Pekka Buttler (8/2025)
Miranda mount specifications and identification
Mount type:
• Female Bayonet mount (the prongs are on the camera) with four prongs, lens release on lens)
• Thread mount (44 mm x 1)1
Flange focal distance: 41,50 mm
Sensor/film size: 36mm x 24mm
Mount communication:
• Depends on version (see more below).
Key characteristics of the Miranda mount:
[1] Four-pronged female bayonet mount (prongs are on camera), all edges straight
[2] Aperture stop-down lever at 06:00. (manual and preset lenses lack this as well as those Miranda lenses fitted with a PAD/pod)
[3] Aperture stop-down button (for depth-of-field preview)
[4] Lens release button
[5] Lens release mechanism (when button [4] is pressed, this blocking mechanism retreats, allowing the detaching of lens) (Note! Some early lenses combine [4] and [5] into one lever.)
[6] Orientation indicator for mounting lenses.
[7] Orientation indicator for mounting some attachments (including some bellows). Later Miranda cameras do not have this.
[8] Inner thread mount (44 mm diameter, 1 mm thread pitch)
Basic Information on the Miranda mount(s):
The Miranda mount was used by Miranda camera company (see JAPB company profile) for its 1955–1976 series of interchangeable lens SLR cameras.
Looking at the Miranda mount from the camera-side, the Miranda camera has two mounts: One prominent four-pronged bayonet mount as well as an internal 44 mm thread mount. The original logic with the dual mount system seems to have been to use the Miranda bayonet mount for auto aperture lenses, while reserving the 44 mm thread mount for use with preset aperture lenses. For clarity these will be referred to as ‘Miranda Bayonet’ and ‘Miranda M44’ respectively.
The Miranda mount however offered an added bonus, in that the wide-ish mount diameter in combination with a very short Flange focal distance made it a more than workable alternative to adapt a wide range of other lenses to your Miranda camera. This seems to have been a very much intentional policy as from a very early stage2 Miranda offered adapter rings for using other mainstream lenses on the Miranda camera. See more under ‘adapting to Miranda mount cameras‘.
Having been in use from 1955 to 1976 (when Miranda went under) the Miranda bayonet mount naturally went through a number of versions. Those will be briefly explored next.
Versions of the Miranda Bayonet mount
In the following pieces, I will try to summarise the technological development of the Miranda mounts as the Miranda system responded to both changes in demand as well as novel technological opportunities.
As a note: in case you wonder about the developments sometimes overlapping, this has partially to do with that Miranda seems to have followed a marketing approach where they (starting in 1960) simultaneously offered both a high-tech product line (e.g. Automex, Sensorex …) as well as a more basic line (e.g. F-family, G-family, Sensomat-family)
1955–1962: Automatic aperture using a PAD/pod
Miranda introduced its first SLR camera in 1955. Not only does this make the Miranda SLR a very early contender (pretty much only Asahi/Pentax had introduced a Japanese SLR before that), it was also the first Japanese camera to come standard with a pentaprism – and an exchangeable one at that. All in all, the Miranda T was rather more a revolutionary than a me-too camera.
Also – following in the footsteps of the Exakta – Miranda had decided to implement automatic aperture stop-down using a pass-through device typically referred to as a PAD (from Pressure Automatic Diaphragm) or ‘pod’ (a reference to the protrusion’s shape, see image below).
The logic with a PAD/pod was that (when mounted on a camera) the POD/pad would rest atop the shutter release button, and to take a picture you would press the button on the PAD/pod, which would first stop down the lens before activating the shutter button3. In effect, the photographer would always compose and set focus with the lens wide open, whereas the lens would always have been stopped down to the desired aperture before the shutter would fire.
The combination of an SLR with a pentaprism and automatic aperture would have been a very technologically competitive offering for 1955. However, the system got off to a slow start because those lenses that were initially available for the new system were either fully manual or preset lenses. Based on contemporary sources4, it would seem likely that Miranda had hoped lens makers would be able to offer lenses that would facilitate automatic stopping down, but that no lens manufacturers felt inclined to make the necessary mechanical modifications before they believed in the viability of the Miranda System. In the case of the Miranda system, auto-aperture lenses (i.e. lenses with a PAD/pod) started being easily available only after 1958.
In this Miranda – being a camera company that did not manufacture its own lenses – was at a distinct disadvantage compared to the likes of Topcon (another Japanese company that launched its equally groundbreaking camera a bit later (1957) and using the same approach to auto aperture, but which was able to offer automatic aperture lenses from the get-go).
Note please: While it is clear that some of the Miranda PAD/pod lenses were fully automatic (in other words the photographer did not need to re-open the aperture separately), it is not clear to me:
• Whether there also were semi-automatic Miranda PAD/pod lenses …
• How exactly the opening-up of the aperture (after closing down) was facilitated.
1960–1972 Auto aperture and aperture coupling arm
for Automex and Sensorex series of cameras
Starting with the Miranda Automex introduced in 1960 it became important for the camera to not only be able to stop down the lens, but also for the camera to know the selected aperture as this was a prerequisite for the camera being able to do open aperture metering (in contrast to stop-down metering). To facilitate this, the Automex (and Automex II and Automex III as well as the Sensorex and Sensorex II) camera had an aperture coupling arm that interacted with a similar arm on the lens. In practice, whenever the photographer changed the selected aperture on the lens, that arm would communicate the chosen aperture to a similar arm on the camera body.
While I do not have a picture of this arrangement, I’ve added a picture from Flick user Anthony Rue below
In contrast to the previous PAD/pod lenses, the lenses for the Automex/Sensorex series were stopped down by the camera releasing the aperture stop-down lever inside the lens mount.
1963-1972 Auto aperture but no aperture coupling
To replace the PAD/pod lenses, Miranda introduced (together with the Miranda F of 1963) a set of lenses that replicated the Automex/Sensorex series stop-down levers (thereby doing away with the need for a PAD/pod), but offered no way for the lens to communicated its selected aperture value to the camera.
These lenses would be meant for use on the Miranda F, G, Fv, GT, FvT, Sensomat, Sensomat RE and Sensomat RS cameras.
1972–1976: Auto aperture and aperture coupling internally
With the 1972 introduction of the Miranda Auto Sensorex EE, Miranda changed the way by which the lens communicated the selected aperture to the camera body. No longer was the an external arm that needed to mesh with a similar arm on the camera. Instead Miranda added a lever to the base of the lens (next to the already existing stop-down lever) that would facilitate aperture coupling.
Lenses that have this internal aperture coupling can be easily identified from the rear of the lens thanks to having that extra lever, but can also be identified from the front as their name always contains the letters E or EC in bright red. If you look at the aperture ring of such a lens, it always offers the setting ‘EE’.
EC and E lenses are functionally the same, (in terms of how they interact with cameras). EC stands for ” ‘compact’ as the entire lineup of EC lenses were new, redesigned models.
Inter-version interoperability
Please note that I am not pontificating from a position of strength here5. That said, it would seem that a lens of any version of the Miranda bayonet will mount on any other version and will work in accordance with the lowest common denominator. In practice this means:
• Manual and preset Miranda bayonet lenses will work as manual/preset lenses on any Miranda mount camera all the way to the 1974 Miranda dx-3 or 1976 Miranda EE-2.
• Miranda PAD/pod lenses will work as intended as long as the shutter trigger remained on the front left of the camera body (All but Sensomat RS, Auto Sensorex EE, dx-3, RE-II, EE-2)
• Lenses for the Automex/Sensorex series (with stop-down lever in mount and external aperture coupling arm) will still support automatic stop-down in all subsequent cameras.
• Lenses that offer automatic stop-down but no meter coupling (lenses for the Miranda F, G, Fv, GT, FvT, Sensomat, Sensomat RE and Sensomat RS cameras) will also work and offer auto aperture on cameras that were designed for meter coupling either using the external arm (Automex/Sensorex) or internal lever (Auto Sensorex EE, dx-3, RE-II, EE-2)
• Lenses designed to offer internal stop-down and meter coupling (E and EC lenses) will work and offer auto aperture on any post 1963 body (plus the 1960 Automex). Moreover they will work as manual aperture lenses on all previous bodies.
• M44 mount miranda mount lenses will work on all real Miranda cameras equally well.
Miranda Miranda mount lenses
While never a smash hit like Nikon, Pentax, Canon or others, the Miranda cameras were reasonably successful. Therefore, they attracted some attention from 3rd party lens makers. Miranda, however, never manufactured their own lenses (Miranda was always first and foremost a camera maker) and Miranda mount lenses that carry the name ‘Miranda’ on their name ring were (99% of the time) Soligor lenses (from ≈1969 Soligor and Miranda were owned by the same company: Allied Impex Corporation).
Miranda lenses for other mounts than the Miranda mount
In the early 1980s (after the 1976 bankruptcy of Miranda camera Company) the UK retailer Dixon’s acquired the rights to the Miranda name and sold rebadged Japanese cameras and lenses under the Miranda name.
• Before 1976 all ‘Miranda’ lenses and cameras were made for the Miranda mounts (Miranda bayonet or Miranda M44)
• After 1976 all ‘Miranda’ lenses were offered for other mounts that either Miranda mount whereas all ‘Miranda’ cameras6 were using the Pentax K mount…
Hence, any lens that says ‘Miranda’ and has a Miranda bayonet or M44 mount is a real Miranda (Soligor) lens, whereas any lens that says ‘Miranda’ but has any other mount is a Dixon’s rebadge job (most Dixon’s gear were rebadged Cosinas, but that rule is not foolproof).
Adapting to Miranda mount cameras
Unlike most other 1960s–70s SLR mounts, the Miranda mount is actually adapting-friendly. This is partially due simply to the physical characteristics of the mount (large throat diameter; short flange focal distance), but also thanks to that Miranda (as a pure camera maker) did not feel the need to try to monopolise the lens market. As a result, Miranda actively encouraged the use of other lens mounts’ lenses on its cameras and offered a wide range of adapters, including at least (based on Miranda brochures): M42, Exakta, Nikon F, Nikon S, Contax/Kiev and LTM7.
Obviously any M42/Nikon F or other lens that you can mount on your Miranda camera will only work in manual metering mode, but that might be a price worth paying…
Adapting Miranda mount lenses
Due to the short flange focal distance of Miranda lenses (whether Miranda Bayonet or Miranda M44), there is no other SLR or dSLR that you can adapt Miranda lenses to without some limitations. The most typical limitation is that you will certainly need an adapter with optics to allow for infinity focus. Moreover, on SLRs this will most likely lead to the lens’ auto aperture functionality (if it has such) to not work, necessitating stop-down metering.
While Miranda to dSLR adapters are not exactly 13 per dozen, I have found adapters for all dSLR systems except Four thirds and even there you can easily daisy chain adapters (assuming you’re willing to accept an adapter with optics in between).
Assuming your intention is to adapt your Miranda lens to a Mirrorless digital camera mount (or a film rangefinder mount), you’re basically looking at a fundamentally problem-free adapting process, where the only limitation might be the availability of ready-made adapters. Assuming your intention is to limit yourself to ‘big-brand’ adapter makers you fill find your supply to be a bit constrained, but if you’re willing to look on Aliexpress you will find off-brand adapters (some of which in my experience are just as good as the major brand offerings), or you can look at eBay for cottage industry adapters. Alternatively, there’s always the 3D printing route…
Footnotes
- In asking Miranda experts to comment on a draft of this ↩︎
- These adapters are listed as accessories in the user manual of the Miranda B camera from 1958. ↩︎
- A very nice illustration of the principle of a PAD/pod can be found in the user manual for the Miranda model C available at this address (scroll to page 6). In the late 1950s many camera manufacturers (including Miranda’s Japanese rival Topcon) utilised this method pioneered on Exakta cameras for synchronising aperture stop-down with shutter activation. ↩︎
- I am here referring to some Japanese photo magazines from the late 50s that I was given access to. ↩︎
- I do not have a bunch of Miranda cameras and lenses lying around, and there are few comprehensive online sources on the Miranda system available. What I am stating is learned speculation based on the thorough study of a bunch of pictures and documents, and I very much welcome feedback from enthusiasts who have actual hands-on knowledge. ↩︎
- ‘Miranda’ named cameras sold by Dixon’s during the 1980s were the:
• Miranda MS-1 (really: Cosina CT1G)
• Miranda MS-1 Super (really: Cosina CT1 Super)
• Miranda MS-2 Super (really: Cosina CT9)
• Miranda MS-3 (really: Cosina CT9)
• Miranda MS-1N (really Cosina CT1 EX) and
• Miranda Memoflex (really: Chinon CE-4). ↩︎ - One has to assume that adapters for Contax/Kiev, Nikon S and LTM did not preserve anything near infinity focusing capabilities. ↩︎