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...
If you enjoy our videos and like to follow us on Instagram, find us here: / analog_insights

[@stanbat1]

The top plate layout looks a lot like the original Olympus Pen-F. A great story to track down such an obscure thing and then enjoying it. Definitely a pleasurable rabbit hole to explore. Great video as always!

[@headwerkn]

Same with the shutter/iso selection knob location and shutter button. Lots of Pen F DNA.

[@Notso_Wild_Bill]

Pen F married a Spotmatic. Ha! Stay safe.Peace

[@deflatedrubberduck]

Gear Acquisition Syndrome, unfortunately there is no known cure. 😂

[@nev.catalyst7478]

only temporary relief by buying said gear lol

[@MrLukealbanese]

My classic simple SLR from the era is the Miranda Sensomat and the later RE2. It's the most fun taking pictures with these simple cameras 😊

[@mrstandfast2212]

Don't want a cure!

[@samgustafson308]

Imagine trying not to buy too many cameras when the excuse "Well, I can always use it for the channel" exists. I feel for Max.

[@AnalogInsights]

@@samgustafson308 Haha, so true. :D

[@christopherward5065]

The design was a nice distillation that was visually elegant. It reminded me of the Rolleis and Leicas in look. Your mono images are just so soulful and the camera didn’t detract. An excellent find. The Spotmatic has a lot to answer for as a model for other designs.

[@TheBigNegative-PhotoChannel]

So unfair that you say how good this camera sounds and then not showing us first hand. :D only the quiet sound from the ad. fantastic video as always.

[@AnalogInsights]

Sorry about that. Will definitely include that next time I have a similar situation.

[@photobooksandrecords]

So magical! I'm always blown away with the engineering in film cameras. This is a beautiful design.

[@RichardMaguire110]

Thank you, I always enjoy Analogue Insights videos.

[@whitneynikkiwickham]

Every camera has its own personality so naturally purchasing each of interest is important! We all fully support your choices, and given your photos and content here, everything you do brings us all great joy! A purchase well worth the effort and geld! Danke danke! L.G ❤

[@TorToroPorco]

Very charming, brings back memories of the Ricoh Singlex one of my classmates used when I was a child.

[@charlespitts5901]

Great timing! I shot with the Argus branded version of this camera last weekend! I used an adapted (to M42) Leitz Colorplan 90mm f2.5 projector lens. I don't have the results back yet as I still have part of the roll to finish. I really like the push down meter button as I am habitually guilty of leaving camera meters on.

[@davidjb9199]

A great video as usual! While I have been in this game a while (~50 years) I have to admit there is a lot I do not know about camera brands sold in Europe, regardless of where they were made. I really enjoyed your "journey" with this one and it just goes to show that we should not underestimate the quality of products made during the 60's, 70's, etc. That 1st image kind of surprised me with the sharpness and contrast, and while flair control seems a bit weak, that combination still works really well. Besides, for 40 euros I think you got a real bargain. I must confess, you have now piqued my curiosity about this brand....

[@AnalogInsights]

Thank you so much for your kind comment. Really appreciate it and glad to hear I got you curious in the brand.

[@edwardalexander9486]

Really beautiful images. Magic. That slim rectangular shutter release also featured on a compact 35mm 70s/80 - Olympus PEN? I always thought that was a really nice "touch". Cleaning - absolutely totally understand - like a cat rubbing its scent onto an owner! If you connect with it, your images will always (sometimes) be... beautiful. Nice music too! And then not just a box, like an old Stratocaster.

[@AnalogInsights]

Thank you so much for your elaborate comment and kind words. I think you are right about the Olympus PEN comparison. These also feature such rectangular shutter release buttons. And yes, that’s a nice metaphor for the cleaning process. It changes everything. :)

[@johnverna9693]

What a wonderful reason to review a camera! And nice job on the photos -I agree with the person that commented about the lone tree. Beautiful shot!

[@AnalogInsights]

Thank you. That’s very kind.

[@ezpoppy55]

Those rabbit holes we dive into head first can be so much fun! Thank you for sharing your leap of faith. 👍🏼

[@monochromebluess]

Enjoyable video. Rabbit hole’s are never ending.

[@raphanusraphanistrum]

Nice camera!! And very good job!! I was missing a new episode of Analog Insights.

[@rodmund83]

Great episode Max! I like what you said that sometimes the cameras that aren't a part of the 'envogue camera club' can be great little sleeper cameras. It looks like you found one there! Also, the camera was nicer than that jumper 😂

[@FourIntoOne]

Excellent find, and nicely done, thank you

[@innstikk]

Very nice video. The right light-meter switch and the shutter dial reminds me a lot of my Ricoh Singlex TLS camera, which is also M42 mount. So no GAS. No need to pay a lot for a camera when film and lens are the important parts.

[@janjasiewicz9851]

Nice one Max..don't feel "guilty" about getting another camera...how else are we going to preserve Analog? ..Hasen Loecher are a lot of fun...👍

[@gordonshkurhan]

Great episode with a fantastic story, and what a bargain you managed to find. Looking at the photos and the bokeh, it just goes to show that the hype over ultra fast lenses and their exorbitant prices is very much unfounded. You were only able to shoot at maximum f2.8 with the included lenses and the fade off was wonderful. Your concluding remarks about not following trends but looking out for the unique is also very valid. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the "new" camera!

[@f.d.6667]

An obscure gem - used to shoot the obscure region of Hohenlohe? Awesome!

[@SergejKarssen]

You are lyrically gushing over that mechanical shutter sound at two different points in the video and then proceed to NOT let us hear it? German humor is SAVAGE! Aaaah the torture!!! 😩😫😭 Please upload a #short with the sound so that I may sleep again 😂

[@AnalogInsights]

Haha. Sorry about that. Had no bad intentions. ✌🏻😅

[@randallstewart1224]

I'd never heard of this brand before, but there were a number of these rebranded cameras and lenses sold though large retail outlets in Europe in the 1960s and 70s, which went unrecognized elsewhere. What a wonderful purchase at 40 Euros. There were a number of these close-copies, sons of Spotmatic, in the day. Although you can rarely tell great from bad among lenses in YT videos, I wonder where they got the rebranded lenses. So far as you can tell, they look pretty good. CZJ perhaps, keeping with their regional affiliation?

[@grahambell1959]

Wow, great discovery, Max. We shouldn't underestimate Cosina, modern custodians of some great Voigtländer products.

[@AnalogInsights]

So true.

[@nickcosh5947]

Another brilliantly produced video, thank you I really enjoyed it.

[@0liv3r_rr]

The photo with the tree is really nice! kudos max

[@AnalogInsights]

Thanks a lot that you highlighted this one. Really appreciate it. 🙏🏻

[@johnmilner0859]

Enjoyed the video and very nice images.

[@AnalogInsights]

Thank you for your kind comment.

[@SchwarzPoet]

The original camera of this type is the Ricoh Singlex tls from 1967, and there are still so many licensed replicas of this type. Whether from Porst, Revue / Revueflex, Cosina (The Cosina Hi-Lite was launched in 1968, so this is also a licensed replica of the Ricoh Singlex tls.), Chinon, Sigma (whereby the licensed replica from Sigma was also their first SLR camera ever (1976), namely the Sigma Mark1, which I can call my own next week), Sears and so on. The Universa Interflex TL is one of these countless licensed, sometimes slightly modified or refined replicas of the Ricoh Singlex tls. From a purely visual point of view, I also find the Sigma somewhat more appealing than the Uniflex. The rabbit hole in this design is damn deep. If you like, you can delve deeper into this type of construction and the many licenced cameras from many manufacturers that are associated with it. There must be at least 20 different manufacturers and trading companies, some of which have only put their name on it. This should certainly not detract from the quality and robustness of the camera, on the contrary. But as I said, there is much more to discover. 😉

[@AnalogInsights]

Thank you for highlighting this and drawing the comparison with the Ricoh Singlex TLS. I had stumbled upon that during my research as well but found inconclusive statements regarding this connection. Universa apparently did not license from Ricoh but certainly from Cosima. The Porst Uniflex that you are mentioning is again a different camera. The camera-wiki entry for the Ricoh Singlex TLS states: "While there is a notable similarity to the Cosina Hi-Lite the body designs do not exactly match." (camera-wiki.org/wiki/Ricoh_Singlex_TLS) I agree with that statement as the Universe is less curved and nuanced, more lick a solid block. Furthermore, the camera-wiki entry for the Cosina Hi-Lite states: "The front facing shutter-speed dial gives a strong resemblance to the functionally similar Ricoh Singlex TLS of 1967. Close examination will show that every detail differs slightly (e.g. the Hi-Lite has a release catch for the film door on the bottom of the body), and they are not the same camera." (camera-wiki.org/wiki/Cosina_Hi-Lite). Lastly, there are multiple examples of images online showing a Universa Interflex TL with a Cosina lens by default (if it is not shown with an Auto-Universar) which is another slight indication that these came originally from Cosima. Here is one example: www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/camera-10734-Universa_Interflex%20TL.html Taking all this into account, I am fairly certain that they are in the same lineage but don't believe they are the same camera or that Universa licenses from Ricoh.

[@SchwarzPoet]

​@@AnalogInsightsI am not assuming a licence for a 1 to 1 copy, but rather a licence to borrow certain features for your own camera, but to be able to make your own modifications to your own camera. We will probably never know how this really worked out in the end. However, it is certain that the Ricoh Singlex tls was the first camera in which the setting dial for shutter speeds and ISO / ASA values was installed in this position. And as I said, in my opinion, the most visually appealing camera in which this was installed is the Sigma Mark 1, which was / is also the first SLR ever built by the Sigma brand, which was launched in 1976, nine years after the Ricoh. If you want to get the Mark 1 yourself, you'll have to be patient, as it's quite rare to find. 😉 Another striking feature of all these cameras is that the control dial is in the same place on all of them. There is a lot of room for interpretation and speculation. It's no different with other innovations in other cameras. Let's just take Pentax as an example. There are several inventions of new designs and new functions that have been copied by other camera manufacturers or used under licence in their own cameras. As far as the exact agreements were concerned, however, this was done in secret at the time and only came to light as soon as it became visible to the consumer. 😉

[@alexcarrillo5510]

@@SchwarzPoetIt is a Ricoh Singlex, Otherwise Why does it say "MADE IN JAPAN Stamp on the bottom" Plus I have a book publish in 1984 that it title "The Collectors Guide to Japanese Cameras" In which I pick it up in Tokyo in 1992. And there is the Ricoh Cameras plus other models and makes that dates back to the 19th century to Late 1980's

[@SchwarzPoet]

@@alexcarrillo5510 So as far as I know, Ricoh / Pentax, Cosina, Sigma and a few other brands are direct and independent brands from Japan. Just because it says "Made in Japan" doesn't mean that the cameras have to be renamed Ricoh Singlex tls cameras with just the manufacturer's name of the other company stuck on them. It is also likely that this will be the case with some of the more than 20 very similar cameras, but it is more than sporting to say that this is due to "Made in Japan". 😁

[@Festgriff]

As always - very informative and very enjoyable!

[@manugeee]

Thanks for the part, where you talk about that not the newest and hypest camera is needed to have fun in photography. I am thinking about this and why there is always the urge for new stuff. I think I am not the only one that is struggling sometimes, because GAS gets dominant.

[@RadovanFaltus]

Hello Max, as Weincell is pricy and have limited stand by time (max 1 yr said), there is an option the use regular Zinc Air 1,4V cells with passive adapter or simply rubber O-ring to fit mechanically. These I have observed last only 1 mth stand by. I personally like MR-9 original japanese active adapter used with SR-43 cell. SR baterry has virtually unlimited stand by duration. The active adapter is available from our agile Finish fellow shop.

[@johnsomers8269]

I would love to see you use Werra , especially the Werramatic with its 100mm Cardinar and its 35mm Flektagon. These cameras are unique in design, and delicious in performance!

[@kiwipics]

GAS is fun if done cheaply ... Great video as always.

[@AnalogInsights]

So true. :)

[@SchwarzPoet]

So now I can also call myself the proud owner of a Universa Interflex TL, and just like you, of the black version. I still have a bit of work to do before I can take it out, but until then I'll be taking out its adopted sister, the Sigma Mark 1, at the weekend. And of all the many models from different brands, these are the only two with a fixed hotshoe, human I'm happy right now. Who needs the originals from Ricoh, Cosina or Chinon then? 😁

[@blackubuntu]

Looks just like my Ricoh Singlex SLR cameras which were also rebranded as Sears SLRs of the era

[@AnalogInsights]

Apparently these are very similar but not the same. The camera-wiki entry states: "While there is a notable similarity to the Cosina Hi-Lite the body designs do not exactly match." (camera-wiki.org/wiki/Ricoh_Singlex_TLS) This is certainly true when comparing them side by side. Please also see my answer to schwarzpoets comment for more details.

[@fatherchristmas2998]

You know in the old days .you always saw black and white photos for sale. And they all had that certain look

[@mjmolby]

Looks a lot like my Carena MSTL!

[@hiddenplacews]

It is a good old camera. Didn't know it exist. There are so many nice M42 lens out there, cheap! Enjoy and take more photos with it.

[@AnalogInsights]

Thank you for your comment. I will! :)

[@raidriar01]

Have you heard of Leidolf Wetzlar before? I have one of their cameras, an Adams model 351. Highly recommend you check one out if you do more obscure camera reviews, they are very rare though and the story behind the company is very cool and tragic.

[@imac3355]

Great review as always!! Can I suggest a Pignons Alpa? They are on sexy looking slr.

[@AnalogInsights]

Haha, I wish. These are a bit out of my price range. :)

[@jsshayes1]

It looks like a Argus/Cosina STL1000. Had to be made in the same factory. I really love the wider open shots. From a Leica user, it shows you dont need to spend a lot of money to make amazing film photos.

[@Martin_Siegel]

I use hearing aid batteries instead of Wein Cells. 675 is the same size as SR/LR 44.Some spacer might be needed if you need 625 sized batteries. Pack of 6 the same price as 1 Wein Cell.

[@pawenowak4676]

I am asking for a video featuring a zeiss ikon box camera. I like this channel.. Regards

[@johnsomers8269]

The camera looks like a product of Cosina. These cameras were pretty much bullet proof. They were sold under many brands. I sold them under the Argus/Cosine brand, back when!

[@alexcarrillo5510]

As much that I really LOVE your videos that shows Photography Camera History. As it is NOT a Cosina or not close to the Exatka - It is a a Camera that appear in Japan in 1967 A RICOH Singlex 35mm SLR with a Metal Copal Shutter that looks like a camera that was made in Europe. Sorry. Again still love the Videos, 😀😀📸📸

[@AnalogInsights]

Thank you for your comment. I am afraid I have to disagree in this particular case. Please refer to my answer to the comment by SchwarzPoet. It appears straight-forward but the devil is in the detail in this case. Universa did not license from Ricoh (at least there is no evidence for that) and while the Ricoh Singlex is very similar, it is still different from the Cosina Hi-Lite (s. quoted sources in my other response). :)

[@gianlusc]

If it's a Cosina then the quality is certainly there. 🙂

[@AnalogInsights]

True that.

[@Otokichi786]

That looks like a rebadged Ricoh Singlex TLS or a Cosina. Nice, basic 35mm SLRs that will make good pictures and images as long as 135 film is made.

And as always, the price of this camera will tremendously increase due to this.

[@fatherchristmas2998]

I have never heard of it. What draws us. To think of cameras has god like objects. Some one may have a German old camera for me. Let's hope it's a Leica. I've got a medical Leica that I should think is attached to a endoscope your camera photos have a 1960s feel I love that camera that guy built it's a cargo container with a hand built lens in it. It takes beautiful photos the inside of the cargo container is his .dark room

[@SomeUnremarkableGuy]

Looks similar to Exakta Twin TL

[@AnalogInsights]

Yes, apparently the Exakta Twin TL is based on the Cosina Hi-Lite as well: "The Exakta Twin TL was based off the Cosina Hi-Lite, but was not a simple rebadge as it had several changes made specifically for Ihagee such as retaining the Exakta Real’s bayonet lens mount and also including a second shutter release on the photographer’s left side." mikeeckman.com/2021/11/ihagee-exakta-twin-tl-1970/

[@inahaase889]

👍❤

[@dmystify1381]

Nice.

[@Film_Fog]

We all should enjoy cheap film cameras while we can. Prices are only going up from here. No significant new film cameras volumes are being manufactured, and the pool of available second hand film cameras is diminishing each year. At the same time demand is increasing as younger people get into film for the first time but not in enough volume for cameras companies to start producing new film cameras.

[@actionimagesphotography]

light leak in only some of the images... hmmm?

[@AnalogInsights]

Yes, I’ll take care of it soon. Seems like this got worse towards the end of the roll. :)

[@kaarejohansson9994]

!

[@Rkolb2798]

The Cardigan was ugly anyway 😊

[@GonzoTheRosarian]

I could give you a cardboard box with a pinhole in it and your photos would still be excellent….