Komaflex-S
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| Style, film format | VP 127 single-lens reflex |
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| Lens, shutter | Fixed, coated f/2.8 65mm Prominar, Seikosha LV leaf shutter |
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| Photo quality | Very good |
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| Ergonomics | Overall very good |
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In the history of photography, there have been very few SLRs for the VP 127 format, and this is the only one sold outside of the Japanese market.
This is a well made camera with solid construction, logical controls and a decent lens.
The Prominar is a four-element Tessar type, and it's set in a Seikosha LV shutter, which means that the shutter speed and aperture dials are locked. Luckily, it is a light lock and is easy to override.
The body has a solid feel, and its popup viewfinder and magnifier will remind you of a Baby Rolleiflex.
It does not have a rapid-return mirror.
There is no separate knob to focus the lens. It's a front-cell focusing optic. The aperture and shutter speed settings are behind the focusing collar, and it is almost impossible to accidentally change those inadvertently while focusing the lens.
The plunger-type shutter release is large enough that it is very easy to find.
The sprung film advance is perfectly shaped with a curve that fits your thumb. It snaps back when you release it.
On the camera that you see here, I was forced to replace the original covering, which half disintegrated and half melted when I tried to clean it.
The lens is not interchangeable although there were accessory lenses that could be fitted to the filter ring. One is a wide angle, and the other is a telephoto. They were sold as a set.