Karoron
The Karoron is a self-erecting folding camera for 4.5x6cm exposures on 120 film, made by Kuribayashi for about two years from 1949. McKeown lists two models, the original Karoron from 1949, and a simpler model, the Karoron S, from 1951. He describes them as simpler, cheaper counterparts to Kuribayashi's Petri series. Whereas the Petri cameras have quite a deep top housing (holding a rangefinder and both telescopic and reflex viewfinders), the Karorons have no rangefinder, but only a telescopic finder fastened to the top plate. They have a body shutter release, however, and a cold shoe, and the lens and shutter are the same Orikon and Carperu as on some of the Petri cameras.
The Karoron and Petri series were combined in the next model, sold both as the Petri RF and the Karoron RF.
Specifications
- Type: viewfinder folding camera
- Manufacturer: Kuribayashi
- Year of launch: 1949
- Film: type No. 120
- Lens: coated Orikon Anastigmat 1:3.5/75mm, focusable
- Shutters:
- Carperu with speeds from 1 sec to 1/200 second, plus 'B'.
- Minarl-S with speeds from 1 sec to 1/300 second, plus 'B'.
- Viewfinder: optical
Karoron with Minarl-S shutter EP mark on viewfinder image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights) |
Orikon lens removed to show Minarl-S shutter and SSK logo image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights) |
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Items 467–8. (See also the advertisement for items 810–1.)
- Baird, John R. Collectors guide to Kuribayashi-Petri Cameras. Grantsburg, WI (USA): Centennial Photo Service, 1991. ISBN 0-931838-16-9. Pp.21–2, 26–7, 29–30 and 127–9.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp.67–8 and 75.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.578.
- Sugiyama, Kōichi (杉山浩一); Naoi, Hiroaki (直井浩明); Bullock, John R. The Collector's Guide to Japanese Cameras. 国産カメラ図鑑 (Kokusan kamera zukan). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1985. ISBN 4-257-03187-5. Item 1315.
Links
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