Kobena 421

Kobena 421

Year: 1966-71

Lens: 1,8 / 8,5 - 35 mm

Auto / Manual Zoom

Frame rates: 12, 18, 24

Manual / Auto Exposure (Not TTL)

Remote control socket

No sound

4 X AA batteries and separate meter battery

Made in Japan

Manufacturer: Kopil

Original price in England (in the year of introduction): £61

Comments

I owned one of these many years ago. The cartridge ASA sensing was by way of a pin that slid down to the end of the cartridge slot as the door was closed. Where it stopped was the film speed setting. The book quoted a maximum film type of 400 ASA.

I think the film compartment had a filter key sensing pin. For normal tungsten use a screw filter key was screwed into the top of the camera.

The metering was accomplished using a separated sensing wndow driven by its own meter battery. Metering had to be turned on and off separate to the camera being turned on and off, using a dial switch, but this also doubled to set exposure manualy, the setting of which could be seen in the viewfinder.

The camera sported quite a long telephoto setting but the focusing was totally manual by setting the distance by the lens marks. Their was no focusing aid such as a micro prism.

When filming against a bright sky it had a tendency to under expose, consequently due to this and lack of focusing aid I ended up with quite a lot of under exposed or out of focus shots. It was a really solid camera though and quite heavy.

All done from memory so I hope it is of some help.

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