Dan 35 III
The Dan 35 III (ダン35Ⅲ型) is a Japanese cameras taking 24×32mm exposures, released in 1949. It is an evolution of the Dan 35 I and II, made in Suwa by a dependent company of Hagimoto (see the discussion about the Dan 35 I and II).
Contents
Description
The Dan 35 III has a metal body with rounded edges. It seems that it can take twelve exposures on either Bolta film or perforated 35mm film loaded in special cassettes.[1] The 24×32mm exposure format was used by other Japanese manufacturers on 35mm cameras in the late 1940s, but it is unique on a camera taking Bolta film.
The viewfinder is contained in a hump in the middle of the top plate, and has a polished metal frame attached around the front window. The name Dan 35 III and the body serial number are engraved above the viewfinder, and the hump extends to the left under the film advance knob, forming a casing which contains an auto-stop advance mechanism. Frame numbers 0 to 12 are engraved on the advance knob itself, moving along an index engraved on a short cylindrical shaft. There is a small lever protruding to the rear, used to unlock the film advance after each exposure. There is a rewind knob at the right end of the top plate, used for perforated film only.
The lens and shutter is mounted on a focusing helical driven by a large tab. The distance scale, graduated from infinity to 4ft, is engraved on a metal plate attached to the front of the camera by four apparent screws. This metal plate has an H DAN logo at the top, certainly standing for the personal name Hagimoto Danji, and the words Dan Camera Works at the bottom. This marking has been interpreted by some sources as the name of the manufacturer, but this probably does not correspond to any actual company, the same as other names ending in Camera Works.[2]
The shutter is a Silver-B, the same as on the Dan 35 I and II. It has the release lever on one side and the winding lever on the other. The shutter plate is black, has the speeds engraved at the top in the order 100, 50, 25, B, silver stripes on the sides and the name SILVER–B inscribed at the bottom. The lens is a coated Dan Anastigmat 40mm f/3.5.[3]
The bottom plate is removable for film loading. It is locked in place by a key, with O and L indications for Open and Locked. It has film flanges at both ends, and one of these contains the tripod thread. The back has no red window but a metal screw, perhaps used to used to fine tune the infinity focusing during assembly or repair. The name Dan 35 is embossed on the leather covering at the bottom.
Notes
- ↑ Bolta film: Sugiyama, item 4198. Perforated 35mm film: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.354. Special cassettes: advertisement dated March 1950 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.147. The limitation to 12 exposures is suggested by the frame numbers engraved on the advance knob. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.354, mentions 40 exposures, but this is perhaps a mistake.
- ↑ McKeown, pp.241–2, says that the Dan cameras were made by "Dan Camera Works".
- ↑ Coated lens: advertisement dated March 1950 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.147.
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. Item 595.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.66.
- 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.242.
- 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. Item 4198.
Links
In English:
In Japanese:
- Dan 35 in the Out of Focus camera site
- History page of the Katsumido camera shop, mentioning the Dan 35 and picturing a Dan 35 III
- Dan 35 III among subminiature cameras at Nekosan's website
