Ansco Anscomark M

Introduction: The Anscomark M at a Glance

The Ansco Anscomark M is a 35mm rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses, a coupled exposure meter and a leaf shutter. It is a fascinating piece of mid-century hardware, and it fits right into our range of rangefinder cameras for photographers who like manual, deliberate picture-taking on film.

Although the name on the front is Ansco, the camera was actually manufactured by Ricoh, and it was also sold in Japan as the Ricoh 999. It takes standard 35mm film, and its standard lens was either an f/2.8 Xytar or an f/1.9 Xyton of 50mm.

Shooting with a rangefinder has a different rhythm from using a modern autofocus camera. You turn a focusing ring until two images merge, set aperture and speed yourself, and press the release only when the frame is ready.

Design Roots and Historical Background

An American name on a Japanese camera

According to the camera-wiki entry, the Anscomark M was introduced by Ansco circa 1960. Ansco was an American brand, and the original manual was published by Ansco in Binghamton, New York, with a 12-month guarantee from the date of purchase. Inside, the camera came from Ricoh, which explains the Japanese twin sold as the Ricoh 999. That link makes it interesting to collectors.

Unusual details of the body

The body has a few features that set it apart. The film advance is mounted on the bottom of the camera, and the shutter release has an odd triangular shape. The nameplate flips up to reveal the selenium meter cell, so the front of the camera works as a cover for the meter.

The lens mount is a special design that carries an internal leaf shutter, and the viewfinder includes framelines for the optional 35mm and 100mm lenses.

Key Technical Highlights

Lenses and shutter

The standard equipment is a 50mm lens, either the f/2.8 Xytar or the faster f/1.9 Xyton. The optional lenses are a 35mm f/3.5 wide-angle and a 100mm f/4 telephoto, all fully interchangeable and coupled to both the meter and the rangefinder. The aperture range runs from f/22 down to the maximum opening of f/1.9 or f/2.8, depending on the lens.

The leaf shutter gives 10 click stops from 1 second to 1/500 second, plus B. A built-in self-timer provides a delay of about ten seconds, and flash synchronisation is provided with an M-X setting.

Viewfinder and meter

The parallax-corrected, coupled rangefinder viewfinder shows three brightline frames: white for the 50mm lens, green for the 35mm and red for the 100mm. Focusing uses a split image. For exposure, both the shutter speed and the lens opening controls are independently coupled to the selenium meter, so you set exposure by matching the needles.

The film advance lever winds the film, cocks the shutter and counts the exposure, and it prevents double exposures. The flash connector accepts a 3mm continental tip, and an accessory clip holds shoe-type flash units.

• Format: 35mm film
• Standard lens: 50mm f/2.8 Xytar or f/1.9 Xyton
• Optional lenses: 35mm f/3.5 and 100mm f/4
• Shutter: 1 second to 1/500 second plus B, with self-timer
• Meter: selenium, match-needle, coupled to aperture and speed

Modern-Day Use in 2026

Where the Anscomark M excels

In 2026 the Anscomark M suits photographers who want an interchangeable-lens rangefinder with fully manual handling. The brightline frames make it easy to compose with three focal lengths.

Use it for:

• Street and travel photography with the 50mm or 35mm lens
• Learning manual exposure with a match-needle meter
• Portraits and details with the 100mm lens

Practical shooting tips

• Choose the film speed to suit the light, and set it on the meter before you start.
• Use the green frame with the 35mm lens and the red frame marks with the 100mm lens.
• Check the focus patch on a distant subject before each roll to confirm alignment.

Buying and Maintenance Guide

What to check before buying used

A camera of this age needs a careful look. Work through this list.

• Fire the shutter at every speed from 1 second to 1/500 second and listen for a consistent sound; long speeds should sound clearly slower.
• Look through the viewfinder for a clear, bright split-image patch and visible frames.
• Flip up the nameplate and check that the meter needle moves smoothly in changing light.
• Inspect each lens for haze, fungus, dust and scratches, and make sure the aperture ring works.
• Check the film door seals, as perished light seals can cause light leaks.

Open the back and look for corrosion or residue, then wind the lever and check that the counter advances.

Power and batteries

A selenium meter generates its own current from light, so there is generally no meter battery to look after. If you use a flash, the flash unit needs its own power source.

• Test the meter in bright light and in shade to see that it responds.
• Remove the batteries from a flash unit during storage.

Basic care and accessories

A few simple photography accessories will keep the camera in good shape.

• A soft camera case to protect the body and the meter cell
• Front and rear lens caps for each lens you own
• A small tripod for slow shutter speeds

Conclusion: A Quirky Rangefinder Worth Knowing

The Ansco Anscomark M combines an American brand name with Ricoh engineering, a leaf shutter, a coupled meter and a three-lens system with matching framelines.

For anyone drawn to classic 35mm film, it offers an unusual and rewarding way to shoot. Check the shutter, meter and glass carefully, and it can be a characterful camera for years of careful photography.

Ready to explore cameras like the Anscomark M? Browse our rangefinder cameras and more analog cameras at DutchThrift.com.

Sources: original Ansco Anscomark M instruction manual (Ansco, Binghamton, New York); Anscomark M on camera-wiki.org, text licensed under GFDL 1.3.