Recesky Twin Lens Reflex Camera (DIY)

19

This is a DIY twin lens plastic camera, it is fun to build and yields great results. You’ll have the fun of building your own Twin Lens reflex, and then the pleasure of creating beautiful images with your creation.

Lens : Plastic lens f11
Shutter Speed: 1/150s
Size : 80mm×115mm×70mm
Film type :135(35mm)film
Focus : Visual distance estimated measurement

The Recesky isn’t complex but assembly can be interesting. The simple shutter mechanism cost me the most time. The shutter is comprised of two springs and three plastic parts. I wrestled with the tiny springs and flimsy parts until the shutter cycled reliably. The Recesky shutter should last a while but some spare parts would help me sleep better at night. After conquering the shutter the rest of the camera came together without incident. The single element lenses assemble in just a few moments. The sides of the camera mounted to the face but I had to leave them loose until the film roll components and mirror assembly was installed. Once all of the internals were mounted I snugged up the screws that held the Recesky together.

And then finish!!!!!

I loaded it with Kodak Ektar 100 and these are the results >>>>

written by phiphu on 2010-11-22 #gear #people #film #diy #plastic #35mm #review #twin-lens #plastic-lens #recesky

19 Comments

  1. myriam-l
    myriam-l ·

    this is the clone of the Gakken Flex, right ?

  2. 60b
    60b ·

    I'm sure it is the Gakkenflax but its manufactured by Recesky.

  3. johnccc
    johnccc ·

    Yes .

  4. redfoxdude
    redfoxdude ·

    I like #2!
    @myriam-l: Yeah, it's a clone of the Gakkenflex, but it's slightly different. It's wider than the Gakken, and the rewind knob is moved from the left side to the right, which I actually like because the tripod mount is on the left side. The shutter release lever is curved instead of straight, looks nice actually.

  5. realmustache
    realmustache ·

    looks great! i'm considering buying the blackbird, fly myself

  6. pangmark
    pangmark ·

    fantastic idea. You can see the video of how to put it all together @ otonanokagaku.net/magazine/vol25/mov_make.html

  7. ubmba04jp1
    ubmba04jp1 ·

    I already have a gakkenflex as I live in Japan...and I love it! So where can I get this Recesky-clone-thingy??

  8. shoujoai
    shoujoai ·

    Yesterday I build it together with my girlfriend - she did the most ^_^ wow, it was really complicated without watching a video and just the chinese manual!
    I was a bit disappointed when I realized that there is only one fix shutter speed and no 'B' setting. Still can't decide which ISO to load

  9. paperplanepilot
    paperplanepilot ·

    why are some of the pictures here in square format?

    @shoujoai: theres a youtube video of how you can do bulb in the gakkenflex-i think you can also do it with this camera.

  10. itsnecro
    itsnecro ·

    can this do multiple exposure?

  11. itsnecro
    itsnecro ·

    can this do multiple exposure?

  12. jiwan2011
    jiwan2011 ·

    Hi,

    I am trying to load the film. Everything is fine but the Film Advance Axle/Wheel and the Film Rewind axle/wheel are so lose that I am not able to stretch the film properly. I rotated several frames in the film advance axle, but the stress of the film itself tries to pull the film back (or at least not allow it to be tight) . How can I make it tight and stretched?

    Thank you in advance.

  13. tumbler
    tumbler ·

    I just assembled one myself. Hoping to shoot a testroll today (if weather permits).
    Assembly was relatively easy, but you need to have a little bit of technical insight because the instructions are more or less in Chinglish.
    I am curious about the testroll, however.

  14. worried_shoes
    worried_shoes ·

    I just finsihed to assemble mine. I can´t wait to try it out. The Chinglish in the instructions were really funny. It says it takes 1 hour to assemble in the instructions but think it took me 2 hours. I´m not the quickest of cats when it comes down to techy stuff though.

  15. queloyo
    queloyo ·

    I am just testing mine and it took me like 1 hour to assemble it and this is my first one. I just discovered that you can upgrade the lens to something like f/8 or greater by taking out the ring that makes the lens be a f/11 to take pictures in darker places. Besides that I've not discovered anything else. Well... I hope that helps.

  16. queloyo
    queloyo ·

    Update: I managed to convert the bottom lens in a f/2-ish aperture lens so you can take pictures at night with ISO 400 film :) and I think that you would be able to use a ISO 100 film in sunny days putting the cone-ish thing that goes in front of the lens because f/2 in a sunny day with 1/125 shutter speed would over expose the picture even with ISO 100 film...

  17. syndarapontoh
    syndarapontoh ·

    somebody can help me??
    I have recesky,
    but i had break the part of the shutter,,
    where I can buy spare part for recesky??
    thanks..

  18. reidelbach
    reidelbach ·

    I could really use some help... Just built mine and when I look through the view finder I can see all the edges of the mirror and in the center of that is a circular image of what I'm looking at. It's like the lens isn't magnifying the image enough or something. I havn't had a chance to shoot with it yet so I don't know if the actual photos have the same affect but I'm apprehensive to shoot because I can't see the image well enough to focus, it's just too tiny!

  19. guinastrapazi
    guinastrapazi ·

    is there anything for a flash?

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