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The Zeca-Flex is one of the rarest folding 120 film cameras. It's a real TLR camera, 6x6 format. There were just a few folding TLRs and only two models for 120 film, the Zeca-Flex and the Welta Perfekta (Superfekta). Both were made in the 1930s, before 135 film was made popular. The Zeca-Flex was first issued in 1937 by the Zeh-Camera-Fabrik Paul Zeh, Dresden (brand: Zeca since 1922).

It's different from other folding TLRs in using 
different focal lengths for the viewing and taking lens. A smaller viewing lens doesn't need a full size mirror nor a full size screen. This has three advantages: the viewing lens  can sit closer to the taking lens, the mirror doesn't need a folding mechanism and the viewing screen and it's housing are much smaller. Only the taking lens unfolds, like any other folder, however you need a sophisticated mechanical link to move both lenses proportional to their focal length.

Size (mm): 182 x 95 x 65 (50 most of the housing)
Weight: 1020 g
Lens: Schneider Xenar 3.5/75, closest focus 0.9 m, viewing lens F 2.9
Shutter: Deckel (Compur-Rapid), T, B, 1- 1/400, F 3.5 - 22
Finder: TLR focusing screen, swiveling magnifying glass intergrated in housing
Film advance: number indication device, first frame via red window

Here are some photos of the camera. There is a short introduction to the use of it and how it feels at the bottom of the page.

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Camera front closed. Lens cap from a polaroid 402.

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Cap taken off.

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Seen from the back. Red Window. There are variants with a sliding cover for the red window instead of the hinged one.

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Seen from the left side. Focusing wheel, film counter, film advance.

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Seen from the right side. Opening button.

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Camera front open.

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Seen from above, focusing screen housing open.

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Another view from above.

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Taking lens and shutter. There are variants with Compur (non Rapid) shutters. I haven't seen other lenses than the Schneider.

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Viewing lens. Distance indication scale above the lens.

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Left side, camera open.

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Right side, camera open.

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Focusing screen, quite luminous (yes, it has to be cleaned). Focus on window frame, distance ca. 1 m.

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Tip-up stand unfolded.

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Camera back open.

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Film chamber.

Handling a Zeca-Flex is easy, fluid and logical. It feels sturdy. It can fit into a coat pocket, but it's quite heavy. Unfolding is very easy. Focusing via a screen is precise, a
swiveling magnifying glass intergrated into the housing of the screen helps a lot.

Film loading is very easy as well. Both spools sit in a cradle, easy to lift, no fiddling to get the spools into place. Lift the film advance button and swivel the cradle out (it's hinged), put the empty spool and reinsert. Take out the other cradle, put the film spool into place and reinsert. Insert film paper into the empty spool and advance to make shure it's taken. Close the back and advance to the first frame via the red window. Action the little lever of the film counter, it moves to "1". 

Open the camera (small button on the right, toward the top) and slide the front into place until it engages firmly. Cock the shutter (except for B and T), set speed and aperture. Open the screen housing, set focus via the dented wheel (top left). Action the shutter release. That's it. To close the camera put your thumbs on the two levers on both sides of the back door, your index fingers on the rails of the front and hold the camera with the other fingers under the camera bed. Lift the levers, and with a little pressure from your index fingers it will fold easily.
After the first photo, turn the advance knob until the line under the next number matches the notch. It doesn't stop automatically.

I haven't seen any camera manual yet. So if you have one, please let me know.

Zeca-Flex1020182 x 95 x 65(50)TLRAuto, RWSchneider Xenar 3.5/75 | 0.9Deckel, T B 1- 1/400 | 22Folding TLR, F2.9 viewing lens

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