Zenobia 35
The Zenobia 35 is a Japanese 35mm rangefinder camera made by Zenobia Kōgaku (former Daiichi Kōgaku) in 1957–8. It has a fixed lens and a trigger around the base of the lens barrel to advance the film and cock the shutter.
The original model is advertised in 1957 and 1958. In an advertisement dated September 1957[1], it is offered with an O-Hesper 45/2.8 lens and a Zenobia-MX shutter (B, 1–500), for ¥17,000. Some changes are visible in a later advertisement dated January 1958[2]: for example a self-timer is added, the shutter cocking lever has a different shape and the focal length of the lens is now stated to be 46mm.
The Zenobia 35 F2 is advertised in 1957[3] and 1958[4] with an O-Hesper 44/2 lens (6 elements in 4 groups) and a Rectus MXV shutter (B, 1–500). Small differences are visible on the body, like a rewind crank and a nameplate marked Zenobia F2 in place of the self-timer.
The Zenobia 35 F2.8, advertised in 1958[5], looks the same as the 35 F2 with an O-Hesper 46/2.8 lens.
Notes
- ↑ Advertisement for the Zenobia 35 and Zenobiaflex Automat, published in the September 1957 issue of Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 1326 and item 1327.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Zenobia 35, published in the January 1958 issue of Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 1327.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Zenobia 35 F2, published in the November 1957 issue of Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 1328.
- ↑ Advertisements mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi mentions only one advertisement, in the July 1958 issue of Sankei Camera. It does not reproduce it but shows a small picture of the camera.
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 1326–8.
<-Okada | Daiichi and Zenobia timeline ( ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | 1950s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
4.5×6 folder | viewfinder | Zenobia P | Zenobia M | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Zenobia C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
rebadged versions: | Union Semi | Walcon Semi | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Zenobia H | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
uncoupled rangefinder | Zenobia R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
coupled rangefinder | Super Zenobia SR-I | Super Zenobia SR | |||||||||||||||||||||||
6×6 TLR | knob advance | Zenobiaflex | Zenobiaflex II | Zenobiaflex F-II | |||||||||||||||||||||
crank advance | Zenobiaflex Automat |
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35mm rangefinder | f/2.8 | Zenobia 35 | Zenobia 35 F2.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
f/2 | Zenobia 35 F2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leica copy | Ichicon-35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Company: | Daiichi Kōgaku | ... | Zenobia Kōgaku | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Cameras whose actual existence is dubious are in a lighter shade. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cameras in yellow are variants sold and maybe assembled by other companies. |