CURIOSITIES about MIRANDAs
![Picture](/uploads/1/0/2/0/10205587/3457060.jpg)
First something strange about Miranda F, the late one in 1967, that stripped version with shutter speed to 1/500 sec. One can read everywhere, that this model has speed up to 1/500, unlike the previous F model which speed range was to 1/1000. But on this 'stripped' model, on the shutter speed dial there is an empty place after the 500 marker. You can set the shutter to that 'empty speed', and then the shutter works on 1/1000 speed! Speed which was to be absent. You cant judge the proper timing of that speed by ear. It really is 1/1000 sec speed!
This was once a widespread practice among the manufacturers of photographic equipment. From a marketing point of view sometimes there was a need to put on the market a cheaper version of an existing camera, and cheaper meant a simpler or cut of some of the features. Of course it was easier to just remove a marker from the shutter speeds wheel, than do all the complicated mechanism locking highest speed.
So, the final model 1967 of Miranda F in fact has the shutter speed up to 1/1000. The limitation is only on the knob, where the number 1000 was not engraved and the scale is ending on the 500.
Funny, isn't it?
Next - the curiosity relates to a dedicated Miranda G clip-on light meter, that coupled with shutter speed. Its such a gizmo, that you have to remove the knob where speeds are engraved, and then the meter can be assumed. This is because Miranda F (II), FV and G had the screw in the middle of the speed dial, the one you can unscrew with the coin. Only after removal this knob the meter can be mounted.
And now - on the meters knob there are printed shutter speeds, from 1 to 1000 and B - so you can set the proper speed. But you can set all the speeds but B! Mechanical design does not allow the meter to select the speed of B - so what was the reason to print it on the knob? To be fair, manual mentions this in one place.
By the way, Miranda says, that this light meter is the lightest and smallest on the market among the others clip-on meters - and its easy to believe it. And once more - in the meter there is a tiny window, through which - in theory - one could read the film counter, which is completely covered by the meter itself. I wonder if its possible without the endoscope...
This was once a widespread practice among the manufacturers of photographic equipment. From a marketing point of view sometimes there was a need to put on the market a cheaper version of an existing camera, and cheaper meant a simpler or cut of some of the features. Of course it was easier to just remove a marker from the shutter speeds wheel, than do all the complicated mechanism locking highest speed.
So, the final model 1967 of Miranda F in fact has the shutter speed up to 1/1000. The limitation is only on the knob, where the number 1000 was not engraved and the scale is ending on the 500.
Funny, isn't it?
Next - the curiosity relates to a dedicated Miranda G clip-on light meter, that coupled with shutter speed. Its such a gizmo, that you have to remove the knob where speeds are engraved, and then the meter can be assumed. This is because Miranda F (II), FV and G had the screw in the middle of the speed dial, the one you can unscrew with the coin. Only after removal this knob the meter can be mounted.
And now - on the meters knob there are printed shutter speeds, from 1 to 1000 and B - so you can set the proper speed. But you can set all the speeds but B! Mechanical design does not allow the meter to select the speed of B - so what was the reason to print it on the knob? To be fair, manual mentions this in one place.
By the way, Miranda says, that this light meter is the lightest and smallest on the market among the others clip-on meters - and its easy to believe it. And once more - in the meter there is a tiny window, through which - in theory - one could read the film counter, which is completely covered by the meter itself. I wonder if its possible without the endoscope...