Released in 1953, the Rectaflex 1300. Along with the Contax S, it was one of the first SLRs equipped with a pentaprism. Its elegant body and logo design, characteristic of Italian craftsmanship, are also attractive, and it is quite user-friendly.
Among the various Rectaflex models, the 1300 is the most produced model.
Rectaflex, like Alpa, had a variety of lenses available. From Germany: Schneider, Zeiss, Kilfit, Schacht, Voigtlander, Rodenstock. From France: Angenieux, SOM Berthiot, Boyer. From the Netherlands: Old Delft. From its home country Italy: Galileo, Filotecnica, Akton, etc.
The numerous renowned lenses make one dream of someday completing a collection, though some are extremely rare and almost mythical.
This item comes with the relatively easy-to-obtain and excellently performing Angenieux 50mm f1.8 Type S1 lens.
Acquired in Italy during a European buying trip in the summer of 2022. This unit had been cherished by an Italian collector for a long time.
The body shows slight scuffs around the winding dial, top cover, and bottom cover due to tripod use, but there are no noticeable scratches or dents, and it has a very clean appearance. The Angenieux lens also shows little signs of use, and the chrome plating on the barrel shines beautifully.
The lens underwent a full overhaul in 2023. Thanks to careful maintenance, the aperture and helicoid still offer a pleasant operation feel. The lens has a few minor cleaning marks, but there are no significant haze or balsam separation issues, making the glass very clean for an Angenieux S1.
While currently out of stock, if you attach a Rectaflex to Leica L-mount adapter, you can enjoy the rendering of the Angenieux S1 on modern digital Leica M models and mirrorless cameras.
The actual shooting results are good. Sample images are posted in our test shooting gallery. The photos were taken with a Sony α7III using an adapter. The images were shot before the lens overhaul, and there is a slight whiteness in backlit conditions, but it shows the characteristic rendering and bokeh of the Type S1. After the overhaul, you can expect even sharper rendering.
An Exakta spool is included. The original box, with its characteristic Italian color scheme, will add a touch of elegance to your collection shelf.
