Difference between revisions of "Baby Leotax"

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{{127 Japan}}
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{{Japanese Baby and Four}}
The '''Baby Leotax''' is a Japanese 3×4cm folding camera made before or during the war by [[Shōwa Kōgaku]].
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The '''Baby Leotax''' is a Japanese 3&times;4cm folding camera made before or during the war by [[Shōwa Kōgaku]]. It is said that it was released in 1941 but very few is known.<REF> Date: both ''Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten'', p.&nbsp;26 and McKeown, p.&nbsp;891. </REF> In particular this camera does not appear in {{Kokusan}} and no advertisement has yet been observed.
  
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== Description of the body ==
 
The body looks like the [[Baby Ikonta]] but with plain diagonal struts. There is a folding optical finder and a body release on the left of the top plate. The advance knob is at the bottom right, opposite the tripod screw thread. The back is hinged to the left and film advance is controlled by red window. The front leather is embossed ''BABY-LEOTAX'' and the folding struts have some logo engraved.
 
The body looks like the [[Baby Ikonta]] but with plain diagonal struts. There is a folding optical finder and a body release on the left of the top plate. The advance knob is at the bottom right, opposite the tripod screw thread. The back is hinged to the left and film advance is controlled by red window. The front leather is embossed ''BABY-LEOTAX'' and the folding struts have some logo engraved.
  
 
The folding struts are exactly identical to that of the [[Baby Lyra]], this might be a matter of copy, of common subcontractors or of cooperation between the two companies.
 
The folding struts are exactly identical to that of the [[Baby Lyra]], this might be a matter of copy, of common subcontractors or of cooperation between the two companies.
  
 +
== Lens and shutter equipment ==
 
The camera has been observed with a B, 1&ndash;500 shutter engraved ''YAMATO-RAPID'' on the speed rim and a Rieze Anastigmat 5cm f/3.5 lens. At least two types of lens engravings exist: a black lens bezel with the lens name in small letters<REF> Example pictured in McKeown, p.&nbsp;891. </REF> and a metal lens bezel with the lens name in capital letters.<REF> Example pictured in ''Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten'', p.&nbsp;26. </REF>
 
The camera has been observed with a B, 1&ndash;500 shutter engraved ''YAMATO-RAPID'' on the speed rim and a Rieze Anastigmat 5cm f/3.5 lens. At least two types of lens engravings exist: a black lens bezel with the lens name in small letters<REF> Example pictured in McKeown, p.&nbsp;891. </REF> and a metal lens bezel with the lens name in capital letters.<REF> Example pictured in ''Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten'', p.&nbsp;26. </REF>
 
It is said that the camera was released in 1941 but very few is known.<REF> Date: both ''Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten'', p.&nbsp;26 and McKeown, p.&nbsp;891. </REF> In particular this camera does not appear in {{Kokusan}} and no advertisement has yet been observed.
 
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==

Revision as of 11:21, 5 December 2006

Japanese Baby (3×4) and Four (4×4) (edit)
folding
3×4 Baby Balnet | Doris | Baby Doris | Baby Germa | Kinsi | Baby Leotax | Loren | Baby Lyra | Baby Pearl | Baby Pilot | Baby Rosen | Baby Suzuka | Walz
4×4 Adler Four | Rosen Four
rigid or collapsible
3×4 Baika | Baby Chrome | Comet | Cyclon | Gelto | Baby Germa | Gokoku | Hamond | Baby Hawk | Kinka Lucky | Lausar | Light | Baby Light | Molby | Mulber | Olympic | Baby Ōso | Peacock | Picny | Ricohl | Rorox | Shinko Baby | Slick | Baby Sport | Tsubasa Arawashi | Baby Uirus | Zessan
3.5×4 Kenko 35
4×4 Alma Four | Andes Four | Anny 44 | Arsen | Balnet Four | Bonny Four | Freude | Kalimar 44 | Auto Keef | Kraft | Letix | Mykey-4 | Olympic Four | Roico | Royal Senior | Seica | Terra Junior | Vero Four | Welmy 44 | Yashica Future 127
unknown
Baby First | Baby Lyra Flex
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 4×5 and 4×6.5, 4.5×6, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Baby Leotax is a Japanese 3×4cm folding camera made before or during the war by Shōwa Kōgaku. It is said that it was released in 1941 but very few is known.[1] In particular this camera does not appear in Kokusan kamera no rekishi and no advertisement has yet been observed.

Description of the body

The body looks like the Baby Ikonta but with plain diagonal struts. There is a folding optical finder and a body release on the left of the top plate. The advance knob is at the bottom right, opposite the tripod screw thread. The back is hinged to the left and film advance is controlled by red window. The front leather is embossed BABY-LEOTAX and the folding struts have some logo engraved.

The folding struts are exactly identical to that of the Baby Lyra, this might be a matter of copy, of common subcontractors or of cooperation between the two companies.

Lens and shutter equipment

The camera has been observed with a B, 1–500 shutter engraved YAMATO-RAPID on the speed rim and a Rieze Anastigmat 5cm f/3.5 lens. At least two types of lens engravings exist: a black lens bezel with the lens name in small letters[2] and a metal lens bezel with the lens name in capital letters.[3]

Notes

  1. Date: both Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 26 and McKeown, p. 891.
  2. Example pictured in McKeown, p. 891.
  3. Example pictured in Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten, p. 26.

Bibliography

  • 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. 891.
  • Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten (思い出のスプリングカメラ展, Exhibition of beloved self-erecting cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P. 26.