Miranda Sensorex - A First Look
Don't Judge a Camera by it's Reputation
One of the best parts about being connected to a group of film photography/camera bloggers is that often things get passed around. And by things, I mean cameras. My good friend Jim Grey (Down the Road) offered to send me the Miranda Sensorex that had been passed onto him. I’m not one to look at a gift camera in the film compartment, but Miranda’s doesn’t have the most stellar reputation for quality. It’s easier to find a broken Miranda than a working one. But this is a working one.
It took a bit to reach me due to the postal strike. Jim mailed it out the day before Canada Post workers were locked out by corporate. They then went on the picket lines in a complete shutdown rather than a rotating one to disrupt but not stop the post from moving. I was also sick through most of December and into January, so it wasn’t until early February that I could take this interesting little camera out for a spin.
It took a bit to figure out how to hold the camera; the shutter release is flush with the front section of the camera. You can use either an eye-level or waist-level finder, so the designers had to devise a compromise in where to place the release. But with some work, I settled on having my middle finger release while my thumb could operate the film advance.
The biggest surprise came when I pulled the negatives from the developing tank and found a beautiful set of well-exposed and developed frames. Miranda put more into their lenses than they did into their cameras. This is with only the 50mm f/1.8 lens. Miranda also released a seven-element 50mm f/1.4 lens, which, if I get a chance to find it at a reasonable price, I’ll jump on.
But for now, I’m happy that the camera, battery, and meter work and that they can properly expose the film. The following steps are waiting for a 25mm f/2.8 lens’s arrival, locating something longer (105mm or 135mm), and finding that waist-level finder to have a system I’ll be happy to work with.
All Images Taken in Oakville, Ontario, Canada - February 2025 - Miranda Sensorex - Auto Miranda 1:1.8 f=50mm - Kentmere 400 @ ASA-320 - Kodak HC-110 (1+31) 6:00 @ 20C.
When I went to buy my first SLR in 1971 the choice was down to the Minolta SrT-101 and the Sensorex. After about two-three weeks or asking around I decided on the Minolta. Mostly based on it being the bigger company and most likely to be around. Good idea! Today, besides my massive collection of Minoltas, I have about six of the Sensorex of which five work except for the meters where none work.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen one of these in person, but I’ve always thought they were very good looking cameras. This, the Contarex, and the Exakta Varex cameras have always been on my list of cameras I’d love to buy, but probably wouldn’t love to use. Well written as always, Alex. And the photos look great!