Semi Proud

The Semi Proud (セミ・プラウド) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera made by the company Proud. It first appeared as a Baldax copy. This body was sold to Takachiho (the precursor of Olympus) company for its first camera the Semi Olympus. (It is possible that the Adler CII and Adler III models by Riken are based on this body too.) A variant called Super Semi Proud appeared with a rangefinder, inspired by the Roll-Op II by Plaubel. The name Semi Proud was also applied later to an Ikonta copy, and it was used again after the war for different cameras.

The original Baldax copy

The original model appears in 1935 and is perhaps the first Japanese copy of the Baldax. It is based on the large Baldax model for #0 size shutters. It has a folding optical finder and the advance knob on the opposite side. Film advance is controlled by two red windows in the back, protected by individual pivoting covers. The back itself is hinged to the left. The front leather is embossed SEMI PROUD.

It exists with a number of lens and shutter combinations. In July 1935, the following options are advertised, all of them with a Corygon lens by Friedrich, engraved C. Friedrich München Corygon Anastigmat:

• f:4.5 lens, Vario shutter (¥54);
• f:4.5 lens, Pronto shutter (¥63);
• f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥89);
• f:3.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥105);
• f:2.9 lens, Compur shutter (¥120).

The advertisement does not mention the shutter speeds. Kokusan kamera no rekishi reports T, B, 25–100 for the Vario and Pronto and T, B, 1–300 for the Compur. However one example of the Semi Proud has been observed with a Compur giving T, B, 1–250 speeds and a Corygon f:3.5 lens.

In some advertisements, a distinction is made between the popular edition (大衆版) with a Proud Anastigmat lens and the model equipped with an imported Corygon lens and an imported shutter. In April 1937, the options were as follows:

• popular edition with a Proud Anastigmat lens:
  • f:6.3 lens, Rulex D shutter (¥40);
  • f:4.5 lens, Rulex D shutter (¥45);
  • f:4.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥50);
  • f:3.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥58);
• model with an imported Corygon lens:
  • f:4.5 lens, Vario shutter (¥54);
  • f:4.5 lens, Pronto shutter (¥63);
  • f:4.5 lens, Prontor II shutter (¥70);
  • f:3.5 lens, Prontor II shutter (¥85);
  • f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥89);
  • f:3.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥105);
  • f:2.9 lens, Compur shutter (¥120);
  • f:2.9 lens, Compur-Rapid shutter (¥135).

It is worth noting that the lens and shutter alone represent a substantial part of the price. As was the case above, the shutter speeds are not mentioned in the advertisement. Kokusan kamera no rekishi gives T, B, 25–150 for the Rulex D, T, B, 5–150 for the Rulex B, T, B, 1–175 for the Prontor II and T, B, 1–500 for the Compur-Rapid. However, an example has been observed with a Prontor II shutter giving T, B, 1–150 speeds.

The Semi Proud II and III

The Semi Proud II and Semi Proud III appear in 1938. They introduce two innovations: a body release and an automatic stop advance device with an exposure counter, inspired by the Plaubel device mounted on the Roll-Op II folder and on roll-film backs for the Makina.

There is some confusion in the early advertisements for the Semi Proud II and III: in an advertisement dated February 1938 the Semi Proud II is announced with the auto-stop advance only, while the Semi Proud III has both auto-stop advance and a body release. In a later advertisement dated September 1938 the Semi Proud II has the body release only and costs between ¥63 and ¥125, while the Semi Proud III again has both features and costs between ¥68 and ¥130.

Later the same year, in November 1938, the Semi Proud II is advertised with body release and red window advance, and the Semi Proud III designation has disappeared. The auto-stop device is available as an option, costing ¥4.50 to which was added an extra ¥0.50 for fitting. The camera is offered with a U.L.L. lens by Miyoshi Kōgaku, engraved U.L.L. Anastigmat, in the following combinations:

• f:4.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥63);
• f:4.5 lens, Rulex A shutter (¥68);
• f:3.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥72);
• f:3.5 lens, Rulex A shutter (¥77);
• f:4.5 lens, unknown shutter, maybe Parker (¥89);
• f:3.5 lens, same shutter (¥98);
• f:2.9 lens, same shutter (¥115);
• f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥100);
• f:3.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥110);
• f:2.9 lens, Compur shutter (¥125).

One example with an U.L.L. Anastigmat 7.5cm f:4.5 lens and a Compur shutter giving T, B, 1–250 speeds has been observed.

The Super Semi Proud

The Super Semi Proud (スーパー・セミ・プラウド) is a version with a coupled rangefinder copied on the Plaubel Roll Op II (itself derived from the Baldax).

It appeared in the Sep 1938 ad mentioned above. It also appeared in a 1938 price list of a dealer called Shinbi-Dō (眞美堂), offered with an f:4.5 lens and a Compur shutter for ¥140.

Here are some observed lens/shutter combinations:

• U.L.L. Proud Anastigmat 7.5cm f:4.5 & Compur T, B, 1–250 (see here, picture barely readable)

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 218–21. (See also the advertisement for item 222.)

Links

In Japanese:

• Semi Proud at Japan Family Camera, with an accessory shoe that is probably not original
• Semi Proud at Puppy's Island
• Super Semi Proud in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology