Miranda Automex III
Name/Title
Miranda Automex IIIEntry/Object ID
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WorkhorseDescription
The Automex III is a sophisticated 35mm SLR known for its distinct "car grille" front plate on the pentaprism—a design carryover from earlier models that used selenium meters. This version transitioned to a CdS (Cadmium Sulfide) light meter, which is located in a prominent "eye" on the front of the body rather than behind the lens. It features a unique dual-mount system (M44 screw and bayonet), allowing for a wide range of optics. The shutter speed dial is unconventionally placed on top of the film advance lever. As part of a modular system, the pentaprism is interchangeable with a waist-level finder, a professional-tier feature that was rare for its price point. The Miranda Automex III represents the peak of Miranda's "pre-Sensorex" era. It is a mechanically dense camera, often praised for its nearly all-metal construction and "over-engineered" feel. One of its most notable technical quirks is the front-mounted shutter release button, which many photographers find more ergonomic than top-mounted releases. The CdS meter is coupled to the shutter speed and aperture (via a specialized mechanical arm on the lens), providing a match-needle exposure system visible inside the viewfinder. This model is a favorite for collectors due to its unconventional aesthetics and its place in the history of independent Japanese camera manufacturers.Category
Camera, 35mm Film, SLR, Project Analog
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