Universa Interflex TL Review - An Obscure 1970s SLR Discovered by Accident

In this episode, I review the Universa Interflex TL, a rare 35mm single lens reflex camera which I accidentally stumbled upon on Instagram via a video ad by the fashion brand Brunello Cucinelli. At first, I mistook the camera for a Leicaflex SL2. A closer look revealed that I had never seen this one before. Driven by curiosity I started researching the camera and realized that it is quite rare. So I ended up looking for a used model on eBay. I fortunately found one with two lenses for 40 Euro and did something pretty irrational given all the cameras in this household - I bought it. Simply because of its look, obscurity and barebones features. So instead of driving my attention to a 4.500 US dollar cardigan, the Brunello Cucinelli ad managed to make me buy a 40 Euro camera off eBay.
The camera features a M42 mount and came with a 135mm f/2.8 Auto-Universar and 50mm f/1.8 Auto-Universar lens.
After it had arrived, I took the camera and lenses through some initial cleaning and fixed the battery compartment to get it going again. I diligently cleaned all the nooks and controls with Isopropanol and tried hard to make it look like new again. I then tested the shutter speeds with the Filmomat Photoplug to make sure that all times are correct and the camera would expose the film correctly. I also replaced the somewhat goofy Camera Caddie strap with a modern Oberwerth strap and removed the ever-ready case. Since the 50mm didn’t come with a lens hood I went to Foto Sauter in Munich and luckily found a vintage Pentax one that fits quite fine.
It was finally time to take the camera out for some first test roll. Let’s take a closer look at this obscure camera, its features and the images it produces.
Gear used:
Universa Interflex TL with
50mm f/1.8 Auto-Universar
135mm f/2.8 Auto-Universar
Films used:
Ilford FP4+
Kentmere 400
References:
shop.brunelloc...
camera-wiki.org...
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