€90
Star Lot : An 'SEM Semflex TLR' studio medium format 120 film camera. RRP:€599
Short History of the SEM Semflex TLR
The Semflex is a French twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera produced by SEM (Société des Établissements Modernes), founded by engineer Marcel Ginestet in 1947. SEM was one of the few French companies to manufacture high-quality TLRs during the post-war era.
Key Historical Points
Production Period: Late 1940s through the 1960s.
Design: Inspired by the Rolleiflex/Rolleicord style, the Semflex used 120 film and produced 6×6 cm images.
Variations: SEM released many models—Standard, Oto, Studio, Sport, Automat—each offering features such as improved shutters, self-timers, or automatic film transport.
Lens Quality: Many Semflex cameras were fitted with Berthiot or Angénieux lenses, giving them a strong reputation for sharp, contrasty images.
Market Role: The Semflex became popular among French photographers, press agencies, and studios as a more affordable European alternative to German TLRs.
End of Production
By the late 1960s, SEM could no longer compete with the rise of Japanese 35mm SLRs, and production of the Semflex line eventually ceased.
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