ORION Miranda T 35mm SLR. Made in Japan by the Orion Camera Co. Serial # 554927. Chrome finish. Circa 1955 w/ Miranda 50mm f1.9 lens. The Miranda T model was the first Japanese slr camera with a pentaprism. The Miranda T model camera uses 44mm thread mount lenses. Shutter speed range is 1/500 - 1 second, B on 2 shutter speeds dials. Rare early Miranda body. Camera has matte focusing screen. Camera is in Ex or 8 of 10 cosmetic condition. No dings or dents. Fairly clean vintage chrome finish with a few small marks around mostly on the bottom. Camera is in good working order with no problems. Clear viewing. Good working shutter. Smooth film advance. Miranda 50mm f/1.9 lens. Made in Japan. Serial # Y12463. 44mm thread mount lens. Lens uses approx. 43mm filters. Preset aperture range is f/1.9 - f/22. Minimum focus distance is 16 inches or 0.4 meter. Lens is in Ex++ or 9 of 10 cosmetic condition. No dings or dents. Clean glass. Nice coating. Smooth focusing. Smooth working aperture blades with slight oil on them. Nice example of a rare early ORION Miranda T type 35mm slr camera in good condition. Includes ARCO lens cap. Don't miss this scarce collectible early model ORION T Miranda camera. 

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Orion Camera Co. was the first Japanese company to launch a Pentaprism SLR cameras. Orion Seiki was founded in 1947, first making adapters for other brands, then Supreme lenses, Mirax housings and Focabell bellows. But they were looking to Europe, especially inspired by the Exacta cameras, and produced a PP SLR prototype in 1953, carrying the name Orion Phoenix. Because a West-German company owned the rights to the Phoenix name, they had to rename it before starting production. Under the name Orion Camera Co. they introduced their Miranda T model in 1955. One year later the company name was changed to Miranda Camera Co. after their first model.  Miranda was a sensation in Japan during the first years. Still, they were not financially strong. Their economic base came from their distributor in Japan, who raised the necessary funds to help the promising constructors as they were promoting the Phoenix in 1953. But in 1959 this distributor left Miranda, with the dramatic result that Miranda was not distributed in Japan for four years! The American distributor, Allied Impex Corporation, aka AiC, who already owned Mirandas close partner Soligor, gradually took over the control of Miranda. In 1963, Miranda was back on the Japanese market.

The first series: 1955-1959: 

(1953: Prototype Orion Phoenix)

1955: Orion Camera Co.      Miranda T

1956: Miranda Camera Co.  Miranda T

1957:             "                      Miranda T II

1959:             "                      Miranda S

1959:             "                      Miranda ST

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Sells with NO RESERVE at a price of $1695. I have a huge collection of vintage Miranda Cameras, Lenses and Accessories, Orion Miranda T, Miranda A, Miranda S, Miranda B, Miranda ST cameras, Soligor TM Cameras and Lenses, Miranda-Soligor  Lenses and Camera accessories on my other Auctions, eBay Store and web page.