I discover a forgotten 35mm classic rangefinder camera – the Futura Standard

The Optische Anstalt company was founded by Fritz Kuhnert in 1942 and introduced its first camera in 1947. It was called the Efka 24, the name derived from the German pronunciation of its maker’s initials plus the fact that it shot 24x24mm square images on 35mm film. Three years later, the better specified Futura Standard was introduced with the more traditional 24x36mm format.

Launched: 1950, Price at launch: about £50, Guide price now: £50-150 depending on lens

The Futura Standard, first in a short line of 35mm coupled rangefinder cameras from the 1950s

The camera here sports a 50mm f/2 Evar lens, named after the maker’s daughter Eva. It’s interchangeable on a screw mount unique to Futura. Also available were 45mm f/3.5, 45mm f/2.8, 50mm f/2.8 and 50mm f/1.5 standards, as well as 35mm f/4.5, 70mm f/1.5, 75mm f/3.8 and 90mm f/5.6 lenses for wide-angle and medium telephoto photography. Focusing is coupled to a coincident image rangefinder in the viewfinder. There are no bright frames in the viewfinder for focal lengths other than the standard lens, but an accessory viewfinder that covered 35-100mm focal lengths was available separately to slip into the accessory shoe. The Compur Rapid shutter sits behind the lens and is speeded 1-1/400sec.

View from the top showing the very simple layout of film wind and rewind knobs, shutter release, rewind lever and a very tiny exposure counter

In 1951, the company name was changed to Futura Kamerawerk and half-a-dozen or so new models with slightly different specs was introduced up until 1956 when the company closed.

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