Difference between revisions of "Asahiflex"
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| − | [[Asahi]] Optical (Pentax) had been producing camera lenses for other japanese manufactureres since 1929<ref>{McKeown}</ref>. The predecessors of Minolta and Konica were among their customers. Then in 1952, with no former experience in camera building, they produced the first Japanese 35mm [[SLR]], the '''Asahiflex'''. | + | [[Asahi]] Optical (Pentax) had been producing camera lenses for other japanese manufactureres since 1929 <ref>{McKeown} 10th ed, p76</ref>. The predecessors of Minolta and Konica were among their customers. Then in 1952, with no former experience in camera building<ref> [http://home.wanadoo.nl/aocn/divers/mag10.pdf] article in Dutch on the development of the Asahiflex by Gerjan van Oosten</ref> , they produced the first Japanese 35mm [[SLR]], the '''Asahiflex'''. At first glance, the design of the [[Leica III]] and the [[Kine Exakta]] come to mind. The placement of the film advance and rewind knobs and the placement of the shutter speed dials bears some resemblance to the Leica III. A viewfinder separate from the optical focusing mechanism adds to that impression. Of course the Asahiflex is not a rangefinder, but a true SLR with an [[Exakta]]-style waist level finder. Nice design detail: when folded in, the hood of the waist level finder is in the same plane as the shutter dials and rewind knobs. |
== Lenses == | == Lenses == | ||
| − | The Asahiflexes take 37mm screw mount lenses. A 37mm screwmount is rather unique. They were named '''Takumar''' lenses after Takuma Kajiwara, a Japanese painter and uncle of the company director. <ref> | + | The Asahiflexes take 37mm screw mount lenses. A 37mm screwmount is rather unique. They were named '''Takumar''' lenses after Takuma Kajiwara, a Japanese painter and uncle of the company director. <ref> http://home.wanadoo.nl/aocn/divers/mag11.pdf, nicely elaborated article on Takumar lenses, in Dutch. </ref> Apart from the curious screw mount, the Takumars have some other interesting quirks. The aperture is made up of 20 (!) blades <ref> http://home.wanadoo.nl/aocn/divers/mag11.pdf see previous ref </ref> giving a nice round lens opening. 50 and 58mm standard lenses were available and 83, 135 and 500mm telephoto lenses. No wide angle lenses were made, aparently because of the presence of the mirror in the light path<!--source -->. |
Revision as of 20:48, 3 January 2008
Asahi Optical (Pentax) had been producing camera lenses for other japanese manufactureres since 1929 [1]. The predecessors of Minolta and Konica were among their customers. Then in 1952, with no former experience in camera building[2] , they produced the first Japanese 35mm SLR, the Asahiflex. At first glance, the design of the Leica III and the Kine Exakta come to mind. The placement of the film advance and rewind knobs and the placement of the shutter speed dials bears some resemblance to the Leica III. A viewfinder separate from the optical focusing mechanism adds to that impression. Of course the Asahiflex is not a rangefinder, but a true SLR with an Exakta-style waist level finder. Nice design detail: when folded in, the hood of the waist level finder is in the same plane as the shutter dials and rewind knobs.
Contents
Lenses
The Asahiflexes take 37mm screw mount lenses. A 37mm screwmount is rather unique. They were named Takumar lenses after Takuma Kajiwara, a Japanese painter and uncle of the company director. [3] Apart from the curious screw mount, the Takumars have some other interesting quirks. The aperture is made up of 20 (!) blades [4] giving a nice round lens opening. 50 and 58mm standard lenses were available and 83, 135 and 500mm telephoto lenses. No wide angle lenses were made, aparently because of the presence of the mirror in the light path.
Asahiflex
References
- ↑ {McKeown} 10th ed, p76
- ↑ [1] article in Dutch on the development of the Asahiflex by Gerjan van Oosten
- ↑ http://home.wanadoo.nl/aocn/divers/mag11.pdf, nicely elaborated article on Takumar lenses, in Dutch.
- ↑ http://home.wanadoo.nl/aocn/divers/mag11.pdf see previous ref
Links
In Dutch:
- Asahiflex development
- ashiflex model overview
- The Asahiflex Takumar lenses.
In English:
- The Asahiflex on Wikipedia.
