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Closter Princess Junior |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Italy from 1954 to 1956.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 5365
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Closter
The 1950s and early 1960s were a prosperous period for the image of the Italian economy. Vespa, Fiat, Alfa (Gina, Sophia) are emblematic of this era: pleasure, economy, youth, speed...
The photographic industry also played its part. Alongside brands offering low and mid-range products, some manufacturers produced highly regarded cameras. Even if not all of them were named Rectaflex, there was room for companies like Closter, Galileo, and others.
During the 1950s, Closter, a manufacturer based in Rome, produced several series of cameras: Closter, Princess, Sport, C60, and more.
| Model | Year (c.) | Lens | Shutter | Rangefinder | |
| Princess | 1953-55 | Aries 3.5/50 | 1 to 1/300, B | Yes (round window) |
|
| Princess |  |
1955-56 | Aries 3.5/50 | 1 to 1/300, B | Yes |
| Princess Junior |  |
1954-56 | Aries 3.5/50 | 1 to 1/300, B | |
| Princess S | 1955-56 | Aries 3.5/50 | 1/25 to 1/200 | Yes | |
| Princess Junior S |  |
1955-56 | Aries 3,5/50 | 1/25 to 1/200 | |
| Princess II |  |
1957 | Zemen 2.8/50 | 1 to 1/300, B | Yes |
| Princess II | 1957 | Isco Westanar 2.8/50 | 1 to 1/300, B | Yes | |
| Princess Record | 1958 | Aries 3.5/50 | 1 to 1/300, B | ||
The Closter Princess is a fixed-lens rangefinder camera with a capable shutter. The rangefinder's base is quite wide, making it fairly accurate, but since there is no distance adjustment on the lens, you have to turn the horizontally mounted wheel marked "métri" on the top plate. Unfortunately, its position doesn't allow for spontaneity as you need to release the camera with one hand to turn it.
The shutter isn't cocked by film advance; you still have to operate the lever on the shutter itself.
To make the Princess more affordable, Closter expanded the range with models lacking a rangefinder, known as the Princess Junior. Another way to lower the selling price was to offer versions with a shutter lacking slow speeds, designated as the S models.
The Princess Junior is part of the Princess series, but it is the poorer relative, as it lacks a rangefinder. Closter aimed to have a range accessible to the greatest number of people. The Princess Junior was 25% cheaper than the Princess.
It retains the focus distance adjustment via a graduated knob placed flat on top of the housing. Rotating this knob moves the lens block forward and backward.
Notable features also include lens treatment for color and a safety mechanism against double exposure linked to film advancement.
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