The Miranda Camera Company, originally named the Orion Camera Company, manufactured cameras in Japan between 1955 and 1978. Their first camera was the Miranda T. Many of their products were single-lens reflex cameras for 135 film (35 mm). Unlike many Japanese made cameras, Miranda did not make their own lenses and had to rely on other manufacturers to supply them.
Mirandas were solidly-built SLRs, popular with amateurs and even a few professionals. Interchangeable finders made them quite versatile, but the proprietary lens mount limited the range of available lenses, all of which were made by other manufacturers. The lens mount was double, incorporating separate bayonet and screw mount fittings. The inner, threaded part was used with heavy lenses and legacy lenses with pre-set diaphragms.
Miranda was apparently the first Japanese SLR manufacturer, and for a time, Miranda used to compete with Nikon and Topcon for build quality and optics. The Miranda was also sold as Soligor in Europe.
Miranda advertisements, with a touch of humour, declared that the Miranda 'Separates the men from the boys’ and promised the photographer the same benefits as a Charles Atlas course. On a beach, the ‘Man with the Miranda’ is admired by a bathing beauty, while a skinny wimp with an ancient bellows camera stands forlornly by.
Mirandas were solidly-built SLRs, popular with amateurs and even a few professionals. Interchangeable finders made them quite versatile, but the proprietary lens mount limited the range of available lenses, all of which were made by other manufacturers. The lens mount was double, incorporating separate bayonet and screw mount fittings. The inner, threaded part was used with heavy lenses and legacy lenses with pre-set diaphragms.
Miranda was apparently the first Japanese SLR manufacturer, and for a time, Miranda used to compete with Nikon and Topcon for build quality and optics. The Miranda was also sold as Soligor in Europe.
Miranda advertisements, with a touch of humour, declared that the Miranda 'Separates the men from the boys’ and promised the photographer the same benefits as a Charles Atlas course. On a beach, the ‘Man with the Miranda’ is admired by a bathing beauty, while a skinny wimp with an ancient bellows camera stands forlornly by.