Super Speed Cameo

c.1937

Rangefinder Model

Ensign Ltd

London

England

Lens:

Bayonet lens mount.

Construction:

Aluminium with brown crackle paint other parts Florentine bronze finish, brown leather panels and bellows.

Format:

2 ½" x 3 ½" plates held in slides.

Focusing:

Bellows, scale to 3 feet. Second focusing scale for telephoto lens. Double extension.

Attributes:

Coupled rangefinder, split image showing three strips, swing mirror, one window is tinted yellow. Middle strip is direct through the swing mirror, the other two are reflected from the fixed mirror onto the swing mirror. Brilliant view-finder. Eye-level view-finder. Eye-sight correction to rangefinder window.

Movements:

Rise and cross front.

With:

Focusing back. 1 single metal slide.

The Super Speed appeared around the end of 1931 or early 1932 but was not very well advertised. It was a well-made but heavy camera most suited to a market that was fast disappearing in favour of small, light, roll-film cameras.

It was produced in two finishes either black or Florentine bronze and brown Russia leather. Both models were fitted with an f3.5 Ross Xpres, f3.5 Dallmeyer Dalmac or f3.5 Dallmeyer Anastigmat all in rim-set Compur shutters. Shortly afterwards a Dallmeyer f6.5 telephoto was provided.

In 1937 an f4.5 Ensar was introduced along with a cheaper Dallmeyer. The Xpres and Dalmac lenses having been dropped. The price had also been reduced.

The rangefinder version is not mentioned in the Ensign Trade Catalogues.

References & Notes:

Ensign Cat. 1932, p. 27. Ensign Cat. 1934, p. 31. Ensign Cat. 1936, p. 40. Ensign Cat. 1937, p. 45. Phot. Journal, March 1932, p. 140.

Houghton-Butcher Company Details

Early Photography