Difference between revisions of "Gemmy"
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{{Japanese subminiature}} | {{Japanese subminiature}} | ||
The '''Gemmy''' is a pistol-shaped subminiature camera made by [[Okada]] around 1950. | The '''Gemmy''' is a pistol-shaped subminiature camera made by [[Okada]] around 1950. | ||
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The Gemmy is shaped as a pistol. The main body has a cream and chocolate two-tone lacquer finish, and the metal fittings are chrome plated. The camera takes 10×14mm exposures on 16mm perforated film loaded in two cassettes, similar to and perhaps compatible with the cassettes of the [[Mamiya 16]].<REF> Exposure size and film format: {{SUG}}, item 5041, {{MK}}, p.745, and [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/okada/cameras/gemmy.htm this page at submin.com]. Only the latter mentions compatibility with the cassettes of the Mamiya 16. </REF> They are contained inside the handgrip, whose right-hand panel is hinged at the bottom and locked by a sliding button at the top. The left-hand side of the handgrip is fixed and has the name ''GEMMY'' embossed in relief. There is what looks like a tripod thread at the bottom. | The Gemmy is shaped as a pistol. The main body has a cream and chocolate two-tone lacquer finish, and the metal fittings are chrome plated. The camera takes 10×14mm exposures on 16mm perforated film loaded in two cassettes, similar to and perhaps compatible with the cassettes of the [[Mamiya 16]].<REF> Exposure size and film format: {{SUG}}, item 5041, {{MK}}, p.745, and [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/okada/cameras/gemmy.htm this page at submin.com]. Only the latter mentions compatibility with the cassettes of the Mamiya 16. </REF> They are contained inside the handgrip, whose right-hand panel is hinged at the bottom and locked by a sliding button at the top. The left-hand side of the handgrip is fixed and has the name ''GEMMY'' embossed in relief. There is what looks like a tripod thread at the bottom. | ||
| − | There is no proper viewfinder, but it seems that two sights are hinged at the top of the main body.<REF> Only the rear sight is visible on the example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 5041, and the example pictured in [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/okada/cameras/gemmy.htm this page at submin.com] seems to have lost both sights, but two hinges are clearly visible. </REF> The trigger both advances the film and fires the shutter, increasing the similarity with an actual pistol.<REF> {{SUG}}, item 5041 (only in the Japanese text). </REF> The fixed-focus lens is located at the pistol's muzzle — some sources report that it has 35mm focal length.<REF> 35mm focal length: {{MK}}, p.745, and [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/okada/cameras/gemmy.htm this page at submin.com]. </REF> The shutter gives 25–100 speeds, selected by an index at the top, and the aperture is adjustable from 4.5 to 11, via another index on the right-hand side of the lens barrel.<REF> Speed and aperture range: {{SUG}}, item 5041, and [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/okada/cameras/gemmy.htm this page at submin.com]. Only the speed range is given in {{MK}}, p.745. </REF> | + | There is no proper viewfinder, but it seems that two sights are hinged at the top of the main body.<REF> Only the rear sight is visible on the example pictured in {{SUG}}, item 5041, and the example pictured in [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/okada/cameras/gemmy.htm this page at submin.com] seems to have lost both sights, but two hinges are clearly visible. </REF> The trigger both advances the film and fires the shutter, increasing the similarity with an actual pistol.<REF> Advances the film and fires the shutter: {{SUG}}, item 5041 (only in the Japanese text). Other sources, such as {{MK}}, p.745, and [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/okada/cameras/gemmy.htm this page at submin.com], only say that it advances the film, but no separate shutter release is visible. </REF> The fixed-focus lens is located at the pistol's muzzle — some sources report that it has 35mm focal length.<REF> 35mm focal length: {{MK}}, p.745, and [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/okada/cameras/gemmy.htm this page at submin.com]. </REF> The shutter gives 25–100 speeds, selected by an index at the top, and the aperture is adjustable from 4.5 to 11, via another index on the right-hand side of the lens barrel.<REF> Speed and aperture range: {{SUG}}, item 5041, and [http://www.submin.com/16mm/collection/okada/cameras/gemmy.htm this page at submin.com]. Only the speed range is given in {{MK}}, p.745. </REF> |
== Usage == | == Usage == | ||
Revision as of 15:25, 9 September 2008
The Gemmy is a pistol-shaped subminiature camera made by Okada around 1950.
Contents
Description
The Gemmy is shaped as a pistol. The main body has a cream and chocolate two-tone lacquer finish, and the metal fittings are chrome plated. The camera takes 10×14mm exposures on 16mm perforated film loaded in two cassettes, similar to and perhaps compatible with the cassettes of the Mamiya 16.[1] They are contained inside the handgrip, whose right-hand panel is hinged at the bottom and locked by a sliding button at the top. The left-hand side of the handgrip is fixed and has the name GEMMY embossed in relief. There is what looks like a tripod thread at the bottom.
There is no proper viewfinder, but it seems that two sights are hinged at the top of the main body.[2] The trigger both advances the film and fires the shutter, increasing the similarity with an actual pistol.[3] The fixed-focus lens is located at the pistol's muzzle — some sources report that it has 35mm focal length.[4] The shutter gives 25–100 speeds, selected by an index at the top, and the aperture is adjustable from 4.5 to 11, via another index on the right-hand side of the lens barrel.[5]
Usage
Absolutely nothing is known of the camera's usage. As for other pistol-shaped cameras of the same era such as the Doryu or Mamiya Pistol, it might have been suitable for the training of police forces in postwar Japan, where the use of actual firearms was certainly very restricted, but this is a mere guess.
Notes
- ↑ Exposure size and film format: Sugiyama, item 5041, McKeown, p.745, and this page at submin.com. Only the latter mentions compatibility with the cassettes of the Mamiya 16.
- ↑ Only the rear sight is visible on the example pictured in Sugiyama, item 5041, and the example pictured in this page at submin.com seems to have lost both sights, but two hinges are clearly visible.
- ↑ Advances the film and fires the shutter: Sugiyama, item 5041 (only in the Japanese text). Other sources, such as McKeown, p.745, and this page at submin.com, only say that it advances the film, but no separate shutter release is visible.
- ↑ 35mm focal length: McKeown, p.745, and this page at submin.com.
- ↑ Speed and aperture range: Sugiyama, item 5041, and this page at submin.com. Only the speed range is given in McKeown, p.745.
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.745.
- 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 5041.
The Gemmy is not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
Links
In English:
- Gemmy at Submin.com (this particular example seems to miss the finder eyepiece)
