Discovering the Plascaflex PS 35: A Vintage Gem for Film Photography Enthusiasts

For film photographers like myself, discovering unique cameras often feels like stumbling upon hidden treasures. My latest find, the Plascaflex PS 35, a TLR (twin lens reflex) camera from the 1950s, has become one of those unexpected gems in my collection. As a 6×6 medium format camera, it follows in the footsteps of my beloved Holga 120, but with a lot more charm and history.

Why I Bought the Plascaflex PS 35 (Even Though It Might Have Had Light Leaks)

It all started with a spontaneous decision. A student from UCL was selling her Plascaflex PS 35 online, and while she warned about potential light leaks, I couldn’t resist the camera’s unique design. Something is appealing about cameras with a bit of character—even if that means they might let in some extra light here and there.

On the day I went to pick it up, I grabbed an old roll of Ilford HP5 400 120 film from my fridge—an impulse buy from my student days, with an unknown expiration date. I loaded the film into the Plascaflex and shot all 12 exposures in different settings, hoping to see what this quirky camera could do. After developing the film at home, I was shocked to find that not only were there no light leaks, but the exposures came out perfectly. For a camera known for its quirks, it was a very welcome surprise.

A Brief Dive Into the History of the Plascaflex

The Plascaflex PS 35 has a fascinating backstory. Produced by Montanus Camerabau, a subsidiary of the German plastics company Potthoff, this camera was born in 1952 as part of the wave of innovation in the early post-war years. Potthoff specialized in plastics, and the Plascaflex was their first foray into cameras, with a body made from bakelite-like polymer.

While the Plascaflex was an interesting creation, Montanus Camerabau couldn’t keep up with rising competition from Japan in the 1960s, and camera production ceased. The company itself continued on until 1978, but the Plascaflex has since become a rare find, especially outside of Germany.

Technical Specs of the Plascaflex PS 35

Here’s a quick rundown of the Plascaflex PS 35’s specs:

• Film Type: 120 films with 12 6×6 cm exposures per roll
• Taking Lens: 75mm f/3.5 Plascanar Anastigmat
• Viewing Lens: f/2.8 Plascanar
• Viewfinder: Folding viewfinder with ground glass focusing screen
• Shutter: Prontor-S shutter with speeds from B to 1/300 seconds
• Exposure Meter: None
• Battery: None required
• Flash Mount: PC socket
• Unique Feature: A reserve film holder that doubles as a magnifier for the ground glass

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Using the Plascaflex PS 35: A Hands-On Experience

My first venture into medium-format photography was with the Hasselblad 500c, a camera that oozes professionalism. The Plascaflex PS 35, however, is a different beast entirely—more simple and stripped down, but no less intriguing.

The camera’s TLR design means you’re looking through one lens while taking the photo through another. It has a foldable viewfinder with ground glass, and you hold the camera at waist level while composing your shots. One quirk of the viewfinder is that it reverses the image horizontally, so the left is right, and the right is left. While this takes some getting used to, I’ve found it helps with composition—it forces you to think more creatively about the shot.

That said, focusing can be a challenge. The viewfinder is dim, especially in low light, and the minimum focusing distance isn’t forgiving. This camera thrives outdoors in bright conditions, where the viewfinder comes alive and focusing becomes much easier.

One of the most unique aspects of the Plascaflex PS 35 is its film advance system. Unlike more modern cameras, there’s no automatic advance mechanism. Instead, you use a film advance knob on the right side of the camera and watch the exposure numbers appear through a small red window at the back. This manual approach adds an extra layer of care to the process—you have to be mindful not to accidentally double-expose your frames or skip one entirely. But once you get into the rhythm, it’s quite satisfying.

Loading the film is as simple as it gets. You load the film onto the bottom spool, roll it onto the take-up spool, and keep advancing until the frame numbers appear. It’s as basic as a camera gets—a true dark box with a lens.

Final Thoughts: Is the Plascaflex PS 35 Worth It?

The Plascaflex PS 35 isn’t just another vintage camera—it’s a piece of photographic history, albeit a little-known one. After using it, I can say that while it may not be as sophisticated as a Hasselblad or even a Yashica D, it has its special charm. The manual film advances reversed images in the viewfinder, and the overall simplicity makes it a camera for those who enjoy slowing down and embracing the imperfections of film photography.

What makes it even more fascinating is how little information is available about it online. If you’re lucky enough to find one, it feels like you’re stepping into the shoes of an early post-war photographer, experimenting with new technology in an era where plastics were just beginning to revolutionize camera design.

So, is the Plascaflex PS 35 worth your time? Absolutely—if you’re a film lover who enjoys a bit of history, mystery, and a camera that forces you to slow down and savour the process. Give it a shot; you might just find, like I did, that this obscure German camera is full of surprises.