Project Microcord

A British Classic. MPP (Micro Precision Products) Microcord MkII~ Twin Lens Reflex . Manufactured in Kingston-Upon-Thames in Surrey.

I am not big on technical stuff and much more interested in the artistic side of photography however for those who want little of the technical. The camera is fitted with a British made 77.5mm f/3.5 Ross Xpres blue coated lens (supposedly as good if not better than the Schneider Xenar of the Rolleicord ). The shutter is a German made Prontor SVS, the MkI version of the Microcord was fitted with a British made Epsilon shutter (also fitted to many Ensign camera's) and it was the unreliability of these shutters which gave Microcord an early poor reputation.

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The top lens is the viewing lens and the lower lens is the taking or shooting lens. A little dusting off required before use.

The chrome bits are just lens caps.

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The buttons to the left and right of the M.P.P logo alter the shutter speed and the aperture, the settings which can be viewed through a window situated on the top of viewing lens (see next photo)

The lever to the right is shutter delay position M=18 millisec delay , X=Zero delay (good for street) and D=8secs delay (perfecf for selfie).

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The settings for Shutter speed from 1 sec to 1/300 (also bulb setting) and aperture f3.5 to f22

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Also with the camera is a lens hood a filter and what I think is a close up lens.

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It came with a box, instructions and it's own leather jacket.

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The waste level viewfinder is not the brightest I have seen, it does however have a flip up magnifier to assist with focusing.

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I will continue with the story when I decide what film to shoot. This will more than likely be a black and white film if I go into Manchester and a colour film if I stay in the Peak District or around my farm.

I will try to include a blog on loading the film and I will of course upload the results.

I love the introduction in the manual (written in approx 1956) which reads "In this manual will be found a description of the construction of the camera, and the simple instructions necessary to operate the instrument. The manual does not purport to be a treatise on twin-lens photography but we hope that the information provided will prove of value to the newcomers to twin-lens photography and enable them from the very commencement to produce first class negatives.

To be continued ...