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Leaf shutters

A clockwork mechanism consisting of identical overlapping metal blades

Most fixed lens rangefinder cameras use what is called a leaf shutter; a shutter consisting of very fine overlapping metal blades (leaves) which open and close in order to expose the film for a specified period of time to capture an image. The shutter is a clockwork mechanism and is powered by a strong spring tensioned by setting the shutter speed and charged by advancing the film before each exposure.

The manufacture of these shutters is highly specialised and camera manufacturers do not make their own. Shutters most commonly found in these rangefinders were made by Japanese companies Citizen, Copal and Seiko.

  • Rangefinder Cameras
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About Ilott Vintage

A valuable reference for anyone wanting to learn more about rangefinder cameras, manual film photography, or both, this website is intended to serve not only as a resource to discover some amazing objects but also as a place to learn more about them, to understand exactly what they are capable of, and why. Read More

See Also
  • Minolta AL
  • Canonet QL17 Clean, elegant design, a fantastic lens and near silent operation
  • Minolta Hi-Matic 9 Mahogany
    Minolta Hi-Matic 9 All the quality of the 7s with an improved, faster lens
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    Wednesday 8th February 2023