Beauty Lightomatic
The Beauty Lightomatic is a series of 35mm rangefinder cameras made by Beauty Camera from 1959 to 1963.
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| Beauty Lightomatic image by Simon Spaans (Image rights) |
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| Beauty Lightomatic III image by Geoff Harrisson (Image rights) |
Contents
The Beauty Lightomatic or LM
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| Lightomatic top view image by Donnatella G (Image rights) |
"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.)[1]
- 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.
- brightline etched at eyepiece lens
- Copal-SV shutter.
- Shutter speeds: B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250 & 500. Shutter speeds can be interlocked with aperture.
- Beauty-S or Canter-S lens: f1.9-16 / 45mm with 6 elements in 4 groups.
- Brightline finder with horizontal and vertical parallax correction
The Beauty Lightomatic II
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| Front view image by Goodimages (Image rights) |
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| c.1960 Lightomatic II image by Goodimages (Image rights) |
- 1960 cosmetic revamp on Lightomatic / LM chassis
- addition of brightline finder window
- Selenium meter with needle indicator on top
- Copal-SV shutter.
- Shutter speeds: B, 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250 & 300.
- Biokor-S lens: f1,9 / 45 mm.
The Beauty Lightomatic III (Lightmatic/Lite III)
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| Top engraving "Beauty Light O matic III" image by Hans Jan Dürr (Image rights) |
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| 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.
- Viewfinder: Coincidence rangefinder integrated with viewfinder. Self-correcting bright line.
- Focus: Coupled rangefinder with manual ring on lens barrel.
- Lens: Biokor-S 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 from 1 to 1/500th sec,. plus B. The shutter release locks when the advance lever is flush with the camera body.
- 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.
The Beauty Lightmatic SP
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 LightOmatic III. The differences between the two cameras are negligible.
Notes
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.397.
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 1476–7 and 1479–81.
- 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.113–4.
- 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 3129–30 and 3132–3.
Links
In English:
- Beauty Lightomatic in Mediajoy's Guide to Classic Cameras (follow the "Next" links at the bottom of the page to have illustrated instructions of use)
- Three Lightomatic versions compared to the Beaumat by paulfromukcamera on Flickr
- Beauty Lightomatic page at My 35mm Film camera Collection
- Beauty Lightomatic III page at My 35mm Film camera Collection
- Beauty Lightmatic SP page at My 35mm Film camera Collection
In Japanese:
In French:
