ILFORD Sportsman 300L, 300SL, 300LK and 300EB (1965 ?)


Shown below are various models of Sportsman camera, all with built-in exposure meters, and all bearing the numbering 300 in their name, presumably referring to their Prontor 300 and X 300 shutters. Almost certainly none of these were marketed in the UK. They may have been later variants of the camera range (believed 1963) that included the Sportsman L and Sportsman S-L. These (later ?) models, below, are more square shaped, especially their top caps, though using this shape change to distinguish between designs and manufacturing dates suggests the Sportsman 300L below, LHS, might date from 1963.


Note the downward sliding shutter release rather than the inward pressing button on the Sportsman L and Sportsman S-L.
The purely manual Style 5 Sportsman 300, as was sold in the UK from around 1967, can be seen here.


Sportsman 300L


Ilford Sportsman 300L,
maybe an updated version of the one shown alongside ?


The 'Ilford Sportsman 300LK'.
Notice the lack of any top plate control knob, showing it to have a coupled exposure meter and, hence, to be more fully automatic.
Believed to date around 1965.


The Ilford Sportsman 300SL.

Very similar in looks to the 300L above; but maybe the 300SL has the benefit of a self-timer?

Perhaps 'top of the range' in the Sportsman 300 series?

The 300EB not only has a coupled light meter, adjusted by viewing a needle visible in the viewfinder, but also has a built-in rangefinder.

This picture by courtesy of David Muggleton.

This page last updated: 29th December 2007