to use Contax or Nikon lenses with it. Probably the first product that earned the company a worldwide reputation was the revolutionary MIRAX mirror box with an interchangeable waist-level viewfinder. This advanced product with its unique engineering gave owners of Leica, Canon, Contax and Nikon 35mm rangefinder cameras a very versatile system with TTL viewing of an upright image. When the MIREX box was put on the market in 1950 it was an immediate hit. Not to rest on its laurels in 1952 the MIREX box was made more versatile with the offering of a Pentaprism viewfinder, which could be interchanged with the waist-level viewfinder. Surely this was a peek into the future. To further advance this amazing invention a telephoto lens was designed to couple with it. This lens was marketed under the name SUPREME and offered a 105mm lens with a speed of f2.8 something unbelievable in 1951. With the introduction of a revolutionary bellows system, the FOCABELL, the owner of a 35mm rangefinder camera / MIRAX box / SUPREME lens / FOCABELL combination could now focus anywhere from infinity to extreme macro-positions. Shades of the modern SLR! The world was unaware when Orion Camera Co. introduced the PHOENIX in 1953. Although only a few hand made samples were available, word spread like wildfire that a new type of camera had been born. The actual production model rolled off the assembly line shortly thereafter, and was marketed in 1954 as the model 'T'. Instead of Phoenix the name MIRANDA was emblazoned on the Viewfinder. The MIRANDA T was the pioneer of a new breed of camera, a 35mm SLR with a built-in mirror housing and upright image Pentaprism. It was the first modern Japanese SLR camera as we know it today. In 1956 Orion Camera Co. became Miranda Camera Co., Ltd., and a year later introduced three new camera models, the MIRANDA A, A2, and B along with a re­volutionary dual reflex Viewfinder, the renowned VF-3. Continuing the extensive series of photographic firsts, Miranda introduced in 1959, the MIRANDA AUTOMEX, the first 35mm SLR camera with a built-in exposure meter coupled to the lens. With world recognition came the increased demand for high quality Miranda products, and so the company after a series of moves settled into what seemed then, a very big factory, its present loca­tion. This factory was expanded many times, and finally in 1970 an additional plant was opened outside of Tokyo. Many Miranda camera models have come and gone, but when the company introduced the MIRANDA AUTOSENSOREX EE at Photokina in 1970 it created a sensation. Here was a completely automatic 35mm SLR with more features than could be imagined. Even today it still ranks as unique amongst other 'EE' type cameras on the market, surely at a price that can't be beaten. A few years ago, the design team at Miranda began analyzing trends, and desires of photographers world-wide. Modern space age, computer technology was ap­plied to the fields of camera and lens design. Work began to minimize the number of mechanical working parts, and make the internal controls completely electronic. The '146' project was begun. No expense was spared to gain the very latest in technological advances. Miniaturized IC circuitry, LED readouts; full information Viewfinder; QIS rangefinder; fast light compact EC lenses; and compact size were all incorporated. In producing the MIRANDA dx-3, the world's first compact, electronically controlled 35mm SLR, the Miranda engineers and designers far exceeded their expectations. Just pick up the compact, efficient, electronic dx-3, and you'll see why, whenever there are optical and photographic innovations, Miranda Camera Co., Ltd. will be there. We've come a long way since the PHOENIX to the MIRANDA dx-3, and we're not finished yet (Probably a little optimistic considering, Phil). First and foremost in photography, "Mi­randa makes sense."