Difference between revisions of "Calypso"

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The '''Calypso''' is a self-contained 35mm film camera designed for use under water manufactured in France by [[Atoms]] to a design of Jean De Wouters. It was conceived by the famous marine explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910—1997), named after the research vessel he was using from 1950, and distributed 1960—1962 by Spirotechnique<REF> [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/Spirotechnique/html/calypso.php Calypso] by AS at www.collection-appareils.fr. </REF>, a small firm he had established, dealing in underwater equipment.  
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The '''Calypso''' is the first self-contained 35mm film camera designed for underwater use, manufactured in France by [[Atoms]] to a design of Jean De Wouters. The camera operates at depths down to 200feet / 60m<REF> Photo-Plait Catalogue 1962 p.39 price 795,-NF </REF>. It was conceived by the famous marine explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910—1997), named after the research vessel he was using from 1950, and distributed 1960—1962 by Spirotechnique<REF> [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/Spirotechnique/html/calypso.php Calypso] by AS at www.collection-appareils.fr. </REF>, a small firm he had established dealing in underwater equipment, located in the suburb of Paris at Levallois-Perret.
  
The camera body consists of two main parts being locked together by mounting the lens on the camera and sealed by silicon greased O-rings. The lens is removed by pulling and twisting it either way in the bayonet mount. The focal plane shutter has vertical running metal plates, initially manufactured with speeds from 1/30 to 1/1000sec, but from 1/15 to 1/500sec a year later. The camera is operated by a combined wind-on and shutter release lever, and is provided with a [[flash sync]] connector and an automatic resetting frame counter, both situated at the camera base. The standard lens fitted was a [[Berthiot|SOM Berthiot]] 1:3.5 f=35 with knobs on either side for setting focusing distance and lens aperture, suitable for both under and above water photographing due to the optically flat front glass. The lens has no filter thread. In some ads it was advertised as the “CALYPSO-PHOT”.  
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The camera body consists of two main parts being locked together by mounting the lens on the camera, and is sealed by Vaseline greased O-rings. The lens is removed by pulling and twisting it either way in the bayonet mount. The focal plane shutter has vertical running metal plates, initially manufactured with speeds from 1/30 to 1/1000sec, but from 1/15 to 1/500sec a year later. The camera is operated by a combined wind-on and shutter-release lever, and is provided with a [[flash sync]] connector and an automatic resetting frame counter, both situated at the camera base. The standard lens fitted was a [[Berthiot|SOM Berthiot]] 1:3.5 f=35 with knobs on either side for setting focusing distance and lens aperture, suitable for both under and above water photographing due to the optically flat front glass. The lens has no filter thread. In some ads, it was advertised as the “CALYPSO-PHOT”.  
  
For various reasons the design was sold to [[Nikon|Nippon Kōgaku]] (Nikon) who reintroduced it as the Nikonos in 1963. Nikon continued developing it and subsequently launched Nikonos-II, -III, -IV and -V, and culminating by introducing the 35mm SLR Nikonos RS (1992—1996).
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For marketing reasons the design was sold to [[Nikon|Nippon Kōgaku]] (Nikon) who reintroduced it in 1963 with Calypso/Nikkor inscription<REF> Peter Braczko, Nikon Pocket book </REF>, but soon identified it as the Nikonos. Nippon Kōgaku continued developing it, and subsequently launched Nikonos-II, -III, -IV and -V, and culminating by introducing the 35mm SLR Nikonos RS (1992—1996).
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==

Revision as of 13:53, 26 July 2009

The Calypso is the first self-contained 35mm film camera designed for underwater use, manufactured in France by Atoms to a design of Jean De Wouters. The camera operates at depths down to 200feet / 60m[1]. It was conceived by the famous marine explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910—1997), named after the research vessel he was using from 1950, and distributed 1960—1962 by Spirotechnique[2], a small firm he had established dealing in underwater equipment, located in the suburb of Paris at Levallois-Perret.

The camera body consists of two main parts being locked together by mounting the lens on the camera, and is sealed by Vaseline greased O-rings. The lens is removed by pulling and twisting it either way in the bayonet mount. The focal plane shutter has vertical running metal plates, initially manufactured with speeds from 1/30 to 1/1000sec, but from 1/15 to 1/500sec a year later. The camera is operated by a combined wind-on and shutter-release lever, and is provided with a flash sync connector and an automatic resetting frame counter, both situated at the camera base. The standard lens fitted was a SOM Berthiot 1:3.5 f=35 with knobs on either side for setting focusing distance and lens aperture, suitable for both under and above water photographing due to the optically flat front glass. The lens has no filter thread. In some ads, it was advertised as the “CALYPSO-PHOT”.

For marketing reasons the design was sold to Nippon Kōgaku (Nikon) who reintroduced it in 1963 with Calypso/Nikkor inscription[3], but soon identified it as the Nikonos. Nippon Kōgaku continued developing it, and subsequently launched Nikonos-II, -III, -IV and -V, and culminating by introducing the 35mm SLR Nikonos RS (1992—1996).

Notes

  1. Photo-Plait Catalogue 1962 p.39 price 795,-NF
  2. Calypso by AS at www.collection-appareils.fr.
  3. Peter Braczko, Nikon Pocket book

Links

In French: