Alta
See also the Alta cameras by Reichenbach, Morey and Will.
The Alta is a Japanese Leica copy, made in 1957–8 by Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō.
Contents
Description
The Alta is very similar to the late Chiyotax IIIF, to which it may be related. It has the same basic body, copied on the early Leica screw mount models, made of a metal tube with separate top and bottom plates. The top plate is attached by six apparent screws. The position of the controls — advance knob, exposure counter, release button, rewind lever, speed dial and rewind knob — is the same as on the Leica, and the shape of the parts is similar to that of the Chiyotax. The advance knob contains a film reminder at the top, with COLOR, ASA 20 EXP. and ASA 36 EXP. positions, different from that found at the same place on the late Chiyotax IIIF.
The viewfinder and rangefinder housing is also patterned after the Leica. The two eyepieces are somewhat distant, as on the Leica IIIb and unlike the IIIc. The rangefinder eyepiece has a diopter correction lever, again similar to that of the Chiyotax.
The film is loaded through the bottom plate, the same system as on the Leica. There are strap lugs attached on either side of the body.
The camera has a Leica screw mount, and a horizontally running focal-plane shutter. The main speed dial has the following positions: B, 25–1, 50, 75, 100, 200, 500 — these are not the same as on the Chiyotax. The slow speed dial is on the front, with T, 1, 2, 4, 8, 25 positions.
Commercial life
Actual examples
Actual examples of the Alta are known with six-digit body numbers in the 700xxx range.[1] The sequence may have started at 700001, or at 700100, and runs into the 7005xx range, indicating a total production of about 500 to 600 units.
Bower microscope camera
The Bower is a version for use on a microscope. It has no shutter and no viewfinder, and is only used to transport the film. The body is otherwise similar to that of the Alta, with the same advance and rewind knobs, rewind unlock lever and release button — the latter is presumably there to unlock the film transport mechanism after each exposure. The top and bottom plates are all black, and the name Bower is engraved above.
The Bower microscope camera was imported by the Bower company based in New York; it is said that the Bower was made on special order for a scientific equipment dealer based in Chicago.[2]
Notes
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. Item 1117.
- Christies auction catalogues:
- Leica, Nikon and Canon, Leica copies and 35mm cameras, June 8, 1995, lot no.29.
- Cameras and Optical Toys, August 31, 1995, lot no.181.
- HPR. Leica Copies. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1994. ISBN 1-874485-05-4. Pp.126–8.
- 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). Pp.691–2.
- 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 3093.
Links
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