|
Closter Princess Junior S |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Italy from 1955 to 1956.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 894
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.
Closter offered a cheaper model in the Princess series than the Princess itself. This was the Princess Junior, which did not have a rangefinder. To achieve an even lower selling price, Closter equipped the Princess Junior with a shutter that lacked slow speeds and called it the Princess Junior S. The maximum speed was limited to 1/200 instead of 1/300.
Interesting links or bibliography :
 Revista Fotografica Italiana de 5/1956 |
Add a link or element of bibliography, a picture taken with this camera, a picture of box or an ads about this camera
Your photos taken with the same camera:
Cameras from Ebay France (Closter) (Uploaded each 3 hours)