Difference between revisions of "Croma Color 16"

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{{Japanese roll film subminiature}}
 
{{Japanese roll film subminiature}}
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The '''Croma Color 16''' and '''Mykro Fine Color 16''' are subminiature cameras made by an unidentified Japanese company.
The '''Croma Color 16''' and '''Mykro Fine Color 16''' are subminiature cameras made by some unidentified company, certainly in Japan.<REF> {{MK}}, pp.230 and and 706, says that both cameras were made in Japan. Pritchard classifies the Croma among US cameras on p.92, and the Mykro Fine among Japanese cameras on p.71, but says that the two cameras are "exactly the same". The Japanese origin seems most likely. </REF>
 
  
== Distributors ==
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== Common features ==
The Croma Color 16 was distribured by a company called [[Croma|Croma Inc.]] based in Columbus, Ohio, whose name is inscribed on the indicated on the Cromascope projector made specifically for this camera.
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The two cameras have an almost identical body, made of [[bakelite]]. Their look and feel was inspired by the [[Pixie]] by [[Whittaker]]. The viewfinder is enclosed in a bright top cover, patterned after that of [[Hit-type cameras]], extending to the right as seen by the photographer. The advance knob is at the left end of the top plate. The rear half of the body is removable for film loading, and is locked by a sliding latch on both sides. There is an oval casing at the front of the body, containing the self-cocking shutter and used as a barrel for the fixed-focus lens. The release lever is on the right side of that casing. The aperture is set by a lever on the side of the lens, certainly by way of [[Waterhouse stops]].
  
The Mykro Fine Color 16 was certainly sold by another distributor. The name "Mykro-Fine" is known to appear on a different [[Hit-type cameras|Hit-type camera]], identified on the shutter plate as distributed by "[[Southern|E.J. Southern]], Distrs. 175 5th Av. N.Y."<REF> Example pictured in {{MK}}, p.706. </REF> The Mykro Fine Color 16 was perhaps sold by that company as well.
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== Mykro Fine Color 16 ==
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The '''Mykro Fine Color 16''' takes specific film cassettes, said to contain 16mm film.<REF> {{MK}}, p.706. One such cassette is pictured at Submin.com [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/croma/accessories/mykro_fine_film.htm]. </REF> The back has no red window, and has a spring to maintain the cassette in a proper position. To control the film advance, numbers from 1 to 14 are engraved in red on the advance knob. The user has to turn the knob until the correct number faces an index on the camera body. This is entirely controlled by hand, and there is no auto-stop mechanism.
  
== Description ==
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The Mykro Fine Color 16 has been observed in black only. It is identified by the name ''MYKRO FINE Color 16'' engraved on the top cover, above the viewfinder. Another nameplate is visible on one side of the lens, reading ''MYKRO–FINE "COLOR" <small>f6.3 MYKRO LENS</small>''. Three aperture settings are available: ''BRIGHT'', ''DULL'' and ''COLOR''. The ever-ready case is brown and has the name ''MYKRO–FINE Color 16'' embossed at the front.
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The camera was distributed by an unspecified US company. The specific film cassettes sold for the camera were to be processed by Mykro-Fine Lab., Box 75, Kensington, Brooklyn 18, N.Y., as appears on the original box, and on a sticker on the cassette itself.<REF> Pictures at Submin.com [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/croma/accessories/mykro_fine_film.htm]. </REF> The name "Mykro-Fine" also appears on a different [[Hit-type cameras|Hit-type camera]], whose shutter plate sports the mention "[[Southern|E.J. Southern]], Distrs. 175 5th Av. N.Y."<REF> Example pictured in {{MK}}, p.706. </REF> This might be the distributor of the Mykro Fine Color 16 as well.
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== Croma Color 16 ==
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=== Camera ===
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The '''Croma Color 16''' takes paper-backed rollfilm, certainly the same 17.5mm film as used in the [[Hit-type cameras]].<REF> Pritchard, p.92, says that the camera takes "16mm movie film". The presence of a translucent window in the back makes this impossible. </REF> The exposure format is reported as 12×14mm,<REF> Pritchard, p.92. </REF> and the camera probably takes ten pictures on a roll. Compared with the Mykro Fine, the Croma has a round window in the middle of the back, and spool holders added inside.<REF> Pictures at Submin.com show the two cameras side by side [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/croma/introduction.htm#P1]. </REF> The film advance is different, and does not have the set of numbers. The lens only has two aperture settings: f/8 and f/11. On some examples, the release lever is slightly different, with a round tip.
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The Croma Color 16 is known in black, brown, red and green colour.<REF> Examples of each are pictured at Submin.com [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/croma/index.htm]. The same list of colours is given in {{MK}}, p.230. </REF> Two-tone cameras are reported in red and green, perhaps because they have mismatched front and rear body parts.<REF> Report in Pritchard, p.92: "usually red or green or a combination of these two colours", and [http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=3629129 past auction by Christies] for a lot of two Croma Color 16 cameras "in black, red and green". </REF> The name ''CROMA color 16'' is engraved above the viewfinder. The word ''JAPAN'' is moulded in relief at the bottom of the back. The brown ever-ready case is embossed ''CROMA color 16'' at the front.
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The camera was certainly distributed by the company [[Croma|Croma Inc.]], whose name appears on the Cromascope projector (see below).
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 +
=== Accessories ===
 +
The '''Cromascope''' is a combined projector and viewer, made of [[bakelite]], sold specifically for the camera. It can contain a roll of processed film, which is advanced or rewound by two knobs. It has an eyepiece on the rear and a piece of frost glass at the front, for use as a viewer in natural light. It also contains a light bulb powered by two batteries or by an AC adaptor, a condenser and a lens for use as a projector.
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The name ''CROMASCOPE <small>VIEWER–PROJECTOR</small>'' appears on both sides. The brand ''CROMA'' is repeated above the front window, and there is a nameplate under the lens, reading ''CROMA INC. COLUMBUS, OHIO U.S.A.''
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The camera and projector were sometimes sold as a set, contained in a presentation case whose lid can be used as a projection screen. It also includes an ever-ready case for the camera, six rolls of colour film and batteries for the projector.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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In English:
 
In English:
 
* [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/croma/index.htm Croma Color 16 and Mykro Fine Color 16] at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com]
 
* [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/croma/index.htm Croma Color 16 and Mykro Fine Color 16] at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com]
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* [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Croma/Croma-Color-16-(green).html Croma Color 16] and [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Sanwa/Mykro-Fine-Color-16.html Mykro Fine Color 16] at [http://collectiblend.com/Cameras/ Collectiblend]
 
* Croma Color 16 and Mykro Fine Color 16 (text only) among [http://www.subclub.org/shop/16mm.htm 16mm film cameras] at [http://www.subclub.org/ Subclub.org]
 
* Croma Color 16 and Mykro Fine Color 16 (text only) among [http://www.subclub.org/shop/16mm.htm 16mm film cameras] at [http://www.subclub.org/ Subclub.org]
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]]
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[[Category: Japanese 16mm film]]
 
[[Category: C]]
 
[[Category: C]]

Revision as of 21:50, 15 January 2009

Japanese subminiature
on paper-backed roll film and round film (edit)
17.5mm film Arrow | Baby Flex | Baby-Max | Barlux | Beauty 14 | Bell 14 | Blondy | Baby Colon | Comex | Corona | Croma Color 16 | Epochs | Fuji Kozet | Gamma | Gem 16 | Gemflex | Glico Lighter | Halmat | Hit | Hit-II | Hit-type | Hobby 16 | Homer No.1 | Homer 16 | Honey | Hope | Jenic | Kiku 16 | Kent | Kolt | Kute | Lovely | Mascot | Meteor | Micky | Midget | Mighty | Mini | Moment | Mycro | Myracle | Nikkobaby | Peace | Peace Baby Flex | Peace Small Lef | Pet | Petit | Petty | Prince 16-A | Prince Ruby | Robin | New Rocket | Rubina | Rubix | Saga 16 | Saica | Septon Pen | Sholy-Flex | Snappy | Spy-14 | Sun | Sun B | Sun 16 | Sweet 16 | Tacker | Takka | Tone | Top Camera | Toyoca 16 | Toyoca Ace | Tsubame | Vesta | Vista | Vestkam
20mm film Guzzi | Mycroflex | Top
round film Evarax | Petal | Sakura Petal | Star
unknown Hallow | Lyravit | Tsubasa
cine film see Japanese cine film subminiature
110 film see Japanese 110 film

The Croma Color 16 and Mykro Fine Color 16 are subminiature cameras made by an unidentified Japanese company.

Common features

The two cameras have an almost identical body, made of bakelite. Their look and feel was inspired by the Pixie by Whittaker. The viewfinder is enclosed in a bright top cover, patterned after that of Hit-type cameras, extending to the right as seen by the photographer. The advance knob is at the left end of the top plate. The rear half of the body is removable for film loading, and is locked by a sliding latch on both sides. There is an oval casing at the front of the body, containing the self-cocking shutter and used as a barrel for the fixed-focus lens. The release lever is on the right side of that casing. The aperture is set by a lever on the side of the lens, certainly by way of Waterhouse stops.

Mykro Fine Color 16

The Mykro Fine Color 16 takes specific film cassettes, said to contain 16mm film.[1] The back has no red window, and has a spring to maintain the cassette in a proper position. To control the film advance, numbers from 1 to 14 are engraved in red on the advance knob. The user has to turn the knob until the correct number faces an index on the camera body. This is entirely controlled by hand, and there is no auto-stop mechanism.

The Mykro Fine Color 16 has been observed in black only. It is identified by the name MYKRO FINE Color 16 engraved on the top cover, above the viewfinder. Another nameplate is visible on one side of the lens, reading MYKRO–FINE "COLOR" f6.3 MYKRO LENS. Three aperture settings are available: BRIGHT, DULL and COLOR. The ever-ready case is brown and has the name MYKRO–FINE Color 16 embossed at the front.

The camera was distributed by an unspecified US company. The specific film cassettes sold for the camera were to be processed by Mykro-Fine Lab., Box 75, Kensington, Brooklyn 18, N.Y., as appears on the original box, and on a sticker on the cassette itself.[2] The name "Mykro-Fine" also appears on a different Hit-type camera, whose shutter plate sports the mention "E.J. Southern, Distrs. 175 5th Av. N.Y."[3] This might be the distributor of the Mykro Fine Color 16 as well.

Croma Color 16

Camera

The Croma Color 16 takes paper-backed rollfilm, certainly the same 17.5mm film as used in the Hit-type cameras.[4] The exposure format is reported as 12×14mm,[5] and the camera probably takes ten pictures on a roll. Compared with the Mykro Fine, the Croma has a round window in the middle of the back, and spool holders added inside.[6] The film advance is different, and does not have the set of numbers. The lens only has two aperture settings: f/8 and f/11. On some examples, the release lever is slightly different, with a round tip.

The Croma Color 16 is known in black, brown, red and green colour.[7] Two-tone cameras are reported in red and green, perhaps because they have mismatched front and rear body parts.[8] The name CROMA color 16 is engraved above the viewfinder. The word JAPAN is moulded in relief at the bottom of the back. The brown ever-ready case is embossed CROMA color 16 at the front.

The camera was certainly distributed by the company Croma Inc., whose name appears on the Cromascope projector (see below).

Accessories

The Cromascope is a combined projector and viewer, made of bakelite, sold specifically for the camera. It can contain a roll of processed film, which is advanced or rewound by two knobs. It has an eyepiece on the rear and a piece of frost glass at the front, for use as a viewer in natural light. It also contains a light bulb powered by two batteries or by an AC adaptor, a condenser and a lens for use as a projector.

The name CROMASCOPE VIEWER–PROJECTOR appears on both sides. The brand CROMA is repeated above the front window, and there is a nameplate under the lens, reading CROMA INC. COLUMBUS, OHIO U.S.A.

The camera and projector were sometimes sold as a set, contained in a presentation case whose lid can be used as a projection screen. It also includes an ever-ready case for the camera, six rolls of colour film and batteries for the projector.

Notes

  1. McKeown, p.706. One such cassette is pictured at Submin.com [1].
  2. Pictures at Submin.com [2].
  3. Example pictured in McKeown, p.706.
  4. Pritchard, p.92, says that the camera takes "16mm movie film". The presence of a translucent window in the back makes this impossible.
  5. Pritchard, p.92.
  6. Pictures at Submin.com show the two cameras side by side [3].
  7. Examples of each are pictured at Submin.com [4]. The same list of colours is given in McKeown, p.230.
  8. Report in Pritchard, p.92: "usually red or green or a combination of these two colours", and past auction by Christies for a lot of two Croma Color 16 cameras "in black, red and green".

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). Pp.230 and 706.
  • Pritchard, Michael and St. Denny, Douglas. Spy Cameras — A century of detective and subminiature cameras. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1993. ISBN 1-874485-00-3. Pp.71 and 92.

These cameras are not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi or in Sugiyama.

Links

In English: