Auto Press Minolta

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The 1930s were the era of the German camera makers since they offered a great range of innovative cameras for the new 35mm film standard. But the more traditional field of medium format folders was not dominated by them. But some innovations in this field were remarkable, for example the new concept of a strut folding press camera introduced with the Makina II in 1933 by Plaubel. Chiyoda Kōgaku used this camera conception for its first camera with built-in flash-synchronization-switch. It was not a copy of the Makina but of its concept. Other than the archetype Chiyoda's Minolta Auto Press had horizontal and vertical scissors type struts, and the optical finder used only one collapsible lens frame together with a built-in ocular instead of the Makina's two collapsible frames. Several other details were different so that it was a real Minolta and not a fake Makina. The Auto Press had a predecessor, the cheaper Auto Minolta of 1935 which was simpler and looked more alike a simplified Plaubel camera without sports finder.

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catalogue of 1941 shows that it was expensive: 363 Yen

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specifications

• Type: strut folding press camera
• Manufacturer: Chiyoda
• Year of launch: 1937
• Film type/frame size: roll film or film sheets / 6.5×9cm (probably 6×9 with roll film?)
• Lens: 105mm F3.5 Promar Anastigmat Nippon, 4 elements
• Shutter: Nippon Crown-Rapid or Crown-Rapid S, with speeds 1 sec. to 1/400 sec. plus T and B, self-timer
• Focusing: 1m to infinity, aided by coupled rangefinder
• Viewfinders: Optical finder with built-in ocular and collapsible front lens holder with crosshairs, additional big sports finder
• Aperture: f3.5 to f25
• Dimensions: 140×118×133mm
• Weight: 1300g

A version with F4.5 lens was also made.

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 271.
• Baird, John R. The Japanese Camera. Yakima, WA: Historical Camera Publications, 1990. ISBN 1-879561-02-6. P.42 (picture only).
• Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Minolta de 1929 à 1985. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27685-4. Pp.23–4 and 79.
• 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.54 and 182.
• 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.673.
• Scheibel, Anni Rita and Joseph. 70 Jahre Minolta Kameratechnik — Von der Nifcalette bis zur Dynax 9. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 3rd edition, 1999. ISBN 3-89506-191-3. Pp.24–5.
• 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 1198.

Links

In English:

• Auto Press Minolta in the 70th anniversary Minolta poster, reproduced at Photoclub Alpha
• Auto Press Minolta among Minolta folding cameras in the Manual Minolta website
• Auto Press Minolta, lot no.650 of Westlicht Photographica auction no.10

In Japanese:

• Auto Press Minolta in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
• Auto Press Minolta in a page of wanted cameras at je2luz
• Auto Press Minolta in the Map Camera Museum
• Auto Press Minolta in the Kitamura Camera Museum