Topcon RE Super
John Wade explores the world’s first 35mm SLR camera with though-the-lens metering
LAUNCHED 1963 PRICE AT LAUNCH £211 with f/1.4 Auto-Topcor lens GUIDE PRICE TODAY £120-160 THE FIRST camera with throughthe-lens metering was the 1961 Mec 16 SB, but it was subminiature. It was when Topcon incorporated the feature into a 35mm SLR that TTL metering really took off.
The system works by a specially adapted reflex mirror with a pattern of transparent lines etched into it, allowing some light to pass through the mirror to a CdS meter cell at the rear. The system steals about 7% of the light to the viewfinder but that’s little problem, especially if used with the 5.8cm f/1.4 Auto-Topcor lens.
The focal plane shutter, speeded 1-1/1000sec and released by a front-mounted button beside the lens, is mechanical but a battery, which drops into a compartment in the base of the body alongside the meter’s on/off switch, is needed to fire up the meter.
As apertures and shutter speeds are adjusted, match-needle metering indicates correct exposure in the viewfinder and in a top-plate window. The viewfinder also incorporates a split-image rangefinder.
The Topcon system includes eye-level and waist-level viewfinders, interchangeable focusing screens, extension tubes, bellows, slide copying and microscope attachments, electric motor drive and a wide range of bayonet-fit lenses with Exaktastyle mounts, from 25mm wideangle to 300m telephoto.
What’s good
Choice of viewfinders, TTL metering, mechanical shutter.
What’s bad
Meter can be erratic, Exakta-style mount restricts choice of extra lenses.