Duaflex II - Vintage Camera 620

[PHOTO] Duaflex II - taken with Nikon D40

Here is the second of my vintage cameras a Kodak Duaflex II.

Freshly cleaned today (instructions further down this blog post).  His only flaw is the top piece of covering has come unstuck and seems to have been like that for many years.  Hmmm … to glue or to remove …

The Duaflex II has a large bright viewfinder that I could look through all day!  It’s like magic :)  And it turns the world back to front too.  Pure joy!

[PHOTO] Duaflex II back

Can’t wait to run some film through him. He takes 620 film which is no longer made but you can respool 120 film onto a 620 spool and make an old camera come alive again

But he’s also perfect for TTV or Through The Viewfinder photographs - where you take a photo of the image you see through the viewfinder of another camera.

[PHOTO] Duaflex II

Here’s one of my first TTV taken before I cleaned up the insides.  I don’t have a “contraption” to block light and stop reflections off the viewfinder yet.  So there’s an odd hint of my hands and camera lens in there too.

[PHOTO] TTV Ceiling - taken with D40 through Duaflex II

[PHOTO] TTV Odds and Ends - taken with D40 through Duaflex II

Cleaning Your Duaflex II 

I had some problems finding a guide for cleaning the lens and viewfinder of my Duaflex II especially as it has rivets around the front lens plate and a lot of US folks seem to have screws on the front.  I heard it was not worth the hassle of cleaning the interior lens.  But my lens was very dirty so I was brave and took it apart myself.

And I discovered it’s a straightforward job. So I thought I’d share how …

Here’s how to access the interior lens for your Duaflex II (with rivets on the front):

You will need a small flathead screwdriver (with a thin head).

Remove the viewfinder assembly from the top of the camera by removing 4 flathead screws.

[PHOTO] Duaflex II top

You will have a pile of bits as follows: a small metal plate that the back slips into, 2 hinges for the cover, the cover (in one piece), the bubble viewfinder piece, the viewfinder mount with a hole for the bubble, a paper washer that fits between the bubble and the viewfinder mount. In the viewfinder mount are two pieces of flat cord in two slots that the cover slides into.

If you go to these 2 photos on Flickr (by clicking on the image) they have notes about what the different bits are if you get stuck …

To access the interior lens and to have easy access to clean the mirror and front viewfinder lens now remove the backplate by removing the 3 screws from the hinge on the outside of the camera.

You can then prise the front plate off - pulling it forwards off the camera body. (I had to coax it by lifting the plate with my screwdriver. There’s a rubber seal under the hinge area which needed some persuasion to lift off.)

You have now have full access to clean your interior lens, interior viewfinder lens and easy access to clean the viewfinder mirror.

Re-assemble! Slide the front plate back onto the camera body (there is a pin on the front right hand side which corresponds to a hole in the front plate), then wiggle the rubber seal (where the hinge fits) back under the front plate. Make sure the screw holes line up. Put the two silver decorative pieces back onto the front plate. Place the back plate back on the camera and screw the hinge back on.

Drop the square bubble into the hole at the top. Place the paper washer over the edges. Then place the viewfinder mount back on the top of this placing the edge with gap at the back of the camera (making sure you fit it over those silver decorative pieces to hold them in place).

Holding the viewfinder mount in place put the cover back in place in the upright position at the front. Pop the hinge back over the pins in the side of the cover, hooking over the pins on the viewfinder mount and screw making sure the plate is far enough back to hold the back on firmly.

Place the small long metal plate and screw making sure the plate is far enough back to hold the back on firmly.

Enjoy your freshly cleaned camera!