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The Ansco GAF Memo II Automatic is a 35mm half-frame camera introduced in 1967 by Ansco. The GAF Memo II Automatic is a re-release of the Memo Automatic from 1963 because of the name change of Ansco to General Aniline & Film (GAF). The camera is a rebadged version of the Ricoh Auto Half "zone focus", manufactured by Ricoh. All Auto Half cameras have automatic exposure and film wind via a spring motor. This camera is more interesting than most of the other Auto Half cameras models because of the zone focus system, the normal ones have a fixed focus. The camera's main features are:

35mm film half-frame camera, picture size 24 x 18 mm
Memar (Ricoh)  25mm f/2.8 (3-group 4 element) lens, 3 focus zones, F (far, 7.2m) 1.9m-∞, N (near, 3.6m) 1.5m-∞, C (close, 1.9m) 1.1m-5.6m
Fixed speed Seikosha shutter, 1/125 sec for automatic exposure, 1/30 for flash with manual aperture selection
Size 72 x 90 x 30 mm, Weight : 300 g
ISO 12-200

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Front. Shutter release. Big square selenium meter around the lens. Lens has a dented ring to turn and set focus zone to the red indication dot.

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Back view. Finder, it shows the focus setting and a yellow dot appears, if exposure is fine.

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Seen from above. "Control center", inner disc: ISO setting, aperture indication window (shows 2.8, normally set to A for automatic aperture), dented ring, turn for selection. Cold shoe.

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Seen from below. Film rewind, exposure counter, spring wind, rewind unlock button (and spring release) in the center of the spring wind.

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Right side. Flash socket and tripod screw.

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Left side. Camera back opening knob and grip.

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Camera back open open.

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Camera and its original case..

The Ansco GAF Memo II Automatic is a well designed compact camera, its handling is very easy. With fixed shutter speed it's for outdoor use, a flash is necessary for interior photos. Pictures are sharp. It's sturdy and quite heavy. Today's full format cameras are not bigger and they weigh less. So this is a nice vintage camera of limited use, but it's fun.

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