Baby Pearl
Template:127 Japan The Baby Pearl was a 3×4 folding Japanese camera, made from 1934 by Rokuoh-sha and later by Konishiroku (which would later become Konica). It was inspired by the Zeiss Ikon Baby Ikonta.
It was a vertical style folding camera, with curved struts and a folding optical finder. The film advance was controlled via two red windows in the back. There was sometimes a metal part between the two red windows, that could suggest a sliding cover, but it might have something to see with the pressure plate. It was embossed BABY PEARL in the leather covering, and has been observed with black or metal trimming.
The shutter was an everset Rox with B-25-50-100 speeds, set by a small lever on top. It has not been observed with a body release. The shutter plate was marked ROX on the top and Rokuoh-sha or Konishiroku at the bottom. It usually had a 50/4.5 lens. Lens markings observed:
- Rokuoh-sha NoXXXXX Optor 1:4.5 f=50mm, black face, shutter marked Rokuoh-sha
- Rokuoh-sha NoXXXXX Optor 1:4.5 f=50mm, chrome face, shutter marked Rokuoh-sha
- Rokuoh-sha NoXXXXX Hexar Ser.1 1:4.5 f=50mm, chrome face, shutter marked Rokuoh-sha
- Konishiroku NoXXXXX Hexar 1:4.5 f=50mm, chrome face, shutter marked Konishiroku
There is a possibility that the Optor was a triplet lens and the Hexar a Tessar-type four element lens, but it is unsure.
Notes
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. Items 168 and 680. (See also the advertisements for item 170.)
- 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). Pp. 537–8.
- 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. 46, 51, 56, 60, 62, 75.
Links
In Japanese:
- A-Z 127 film cameras at Asacame, with the Baby Pearl on this page
- The Baby Pearl in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
- Baby Pearl, small picture at Ken's website
- Baby Pearl specs and picture at the R. Konishi Rokuoh-sha website
