Miranda D

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The Miranda D is a 35mm SLR with interchangeable viewfinders, produced in Japan by Miranda from c.1960[1]. It had several unusual features for the time, including lever wind, instant-return mirror and automatic diaphragm

The Miranda D was also sold as DR distinguished by a red dot on the frame counter. The difference between the Miranda D and the DR is the addition of a microprism spot in the center of the viewfinder ground glass. Both the Miranda D and the DR do not have either a meter or a internal diaphragm coupling. The back of the lens has a projection but this was fixed and not a diaphragm coupling arm. These models use lenses with an external diaphragm button often referred to as a PAD, like the Exakta. There are two Exakta adapters: the AX which mounted an Exakta lens in the normal position with the focusing index at top center and an AXM adapter which mounted the lens "upside down" so the left-handed diaphragm button would face the Miranda right hand shutter release. This adapter comes with an extra button to extend the Miranda shutter release.

Both Pentax M42 and Nikon F lenses can be fitted with the proper adapter. Miranda also supplied adapters for Topcon, Leica, and Contax screw mounts. These lenses will focus to infinity. For a short while Spiratone sold a bayonet (not screw-on) T adapter for the Miranda.

The Miranda D and DR have a small rotating knob to set the shutter speeds. Speeds are 1–500, and the slow speeds are set with a small lever underneath the main dial. Later Miranda cameras have a larger shutter speed dial that which does not rotate. The film advance on the D and DR is ratcheted.

The 35mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.9 and 135mm f/2.8 lenses are known in the "PAD" style. Some early D models came with a 50mm f/2.8 preset lens, noted for its sharpness when used on a bellows. There is also a 55mm f/2.8 preset macro lens that will extend to 1:1. The finders are the pentaprism, waist level and critical 5× and 15× viewfinders. Early Miranda D's have a sort of squared off corners, later models are more curved.


  1. The Miranda D is on the 1961 price list on Bill's Miranda Pages (archived) and is dated 1960 on MirandaCamera.com (archived)