Periflex camera

35mm camera for 24 x 36mm pictures. Coated Lumar X lens. F:50mm f/3.5-16. Front cell focusing. Fabric focal plane shutter 30/60/125/250/500/1000/B. Preiscopic reflex focusing aid. Small mirror on spring loaded column can be pushed into lens path for critical focusing. Push on adaptor with mirror for eyelevel use, parked, on rewind knob when not required. Optical direct vision finder fitted in accessory shoe. Coaxial flash socket. Interlocked shutter release. Corfield Ltd. c.1954. Overall: 84 mm x 140 mm x 78 mm.

Periflex Camera made by Corfield Limited in Wolverhampton, c. 1954.

The Periflex was an economically priced, quality 35mm camera, made to be compatible with Leica lenses. The usual rangefinder was substituted for a periscope (hence the name Periflex) which lowers behind the lens for focussing. The periscope is then retracted and the photograph can be taken. The camera also had a separate viewfinder to compose the image. Shortly after the camera was launched, a favourable review was published in ‘Amateur Photographer’ and as a result demand for the camera far exceeded the manufacturer’s expectations.