CORFIELD PERIFLEX CAMERA of 1953

Kenneth Corfield (later Sir) developed this unique 35mm camera in 1953, along with his younger brother, intended to provide some form of through the lens focusing. To compose the picture a viewfinder (missing) is slotted into the bracket (shoe) on top of the camera, Once the shutter had been made ready via the speed dial knob, and the film wound on to prevent double exposure, you had to focus the image, for this it was necessary to lower the inverted periscope positioned in middle of the top of the camera and look down into it. With the sprung loaded periscope raised you have to return to the viewfinder to frame the picture and take the shot.
The Lumar 50mm lens was a Leica screw mount type made by Corfield and had a range of F3.5 to F16, focusing 3 feet to Infinity. Shutter speeds, Bulb and, 30 to 1000 of a second. The first version had a brown pigskin cover, which was later changed to black leather, and was almost identical to this model being the second.
It should be noted that the periscope positioned between the focal plane shutter and the lens only showed a small portion of the image.

A1799