Camel, Comex 35, Kikuca 35 and Rolex 35 III
The Camel is a Japanese 35mm viewfinder camera with a leaf shutter, made in the first half of the 1950s, ostensibly by a company called Tōhōkōken.
Contents
Description
The Camel has an octogonal body. The back is removed together with the bottom plate for film loading. There is a focusing helical with a focusing tab at the base of the lens barrel. The distance is visible in a window placed above the barrel.
The viewfinder is contained in a short top housing, which also supports an accessory shoe on the right. The advance and rewind knob, exposure counter, shutter release and rewind unlock lever are shaped as on the early Leica or Canon rangefinder cameras. There is a thin metal casing around the lens, with a characteristic shape and a 24X36 engraving at the top. The body release linkage probably runs through this casing, and an axis protrudes at the bottom to connect it with the shutter itself.
The only actual example observed so far is pictured in Sugiyama.[1] Its top housing is engraved Camel mode II and Tōhōkōken camera in smaller letters. There is a typo, and it is not known if the intended engraving was "model I" or "model II".
The lens is a Camel Anastigmat 50mm f/3.5, with a "C" for coating. The shutter is engraved NIPPOL at the base of the speed rim. It has B, 1–200 speeds, a self-timer and an ASA bayonet synch post.
Notes
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. 922.
- 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 3137 and 3290.
The Camel is not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
Links
- Camel 35 in a page about the Rolex 35 at Japan Family Camera
