Now Available in the United States Source: Freestyle Photographic Supplies Special Thanks to Michael Tullberg
Last year, the Tokyo-based camera design, production, and distribution company PowerShovel, Ltd. introduced the Blackbird Fly, a new Twin-Reflex 35mm Plastic Camera made in several different colors. The highly anticipated Blackbird Fly has received glowing reviews from camera and photography aficionados worldwide, and the model has been a strong seller for PowerShovel. In 2009, the Blackbird Fly received some unexpected and highly visible publicity from MASKED RIDER DECADE (Kamen Raidaa Dikeido), the 19th television series is the popular "Kamen Rider" franchise. Premiering this past January 25 on TV Asahi, the show stars Masahiro Inoue as Kamen Rider Decade`s alter ego, Tsukasa Kadoya. Tsukasa suffers from amnesia and tries to hold onto the world around him by photographing it with his camera of choice... a Blackbird Fly. One amusing detail of note is that Kamen Rider Decade`s costume is largely pink and black, but there was no pink version of the Blackbird Fly at the time. The MASKED RIDER DECADE production team solved that dilemma by taking an existing Blackbird Fly and painting it pink to match the costume.
The camera was featured in many episodes and during the opening credits of MASKED RIDER DECADE. The resulting attention— and consumer interest— convinced PowerShovel to make a Limited Edition production run of a Blackbird Fly inspired by the show. The “Masked Rider Decade” Blackbird Fly is the only Blackbird Fly model that comes in pink, and includes a custom leather camera strap and film holder similar to those used by Tsukasa Kadoya in the series. The new camera is being billed as "the merging of photography and Japanese pop culture!" From the “Masked Rider Decade” Blackbird Fly production run, only 50 units will be sold outside of Japan, with Freestyle Photo Supplies in Hollywood, CA the exclusive retailer for this camera in the United States. PowerShovel has stated that they will not be producing more, making the pink Blackbird Fly an instant collectors` item. Since the item appeals to photographers, Blackbird Fly buyers, and Kamen Rider fans, it is expected to sell out very quickly. The "Masked Rider Decade" Limited Edition Blackbird Fly Twin Lens Reflex Camera can be ordered from the Freestyle Photographic Supplies website. Model: 30139 Price: $159.99
About the Blackbird Fly
The Blackbird Fly is a twin-lens reflex camera: one lens is used to expose the film, while the other is used like a viewfinder. It’s a famous style of camera whose history stretches back to the 1920s. The Blackbird Fly uses 35mm film. There are two ways to take a picture with the Blackbird Fly. For quiet and reflective framing, you can hold the camera at waist level and look down, to compose your shot using the finder lens. For a quicker style of shot, you can use the sportsfinder, which approximates a viewfinder through a notch in the top of the camera. The Blackbird Fly can take pictures in standard 35mm film format (24x36), but using a different (provided) mask, it can also produce square format pictures (24x24). You can even remove the mask entirely and make a larger square format image (36x36), which fills up the entire width of the film, including the side sprocket holes. For shooting during the day, you can alternate between apertures f/7 and f/11, with a shutter speed of 1/125. At night, you can switch the shutter to B-mode to let in as much light as you might need, or you could also attach a flash for even more possibilities. Variable focusing, from 0.8 meters, makes for a sharp subject. The Blackbird Fly uses a wide-angle 33mm lens and allows you to take multiple exposures on the same frame.