Industries Matutano Capta-II

Specification

Art Deco Credentials

Noteworthy: Worth giving special attention

• Produced after the main Art Deco period.
• Bakelite body
• Curvilinear body shape
• Curvilinear viewfinder shape
• Stepped feature around lens to mimic bellows
• Brushed aluminium facia and lens bezel
• Linear decorative stripes on body
• Body impressed with leather pattern
• Chromed shutter controls
• Concentric circles around red window

Description

The Capta-II has a Bakelite body and was designed by Julio Matutano. His initials JM are seen as a trademark on the front of the camera. The Capta II uses 120 film. The style is similar to the Capta-I (1944) which took 127 film. It was initially manufactured by Industrias Sintéticas Abril but from 1955 it was made exclusively by Industrias Matutano. It is a good looking camera making full use of the advantages of Bakelite for styling. It does not hold back from using styling elements that have no relation to function.

It has a simple rotary shutter having both Instantaneous(I) and Bulb (P 'Pose') functions. A rod is pulled at the side of the lens mount to engage the bulb function. The Super Capta lens is coated with blue anti-reflective material. It takes 16 frames on 120 film. However, not all 120 film is suitable (See Below). There is a red window on the rear which does not have a cover. A single tripod mount is provided.

How to Use

This camera takes 16 exposures on 120 film which is easily available. However some 120 film, like Kodak Portra, does not have the annotation required for 16 exposures in the right place. Ilford FP4+ and Ilford Delta 100 & 400 are OK to use for instance. Try to get hold of some backing paper for the film you will be using to check that the annotation for 16 frames lines up with the red window. The centre of the annotation needs to be 17mm from the top edge of the film. You must cover the red window with black tape and only remove it to wind on the film in subdued light.