Franka Frankarette LR II Xenar

Franka Frankarette LR II Xenar 45mm F2.8 (1959) - This is a camera from Franka (フランカ), a German camera manufacturer.

While not very well-known in Japan, the company has a relatively long history, founded in 1909. In 1958, they released the "Super Frankarette," a 35mm rangefinder camera praised as the "best Frankarette," and at the time, the company had produced a total of 650,000 cameras.

Many Franka cameras are equipped with Schneider lenses, and the Frankarette LR II features the Tessar-type Xenar 45mm F2.8, a renowned lens. It was highly regarded for its excellent image quality from the time it was released. The lens name comes from the element Xenon, with atomic number 54, or from the Greek word "Xenos," meaning "unknown," which is the origin of the element's name. This brand is the company's signature lens.

The camera's exterior has few scratches, and the plating is clean. The covering leather has faded, so it has been repainted, giving it a glossy finish. The lens has been cleaned, and the shutter and aperture are in good working order. The light meter is also functioning, and as it is a light value type, adjusting the values will link the aperture and shutter speed. This is what would be called program auto today.

What determines the ease of use of this camera is actually the viewfinder. It is equipped with a rarely seen 1:1 viewfinder. You can focus while keeping both eyes open. The deep eye relief allows for focusing even with glasses.

The viewfinder is prone to scratches, so only cleaning has been performed.

Thank you.