Anny 44
The Anny 44 (アニー44) is an inexpensive Japanese camera taking 4×4cm pictures on 127 film, made by Hōei in 1960.[1]
Body
The Anny 44 has a body that roughly imitates a 35mm rangefinder camera, with some design features of the Nikon rangefinders. The designer even added a part imitating the Nikon focusing wheel, actually a shutter lock. Of course, the rangefinder window is a fake too, serving as the shutter lock indicator. There is an accessory shoe and a synch connector situated behind the body release.
The advance knob is at the top right. The back is hinged to the right and contains a single red window to control the film advance, protected by a horizontally sliding cover.
Lens and shutter
The lens is fixed-focus and is mounted on a cheap looking barrel. It is usually marked HOEI INDUSTRIAL CO. and HOEI LENS 1:8 F=5cm. There are Bulb and Instant shutter settings and aperture settings from 8 to 22.
Name variants
The Anny 44 was also sold as Kalimar 44 by Kalimar Inc. The name Kalimar 44 is engraved in the top plate and the front nameplate reads Kalimar. The lens rim is written KALIGAR FOCUS–SET LENS at the top and 1:8 F=60mm at the bottom.[2]
An example of the Kalimar 44 is known with COLT 44 instead of Kalimar in the front nameplate.[3]
An example of the Anny 44 is known with the same Kaligar lens marking as the Kalimar 44.[4]
Notes
- ↑ Date: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 377.
- ↑ See the user manual at butkus.org's Orphan Cameras.
- ↑ Sugiyama item 4117.
- ↑ Sugiyama item 4111.
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 1110.
- 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. 391.
- 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. Items 4111–2.
Links
In English:
- Anny 44 at Cameracatalogus
- User manual of the Kalimar 44 at butkus.org's Orphan Cameras
- Anny 44 in a page of Ioannis's camera collection
In Japanese:
- Anny 44 at Japan Family Camera
- Anny 44 at the 44 Club
In French:
- Anny 44 at www.collection-appareils.com by Sylvain Halgand