Difference between revisions of "Atom Six"
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| − | || ''Atom Six I, NKS shutter, Atom Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no.260x.''<br>''Picture courtesy of [http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/ Pacific Rim Camera]. {{with permission}}'' | + | || ''Atom Six I, NKS shutter, Atom Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no.260x.''<br>''It has the viewfinder frame, fine-knurled advance knob and silver rounded lens standard.''<br>''Picture courtesy of [http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/ Pacific Rim Camera]. {{with permission}}'' |
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=== Advertisements === | === Advertisements === | ||
| − | In an advertisement dated April 1952,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Camera Fan]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 116. </REF> the Atom Six I was offered with a Seriter lens and an [[NKS]] shutter. The advertisement both says that the camera would become dual format in late February (2月下旬より) and that the model II would be released at the same date, with various improvements in the lens and other parts. (Despite the April publication date, all this is redacted in the future, probably because the advertisement was | + | In an advertisement dated April 1952,<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Camera Fan]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 116. </REF> the Atom Six I was offered with a Seriter lens and an [[NKS]] shutter. The advertisement both says that the camera would become dual format in late February (2月下旬より) and that the model II would be released at the same date, with various improvements in the lens and other parts. (Despite the April publication date, all this is redacted in the future, probably because the advertisement was written some time before the date printed on the magazine cover.) |
The production of the Atom Six I was not halted after the release of the model II: an advertisement dated December 1952<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 116. </REF> offered the model I with a Seriter lens and an AKS shutter. The AKS initials certainly stand for <U>A</U>tom <U>K</U>ōki <U>S</U>eisakusho. Examples have been observed with an ''ATOM'' marking on the shutter rim, it is not known if this corresponds to the AKS shutter or not. | The production of the Atom Six I was not halted after the release of the model II: an advertisement dated December 1952<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p. 116. </REF> offered the model I with a Seriter lens and an AKS shutter. The AKS initials certainly stand for <U>A</U>tom <U>K</U>ōki <U>S</U>eisakusho. Examples have been observed with an ''ATOM'' marking on the shutter rim, it is not known if this corresponds to the AKS shutter or not. | ||
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| − | || ''Atom Six I, EKS shutter (reported), Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens no.6992.''<br>''Picture courtesy of [http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/ Pacific Rim Camera]. {{with permission}}'' | + | || ''Atom Six I, EKS shutter (reported), Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens no.6992.''<br>''It has the viewfinder frame, fine-knurled advance knob and black rounded lens standard.''<br>''Picture courtesy of [http://www.pacificrimcamera.com/ Pacific Rim Camera]. {{with permission}}'' |
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The camera was released as a single-format model, taking 6×6cm pictures only. The early examples have a single red window in the middle of the back, surrounded by a small plate marked ''12EX.'' The name ''ATOM–SIX'' is also embossed in the back leather under this red window. The late examples have two red windows and can take 6×6cm or 4.5×6cm pictures. The change presumably occurred after the introduction of the Atom Six II, to standardize the supply of parts. On the modified back, the red windows are surrounded by small plates marked ''12EX'' and ''16EX,'' and the name ''ATOM–SIX I'' is embossed at the bottom right. | The camera was released as a single-format model, taking 6×6cm pictures only. The early examples have a single red window in the middle of the back, surrounded by a small plate marked ''12EX.'' The name ''ATOM–SIX'' is also embossed in the back leather under this red window. The late examples have two red windows and can take 6×6cm or 4.5×6cm pictures. The change presumably occurred after the introduction of the Atom Six II, to standardize the supply of parts. On the modified back, the red windows are surrounded by small plates marked ''12EX'' and ''16EX,'' and the name ''ATOM–SIX I'' is embossed at the bottom right. | ||
| − | Other minor changes occurred during the production of the camera. Some cameras have a | + | Other minor changes occurred during the production of the camera. Some cameras have a rounded lens standard (chrome or black), an advance knob with three rows of fine knurls and an external frame surrounding the main finder window, attached by two screws. Others have a square lens standard (again chrome or black), two rows of knurls on the advance knob and no frame around the viewfinder window. It seems that these three features were altered simultaneously. |
The observed lens and shutter combinations are: | The observed lens and shutter combinations are: | ||
Revision as of 18:01, 8 October 2007
The Atom Six (アトムシックス) is a 6×6 folding camera made by Atom Kōki Seisakusho. Advertisements for both model I and model II were published from the July 1952 to the September 1953 issues of the Japanese photographic magazines.[1] The Atom Six looks from the front as if it is a rangefinder camera, with two or three windows depending on the model, but these are separate viewfinders. the viewfinder window at the center and the extra rangefinder window to the right.
Contents
Common features
The Atom Six I and Atom Six II have the same body and mainly differ by the top housing. The folding struts are styled after the Ikonta and display the AOW logo of Atom Optical Works. The back is hinged to the right, the advance knob is at the top right and has an arrow to indicate the winding direction.
All the models have a 75mm f/3.5 lens; focusing is by movement of the front lens element. The shutter has speeds of 1–200 and B, is synchronized and has a self-timer.
The Atom Six I
Description
The Atom Six I[2] has two viewfinders: a direct-vision finder at the center, with a rectangular window, and a right-angle finder on the left (as seen by the photographer), with a smaller round window and a small viewing screen on top of the camera. There is an accessory shoe between the two finders. The name ATOM–6 is engraved at two places of the top housing: above the camera between the eye-level finder and the advance knob, and behind the camera on the left of the finder eyepiece. The AOW logo is repeated on the right of the shoe.
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| Atom Six I, NKS shutter, Atom Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no.260x. It has the viewfinder frame, fine-knurled advance knob and silver rounded lens standard. Picture courtesy of Pacific Rim Camera. (Image rights) |
Advertisements
In an advertisement dated April 1952,[3] the Atom Six I was offered with a Seriter lens and an NKS shutter. The advertisement both says that the camera would become dual format in late February (2月下旬より) and that the model II would be released at the same date, with various improvements in the lens and other parts. (Despite the April publication date, all this is redacted in the future, probably because the advertisement was written some time before the date printed on the magazine cover.)
The production of the Atom Six I was not halted after the release of the model II: an advertisement dated December 1952[4] offered the model I with a Seriter lens and an AKS shutter. The AKS initials certainly stand for Atom Kōki Seisakusho. Examples have been observed with an ATOM marking on the shutter rim, it is not known if this corresponds to the AKS shutter or not.
Variations and actual examples
|
| Atom Six I, EKS shutter (reported), Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens no.6992. It has the viewfinder frame, fine-knurled advance knob and black rounded lens standard. Picture courtesy of Pacific Rim Camera. (Image rights) |
The camera was released as a single-format model, taking 6×6cm pictures only. The early examples have a single red window in the middle of the back, surrounded by a small plate marked 12EX. The name ATOM–SIX is also embossed in the back leather under this red window. The late examples have two red windows and can take 6×6cm or 4.5×6cm pictures. The change presumably occurred after the introduction of the Atom Six II, to standardize the supply of parts. On the modified back, the red windows are surrounded by small plates marked 12EX and 16EX, and the name ATOM–SIX I is embossed at the bottom right.
Other minor changes occurred during the production of the camera. Some cameras have a rounded lens standard (chrome or black), an advance knob with three rows of fine knurls and an external frame surrounding the main finder window, attached by two screws. Others have a square lens standard (again chrome or black), two rows of knurls on the advance knob and no frame around the viewfinder window. It seems that these three features were altered simultaneously.
The observed lens and shutter combinations are:
- Seriter lens, Atom shutter;[5]
- Seriter lens, EKS shutter (the reported "EKS" name is unconfirmed);[6]
- Atom lens, Atom shutter;[7]
- Atom lens, NKS shutter;[8]
- Atom lens, S. Luna shutter;[9]
- Atomar lens, NKS shutter;[10]
- Atomar lens, MSK shutter;[11]
- Atomar lens, O.K.K. shutter.[12]
The Atom Six II
Description
The design of the Atom Six II[13] is very distinctive; it has two rectangular windows for two separate viewfinders, with a smaller round window for the right-angle finder between the two. As seen by the photographer, the right eyepiece is for 6×6 and that to the left for 4.5×6. An accessory shoe is added to the left end of the top plate, and the folding bed release has moved to a new location behind the shutter release. The name ATOM SIX–II and the AOW logo is engraved above the viewfinders.
Advertisements
As said above, there is an allusion to the Atom Six II in an April 1952 advertisement[14] (where the camera is said to be released in late February). However the camera was presented as a new product (新発売) in an advertisement dated August 1952,[15] where it was offered in three versions:
- Type A: Atomic lens (four elements), NKS shutter;
- Type B: Atom lens (three elements), AKS shutter;
- Type C: Seriter lens (three elements), Atom shutter.
The December 1952 advertisement already cited above[16] offered the Atom Six II with Atomic or Atom lenses and Atom or NKS shutters.
Variations and actual examples
The Atom Six II is always dual-format, and the back is the same as on the examples of the Atom Six I with two red windows. The embossing at the bottom right reads ATOM–SIX II.
The minor changes in the lens standard and advance knob described for the Atom Six I occurred after the introduction of the model II, and examples are known in both varieties.[17] None has an external frame around the finder windows.
The observed lens and shutter combinations are:
The Atomar lens perhaps corresponds to the four-element Atomic lens, mentioned in the advertisements but never observed.
Sources / further reading
- 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 363–4.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp. 75 and 79 (brief mentions only).
- 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. 86.
- 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 1273–7.
Links
In Japanese:
- Atom Six I at Japan Family Camera
- Atom Six I at Minosan's blog
- Atom Six I in the Zeppan Tōsan photo site (incorporating this photograph). If the link does not work, go to the Zeppan Tōsan photo site, follow the link marked "武器庫" in the page menu, and then the link marked "アトム光機製作所 アトムシックス" in the "next" menu
