"First Drive" of my Phenix 205E

I am writting a short report of my first use of Phenix 205E. Some

may find to be useful. I havn't found any "proper" report on this

camera yet. The Phonix 205E I am using is all chrome (including

lens barrel) version with light meter, multiple exposure feature, and

self timer which equips with 50mm/2.8 (4 element/3 group) leaf

shuuter lens (f2.8-22, B, 1-1/300).<br>The overall build quality is

good but not as good as Japanese fixed RF cameras built in 50's-

70's.<br>The hotshoe of my Phenix 205E is a little bit misaligned.

The gap between the top edge of the film back and Chrome top plate

(back and lower edge) seems about half mm too wide. Other than that,

it is all metal beautifully build about the same size of an Leica M6.

<br> The worst part of this camera is that the light meter is useless

(not accurate) and cannot be turn off without taking the batteries (2

SR44/LR44) out. <br>The good part of this camera is that it features

very bright 1:1 (life size) view finder. It is even better my

Leica .85 finder. It is real joy to look thru the VF and focus.

The shutter is pretty quiet (quieter than Leica M6) but an average of

my old fixed lens Japanese cameras. <br>The winder is bit noisy but

very smooth to use. The lens is good. I havn't use it wide

open.<br>There is a multi-exp lever on the lens which will wind the

lens and film will not advance.<br>Two photos provided which

demostrate this lens at f16/22<div></div>

Another photo taken by Phenix 205E.<div></div>

When was it made?

I bought it new. Provbably made in last few years in China. I don't know when it was introduced. Some source said it was introduced in 70's but I doubt it.

Kenny, I bought this same camera in Shanghai about a year ago. Does your camera have the brown leather? Although I'm not sure it's leather. Mine had a very strong petroleum odor to it. It took months for it to dissipate, and it's now sitting in storage.

I have one too, but the meter is absolutely useless.

 

The finder is a marvel and the only remarkable thing about the camera. Much better than Leica.

 

The lens is never sharp.

 

Overall it is better to buy a Canonet.

The camera comes with vinyl(?) camera case. My camera did has strong odor from the box. I put it on open shelf for a month then the odor dissipates mostly. The lens will perform best at f11 like most tessar lenses. Here some <a href="http://homepage1.nifty.com/fukucame/houou.htm">more examples </a>from a Japanese site.

Hi, I did google search and I found Phenix 205E was introduced in 1997. This model was based on Seagull 205 (1969) model. See the <a href="http://www.cameraunion.net/bingqiku/phenix/phenix-rf.htm">Hierarcy</a> of 205 cameras.

FYI, it's a pretty close copy of the Konica Auto S series, with a different lens and the addition of an LED meter readout, I believe. I don't think the Phenix I tried had a 1:1 finder - it was more like the x0.6 finder on the Konica.

If I have to say the Phenix 205E is more like an Olympus SP. Both have flat top plate (Konica auto S has lower shoulder for the winder and bigger filter size) and 49mm filter size. As for the 1:1 view finder on the Phenix 205E, it is stated in the manual (written in Chinese) and I also verify just by looking thru the VF and also comparing that with my Leica M6 .85 VF. No doubt Phenix 205E has 1:1 VF.