Alta

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See also the Alta cameras by Reichenbach, Morey and Will.

The Alta (アルタ) or Alta 35[1] is a Japanese Leica copy made in 1957–8, ostensibly by Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō (see below).

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 IIIa and unlike the IIIb. The viewfinder has 0.5× magnification, and the rangefinder has 1.5× magnification, giving an effective base length of 47mm.[2] The rangefinder eyepiece has a diopter correction lever, again similar to that of the Chiyotax. The rangefinder is coupled until 3.5ft,[2] and the close focusing distance of 1.5ft available on the dedicated Altanon lenses is not coupled.

The viewfinder housing is engraved Alta and Misuzu Kogaku Kogyo Co., Ltd., together with a serial number and a mark indicating the position of the film plane.

The film is loaded through the bottom plate, the same system as on the Leica. The plate is retained by a key on the left side, with O and S indications (presumably for Open and Shut), and is engraved Japan. The tripod thread is on the opposite side, to the photographer's right. There are strap lugs attached on either side of the body. There are two PC posts on the front face for X and FP flash synchronization, instead of the single post of the Chiyotax. FP synchronization is provided by the top contact, and works at all speeds from 1/25 upwards; X synchronization is by the bottom contact, and works at 1/25 and lower.[3]

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.

The dimensions are 142.5×69×73mm and the weight is 700g, certainly including the Altanon 5cm f/2 lens.[2]

Commercial life

The Alta was announced in Japanese magazines dated September and October 1957.[4] The September column in Asahi Camera says that the maker Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō was already known for its Altair bright screens,[5] and that the Alta was the cheapest available Leica copy.[6] It gives the following prices: ¥21,000 body only, ¥27,500 with an Altair f/3.5 lens or ¥35,000 with an Altair f/2 lens. The Altair lens name is found in that document only, and are perhaps mistaken. The picture is not very good, and shows a camera with an f/2 lens.

The article in the October 1957 issue of Camera to Cine gives the Altanon lens name and higher prices: ¥26,500 body only, ¥32,000 with the f/3.5 lens and ¥40,000 with the f/2 lens, case included.[7] These prices are found in that document only, and are perhaps wrong. Two pictures are provided, showing the camera with the f/2 and f/3.5 lenses.

The camera was also briefly advertised in the April to June 1958 issues of Nihon Camera.[8] The June advertisement, placed by Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō, lists the camera as the "Alta 35" (the name is given in Roman letters only).[9] It only mentions the Altanon 5cm f/2 lens, and gives the price as ¥35,000 again, including the leather case.

The camera was finally featured in the 1959 camera annual by Nihon Camera, published in late 1958.[2] This is the last known document mentioning the camera. It says that the Alta was released in February 1957, certainly by mistake.[10] It still lists the f/3.5 and f/2 lenses, at the unchanged price of ¥21,000 and ¥35,000, but the mention of the f/3.5 option is perhaps based on outdated data.

It is said that an example of the Alta was borrowed by Mr. K. Shirai when he toured Europe to promote Japanese cameras.[11] This clearly had almost no result for the sales for the Alta camera, which was only produced in small quantities.

Actual examples

All known examples of the Alta have a six-digit body number in the 700xxx range.[12] The sequence certainly started at 700001: one of the pictures in the October 1957 issue of Camera to Cine cited above seems to show a serial number in the 70000x range.[7] The sequence runs into the 7005xx range, indicating a total production of little more than 500 units.

Specific lenses

The camera was announced with a 5cm f/3.5 Tessar-type lens or a 5cm f/2 Sonnar-type lens, called Altair in the September 1957 column in Asahi Camera cited above,[13] and Altanon afterwards.[7][2]

Altanon 5cm f/3.5

The Altanon 5cm f/3.5 has four elements in three groups,[7][2] in a collapsible mount inspired by the Leitz Elmar 5cm f/3.5. It looks extremely similar to the Lena-Q.C and Reise-Q.C 5cm f/3.5 made for the Chiyoca and Chiyotax. The only difference is the focusing scale graduated to 1.5ft, after one full turn, and the Misuzu Kogaku and ALTANON markings.

The only available picture of the Altanon f/3.5 lens is that in Camera to Cine, showing an example with serial number 120001, presumably the first produced, mounted on the Alta no.70000x.[7] (This indicates that the lenses had "Altanon" markings from the start, and that the "Altair" name was never actually applied.) It seems that no other example of the f/3.5 lens has surfaced, and it is not known if it was actually sold.

Altanon 5cm f/2

The Altanon 5cm f/2 has six elements in four groups.[7][9][2] It exists in two versions, with an all chrome or a black and chrome barrel — it seems that these only differ by the finish. Only the chrome version is pictured in the original documents cited above; the black version is known from actual examples only.

The focusing ring has two rows of fine mills, and is driven by a tab, presumably with an infinity lock. It is engraved in feet from ∞ to 1.5ft — this was quite a close distance for the time, but the rangefinder coupling only works from 3.5ft, as said above. The aperture ring, with another row of mills, is always chrome finished. The same is true of the base of the barrel with the depth-of-field indications.

The front bezel is engraved Misuzu Kogaku and either ALTANON or ALTANON H.C. The lens appears to be similar to the Tanar H.C. 5cm f/2 notably found on the Tanack IVS, except for the 1.5ft minimum distance. It is supposed that Tanaka Kōgaku supplied lenses to Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō, and the reverse seems much less likely.

Lens numbers for the chrome finished Altanon 5cm f/2 have five digits in the 17xxx range,[14] or the prefix "Y" followed by six digits in the 170xxx range.[15] Those for the black finished lens have the prefix "M", followed by five or six digits beginning in "17" or "170".[16]

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.[17]

Origin of the camera

The camera is so close to the late Chiyotax IIIF made by Reise that there was certainly a relationship between the two manufacturing companies. Reise was maybe absorbed by Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō, or sold the Chiyotax design and tooling to the latter, or acted as a subcontractor for Misuzu. At least one source suggests that Reise was hired by the trading company Misuzu Shōkai and turned its name to Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō for that reason;[18] this is impossible because the Japanese characters used for the names of Misuzu Shōkai and Misuzu Kōgaku Kōgyō are different (see the corresponding pages), and Misuzu Kōgaku was already in existence before the release of the Alta.

Notes

  1. The name appears as Alta on the camera body, and as "Alta 35" in the advertisement in Nihon Camera June 1958 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.222.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Column in the 1959 camera annual by Nihon Camera, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of Camera Collectors' News no.38.
  3. Details of the flash synchronization are given in the column in the 1959 camera annual by Nihon Camera, reproduced in Awano, p.4 of Camera Collectors' News no.38. FP and X synchronization are also mentioned in the article in Camera to Cine October 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of the same magazine. Other sources say M and X instead, probably inaccurately: column in Asahi Camera September 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of the same magazine, and advertisement in Nihon Camera June 1958, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.222.
  4. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.378.
  5. Column in Asahi Camera September 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of Camera Collectors' News no.38: ライトスクリーン[フレネルレンズ]"アルタイル"のメーカーである、東京の三鈴光学工業.
  6. Column in Asahi Camera September 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of Camera Collectors' News no.38: この種カメラとしては、もっとも安い値段である.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Article in Camera to Cine October 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.4 of Camera Collectors' News no.38.
  8. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.378.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Advertisement in Nihon Camera June 1958, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.222.
  10. Awano, p.1 of Camera Collectors' News no.38, says that the Alta is not listed in the previous 1958 camera annual by Nihon Camera, published in late December 1957, and is convinced that the release date mentioned in the 1959 issue is a mistake.
  11. Mabuchi, in The PHSC E-mail, vol.6–10.
  12. Examples pictured in HPR, p.127, in Sugiyama, item 3093 (serial number not visible), in Awano, Camera Collectors' News no.38, in Takahashi, p.18 of Camera Collectors' News no.41, in the Christies auction catalogues listed below, and observed in online auctions.
  13. Column in Asahi Camera September 1957, reproduced in Awano, p.3 of Camera Collectors' News no.38.
  14. Lenses observed in online auctions.
  15. The prefix "Y" is found on the camera sold by Christies on August 31, 1995 (lot no.181).
  16. Lenses pictured in HPR, p.127, in Sugiyama, item 3093, sold by Christies on June 8, 1995 (lot no.29), and observed in online auctions.
  17. HPR, p.128.
  18. HPR, pp.126 and 175–6.

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.
  • Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Aruta 35" (アルタ35, Alta 35). In Camera Collectors' News no.38 (August 1980). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
  • 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.
  • Hashimoto Tetsuo (橋本徹夫), and answer by Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Aruta 35 no firumu ichi māku". In Camera Collectors' News no.41 (November 1980). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. P.18.
  • HPR. Leica Copies. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1994. ISBN 1-874485-05-4. Pp.126–8.
  • Mabuchi, Sam. "In search of the missing Altair camera". In The PHSC E-mail, vol.6–10, supplement to Photographic Canadiana, Feb. 2007, pp.4–5. Also published in Camera Shopper no.173, Mar. 2007, pp.11–2.
  • 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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