Difference between revisions of "Beauty Lightomatic"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
m (→‎Links: Added link)
m (Lots of repetition. Re-structured to better show the similarities and differences between models (coming back to check and tidy).)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
The '''Beauty Lightomatic''' is a series of [[35mm]] [[rangefinder camera]]s made by [[Taiyōdō|Beauty Camera]] from 1959 to 1963.
 
  
 +
== Overview ==
 +
 +
 +
The '''Beauty Lightomatics''' are a series of [[35mm]] [[rangefinder camera]]s made by [[Taiyōdō|the Beauty Camera Company]] between 1959 and 1963.
 +
 +
Each model shares some common features.
 +
* Viewfinder: Integrated coincidence rangefinder/ viewfinder with self-correcting bright line.
 +
* Focus: Coupled rangefinder with manual ring on lens barrel.
 +
* Lens: 45mm f1.9 (6 elements in unknown number of groups) stopping down to f16.
 +
* Close Focus: 0.8m / 2'7".
 +
* Shutter:. Five blade [[Copal|Copal-SV]] shutter with speeds: B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250 & 500 sec,. plus B. Shutter speeds and aperture settings can be interlocked. The shutter release locks when the advance lever is flush with the camera body.
 +
* Cable Release: Standard socket in shutter release button.
 +
* Meter: [[Selenium meter]] electro-mechanically coupled to lens barrel aperture, shutter speed settings, and film speed index.
 +
* Exposure: Centre-the-needle system with pointer window on the top plate of the camera.
 +
* Filter Size: 55mm screw in.
 +
* Flash: Cold shoe and PC terminal. M and X sync.
 +
* Film Advance Single stroke lever.
 +
* Frame Counter: Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened.
 +
* Rewind: Collapsible crank, and rewind selector switch.
  
−
{{Flickr_image
 
−
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/lux4u2/4312992855/in/pool-camerawiki
 
−
|image= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/4312992855_1f5d47b7dc.jpg
 
−
|image_align= left
 
−
|image_text= Beauty Lightomatic
 
−
|image_by= Simon Spaans
 
−
|image_rights= with permission
 
−
}}
 
−
{{Flickr_image
 
−
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/90900361@N08/8717321030/in/pool-camerawiki
 
−
|image=  http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7310/8717321030_a3eda711bb.jpg
 
−
|image_align= center
 
−
|image_text= Beauty Lightomatic III
 
−
|image_by= Geoff Harrisson
 
−
|image_rights= wp
 
−
}}
 
  
−
{{br}}
 
 
== The Beauty Lightomatic or LM ==
 
== The Beauty Lightomatic or LM ==
−
<!--Commented out image, no longer available on Flickr, please remove if not returned by 08/2015 {{Flickr_image
+
<!--Image required here-->
−
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jackandrose/2663368460/in/pool-camerawiki
 
−
|image= http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/2663368460_c99e7d9587_m.jpg
 
−
|image_align= right
 
−
|image_text= Beauty Lightomatic meter display<br>(seen from lens side)
 
−
|image_by= jackandrose
 
−
|image_rights= with permission
 
−
}}-->
 
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/dedonna/423201067/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/dedonna/423201067/in/pool-camerawiki
Line 37: Line 31:
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
}}
 
}}
−
"Beauty LM" was the branding used for the Lightomatic in some markets. (It is sometimes said that the "Lightomatic LM" is a name variant of the Lightomatic II, but available photos don't support this. A Beauty LM2 is also reported.)<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.397. </REF>
 
  
−
* [[Selenium meter]] with match-needle meter window on top. Lens barrel aperture and shutter speed settings electro-mechanically coupled to meter, and film speed indexed [[ASA]] 6-800 as well from lens barrel scale. Note that symbols that rotate right of meter window are only film reminders.
+
* The Lightomatic was introduced in 1959.
−
* brightline etched at eyepiece lens
+
* The lens is either a Beauty-S or Canter-S.
−
* [[Copal|Copal-SV]] shutter.
+
* The Selenium meter cell window is located on the front of the camera body.
−
* Shutter speeds: B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250 & 500. Shutter speeds can be interlocked with aperture.
+
* The meter film speed range is from 6 to 1600 ASA.
−
* Beauty-S or Canter-S lens:  f1.9-16 / 45mm with 6 elements in 4 groups.
+
* A graphic next to the meter needle pointer window on the top pate illustrates the direction in which the aperture/shutter speed dials should be moved in order to center the needle.
−
* Brightline finder with horizontal and vertical parallax correction
+
* To the right of the needle pointer window there is a film type reminder with two settings.
−
{{br}}
+
 
 +
A Beauty LM2 is also reported.)<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.397. </REF>
 +
 
  
 
== The Beauty Lightomatic II ==
 
== The Beauty Lightomatic II ==
Line 64: Line 59:
 
|image_rights= non-commercial
 
|image_rights= non-commercial
 
}}
 
}}
−
* 1960 cosmetic revamp on Lightomatic / LM chassis
 
−
* addition of brightline finder window
 
−
* [[Selenium meter]] with needle indicator on top
 
−
* [[Copal|Copal-SV]] shutter.
 
−
* Shutter speeds: B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250 & 300.
 
−
* Biokor-S lens:  f1,9 / 45 mm.
 
  
−
{{br}}
+
* The Beauty Lightomatic II was introduced in 1960.
 +
* The lens is a Biokor-S.
 +
* The meter needle pointer window was re-designed so that it's shape changed from circular to rectangular, and the exposure adjustment graphic was abandoned along with the film type reminder. This was replaced by a table showing film speed setting parameters (e.g. a setting of 100 ASA accommodated films between 75 - 120 ASA.
 +
* The viewfinder and rangefinder windows where unified by a singe glass covering.
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
 
  
 
== The Beauty Lightomatic III (Lightmatic/Lite III) ==
 
== The Beauty Lightomatic III (Lightmatic/Lite III) ==
Line 90: Line 86:
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
}}
 
}}
−
The Beauty Lightomatic III was introduced in 1961, and sold using the alternative names of Lightmatic III and Lite III, which appears to be the USA version.  
+
* The Beauty Lightomatic III was introduced in 1961, and sold using the alternative names of Lightmatic III and Lite III, which appears to be the USA version.  
−
* Viewfinder: Coincidence rangefinder integrated with viewfinder. Self-correcting bright line.
+
* The lens is a Biokor-S.
−
* Focus: Coupled rangefinder with manual ring on lens barrel.
+
* The Selenium meter cell was relocated to surround the lens.  
−
* Lens: Biokor-S 45mm f1.9 (6 elements in unknown number of groups) stopping down to f16.
+
* The top plate meter needle pointer no longer supported information graphics
−
* Close Focus: 0.8m / 2'7".
+
* The meter needle pointer was made visible in the viewfinder.
−
* Shutter:. Five blade [[Copal|Copal-SV]] shutter with speeds from 1 to 1/500th sec,. plus B. The shutter release locks when the advance lever is flush with the camera body.
+
* The meter film speed range changed slightly to 10 to 1600 ASA.
−
* Cable Release: Standard socket in shutter release button.
+
 
−
* Meter: Coupled around the lens [[Selenium meter]]. Centre-the-needle system with pointer visible in the viewfinder, and via a window on the top plate of the camera.
 
−
* Film Speed: From ASA 10 - 1600.
 
−
* Filter Size: 55mm screw in.
 
−
* Flash: Cold shoe and PC terminal. M and X sync.
 
−
* Film Advance Lever: 100° single stroke.
 
−
* Frame Counter: Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened.
 
−
* Rewind: Collapsible crank, and rewind selector switch.
 
−
* Back Opening: Sliding catch.
 
−
* Size: 140 x 83 x 65 mm.
 
−
* Weight: 700g.
 
−
{{br}}
 
  
 
== The Beauty Lightmatic SP ==
 
== The Beauty Lightmatic SP ==
  
 +
<!--Images required here-->
 +
* The Beauty Lightmatic SP was introduced in 1963 (note the "o" has been dropped from the name), and is a slightly updated/revised version of the Light'''O'''matic III. The differences between the two cameras are negligible.
  
−
The Beauty lightmatic SP (note the "o" has been dropped from the name) was introduced in 1963 and is a slightly updated/revised version of the Light'''O'''matic III. The differences between the two cameras are negligible.
 
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
−
== Bibliography ==
 
−
* {{Showa10}} Items 1476–7 and 1479–81.
 
−
* {{McKeown12}} Pp.113–4.
 
−
* {{Zukan}} Items 3129–30 and 3132–3.
 
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==

Revision as of 08:08, 6 August 2016

Overview

The Beauty Lightomatics are a series of 35mm rangefinder cameras made by the Beauty Camera Company between 1959 and 1963.

Each model shares some common features.

  • Viewfinder: Integrated coincidence rangefinder/ viewfinder with self-correcting bright line.
  • Focus: Coupled rangefinder with manual ring on lens barrel.
  • Lens: 45mm f1.9 (6 elements in unknown number of groups) stopping down to f16.
  • Close Focus: 0.8m / 2'7".
  • Shutter:. Five blade Copal-SV shutter with speeds: B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250 & 500 sec,. plus B. Shutter speeds and aperture settings can be interlocked. The shutter release locks when the advance lever is flush with the camera body.
  • Cable Release: Standard socket in shutter release button.
  • Meter: Selenium meter electro-mechanically coupled to lens barrel aperture, shutter speed settings, and film speed index.
  • Exposure: Centre-the-needle system with pointer window on the top plate of the camera.
  • Filter Size: 55mm screw in.
  • Flash: Cold shoe and PC terminal. M and X sync.
  • Film Advance Single stroke lever.
  • Frame Counter: Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened.
  • Rewind: Collapsible crank, and rewind selector switch.


The Beauty Lightomatic or LM

423201067_855240f42c_m.jpg
Lightomatic top view
image by Donnatella G (Image rights)
  • The Lightomatic was introduced in 1959.
  • The lens is either a Beauty-S or Canter-S.
  • The Selenium meter cell window is located on the front of the camera body.
  • The meter film speed range is from 6 to 1600 ASA.
  • A graphic next to the meter needle pointer window on the top pate illustrates the direction in which the aperture/shutter speed dials should be moved in order to center the needle.
  • To the right of the needle pointer window there is a film type reminder with two settings.

A Beauty LM2 is also reported.)[1]


The Beauty Lightomatic II

130838040_dacafe0b03_m.jpg
Front view
image by Goodimages (Image rights)
130838041_529845eeb5_m.jpg
c.1960 Lightomatic II
image by Goodimages (Image rights)
  • The Beauty Lightomatic II was introduced in 1960.
  • The lens is a Biokor-S.
  • The meter needle pointer window was re-designed so that it's shape changed from circular to rectangular, and the exposure adjustment graphic was abandoned along with the film type reminder. This was replaced by a table showing film speed setting parameters (e.g. a setting of 100 ASA accommodated films between 75 - 120 ASA.
  • The viewfinder and rangefinder windows where unified by a singe glass covering.





The Beauty Lightomatic III (Lightmatic/Lite III)

4795765797_9fc5ee9cf3_m.jpg
Top engraving
"Beauty Light O matic III"
image by Hans Jan Dürr (Image rights)
4282587092_fae88fc7dd_m.jpg
Lightomatic III with
meter cells around lens
image by David Broglin (Image rights)
  • The Beauty Lightomatic III was introduced in 1961, and sold using the alternative names of Lightmatic III and Lite III, which appears to be the USA version.
  • The lens is a Biokor-S.
  • The Selenium meter cell was relocated to surround the lens.
  • The top plate meter needle pointer no longer supported information graphics
  • The meter needle pointer was made visible in the viewfinder.
  • The meter film speed range changed slightly to 10 to 1600 ASA.


The Beauty Lightmatic SP

  • The Beauty Lightmatic SP was introduced in 1963 (note the "o" has been dropped from the name), and is a slightly updated/revised version of the LightOmatic III. The differences between the two cameras are negligible.


Notes

  1. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.397.


Links

In English:

In Japanese:

In French:

Retrieved from "http://camera-wiki.org/index.php?title=Beauty_Lightomatic&oldid=175563"