what's he got?

[photax]

Hi Scott !

It is also my first guess: A 1950s Contax, but i`m sure there are some experts at this forum...

MIK

[PeterW]

My first thought was also Contax, but now I'm not so sure. The "vibes" aren't quite right.

It's very difficult to distinguish features, and it seems to be in an ER case, which doesn't help.

That certainly looks like a selenium meter on the top, but it appears to be in a housing that's slightly wedge-shaped and designed into the top plate. The meter on a Contax IIIA is more box-like and looks planted on as an afterthought. It also has a hinged cover on the front that this doesn't seem to have.

Also the lens mounting seems to be too near the top plate, the wind-on and speed setting knob dosn't look quite right and the rewind knob looks too tall.

I might be, and probably am, completely wrong, but if pushed I'd go for one of the lesser-known Japanese rangefinders before they all went over to SLRs, but Japanese cameras aren't in my main field (except Canons of course ) so I've no idea where to look.

PeterW

[scott]

Now that I think about it, Peter's guess sounds better, because I do recall seeing a Japanese RF camera (a Nikon?) that was apparently designed with the Contax in mind: two big, square RF windows, more-or-less symetrically-placed.

[mickeyobe]

What camera has a left handed shutter release?

Unless the photo has been flipped, it appears that his left hand is in a position to press the shutter button.

My guess is an Exa (type 6) with a closed waist level finder.

It was introduced in 1960.

Mickey

[scott]

or he might have been standing in front of a mirror...