Difference between revisions of "Hit"

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{{Japanese subminiature}}
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{{Japanese roll film subminiature}}
 
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|image_text= ... and the other wide-spread version
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The '''Hit''' is a [[subminiature]] camera taking 14×14mm exposures on 17.5mm film, based by the [[Tougodo]] company based in Toyohashi. It met a large success, and its name became widely used to designate a whole category of cameras, the [[Hit-type cameras]].
  
== Hit-type cameras ==
 
After WWII the Japanese had a period of low spending capacity. So they enjoyed using cameras which didn't use much film material, making 14×14mm exposures on narrow paper-backed 17.5mm film. This kept film costs affordable. The main design used for most of these cameras was that of a miniature version of a simple contemporary 35mm viewfinder camera, with leatherette covered body, chrome plated parts, a film advance control window in the back and a characteristic top with a simple viewfinder and film advance knob. Most of these cameras had a non-focusable lens with fixed small aperture, a self-cocking shutter with bulb and instant mode. The original idea to make such 17.5mm viewfinder cameras was introduced in 1937 by the camera maker [[Jilona|Jilona Shōkai]] with the [[Midget]], followed in 1939 by the [[Mycro]], but the vast majority of the models appeared in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
 
 
The Tōgōdō Seisakusho branch of [[Tougodo]] made simple versions of that camera type, and the name of its subminis became the synonym for that camera type: '''Hit'''. Several other Japanese 17.5mm still cameras had a quite similar design, some were more sophisticated, and all are called '''"Hit"-type cameras''' today in the Western world. In Japan, these are called ''mame kamera'' (豆カメラ), literally meaning "bean cameras". Only the cheapest of these cameras were patterned on Tougodo's Hit, the heavier and more evolved models were actually inspired by the [[Midget]] and [[Mycro]].
 
  
Many of the Hit-type cameras were exported to the US and turned into cash. They were revealed to the US public by the magazine ''US Camera'' in September 1946 — this was before the release of the Hit, and the featured camera was certainly the [[Mycro]], the first such camera to reach the market after 1945.<REF name="Haga"> "Mame kamera hakusho", column by Haga Hideo in {{ACA}} July 1950 reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.189. </REF> It is said that more publicity was given when one of these cameras was offered to Marlene Dietrich by a US soldier back from Japan.<REF name="Haga" /> The demand from the US grew rapidly, and a business model emerged in Japan, with no less than 18 manufacturers and about 50 subcontractors involved in Hit-type camera production in 1949.<REF name="Haga" /> The sales reached a peak that year, with 188,500 units sent for export, generating nearly 800 million yen.<REF name="Haga" /> It is said that many of these cameras, not seriously considered for picture taking, were used as toys or Christmas tree ornaments.<REF> Used as Christmas tree ornaments: {{SUG}}, p.288. </REF> The sales were very seasonal, with 65,000 cameras, or about one third, bought in June and July 1949 in anticipation for Christmas.<REF name="Haga" /> By 1950, the trend for such novelty cameras was already declining, with about 50,000 units exported in the same period of the year.<REF name="Haga" /> On the Japanese user market, better subminiature cameras using 16mm film began to displace the 17.5mm film cameras. Production of cheap Hit-type cameras nonetheless continued for a long time.
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== Tougodo's original Hit ==
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The original Hit has an f/11 lens, an [[everset]] shutter with release lever at the lens tube, and an advance knob that can't be turned into the wrong direction. Its production started in the years when Japanese cameras were marked "[[Made in Occupied Japan]]" (1947-1951), probably in 1950. The earliest have a 30mm lens and just instant mode. Later models have also B mode and a mode switch lever at the lens tube, opposite to the shutter release. Some examples were made with a simple exposure counter at the base of the advance knob.<REF> Exposure counter: see [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/hit/counter.htm this page at Submin.com]. </REF>
  
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== Redesigned Hit models ==
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Redesigned models were made by [[Tougodo]] under the name '''Hit'''. One of these is a name variant of the [[Baby-Max]], and the '''Hit-II''' is an adaptation of the [[Toyoca 16]] (see the corresponding pages).
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== Tougodo's Hit ==
 
The original Hit has a f/11 lens, a self-cocking shutter with release lever at the lens tube, and an advance knob that can't be turned into the wrong direction. Its production started in the years when Japanese cameras were marked "Made in occupied Japan" (1947-1951), probably in 1950. The earliest have a 30mm lens and just instant mode. Later models have also B mode and a mode switch lever at the lens tube, opposite to the shutter release.
 
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
* Haga Hideo (芳賀日出男). "Mame kamera hakusho" (豆カメラ白書, White paper on bean cameras). In {{ACA}} July 1950, reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.189.
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* {{McKeown12}} P.929.
* {{McKeown12}} Pp.391 and 929.
 
 
* {{Pritchard}} Pp.74–9.
 
* {{Pritchard}} Pp.74–9.
 
* {{Zukan}} Item 5044.
 
* {{Zukan}} Item 5044.
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
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|image_by= Still Cameras
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In English:
 
In English:
* [http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Collecting-Hit-type-cameras Collecting Hit type cameras], article by Tim Goldsmith in [http://www.ephotozine.com ePhotoZine]
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* [http://www.submin.com/17.5mm/collection/hit/index.htm Hit] at [http://www.submin.com/ Submin.com]
* [http://www.lukecole.com/Spycameras/Cameras.htm Luke's Hit cameras] at [http://www.lukecole.com Luke Cole's website]
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* [http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/hit_e.htm Hit] (also [http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/hit.htm in Japanese]) at [http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/index_e.html Cosmonet.org's Classic Camera website]
* [http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/hit_e.htm Hit] at [http://www.cosmonet.org/camera/index_e.html Cosmonet.org's Classic Camera website]
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* [http://www.lchr.org/a/12/9k/subminiatures/hit.html Hit] at [http://www.lchr.org/a/12/9k/subminiatures/index.html the Subminiature site of Gary Sivertsen]
In German:
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In Swedish:
* [http://www.photodeal.de/allgemein/fernostminis.htm Enorme Typenvielfalt: Minis aus Fernost], article by Hubert E. Heckmann in [http://www.photodeal.de/ Photodeal.de]
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* Hit among [http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/hit.html Hit-type cameras] at [http://www.fotomuseetiosby.nu/ Fotomuseet i Osby]
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[[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 17.5mm film]]
 
[[Category: Tougodo]]
 
[[Category: Tougodo]]
 
[[Category: H]]
 
[[Category: H]]

Revision as of 12:38, 27 November 2017

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 Hit is a subminiature camera taking 14×14mm exposures on 17.5mm film, based by the Tougodo company based in Toyohashi. It met a large success, and its name became widely used to designate a whole category of cameras, the Hit-type cameras.


Tougodo's original Hit

The original Hit has an f/11 lens, an everset shutter with release lever at the lens tube, and an advance knob that can't be turned into the wrong direction. Its production started in the years when Japanese cameras were marked "Made in Occupied Japan" (1947-1951), probably in 1950. The earliest have a 30mm lens and just instant mode. Later models have also B mode and a mode switch lever at the lens tube, opposite to the shutter release. Some examples were made with a simple exposure counter at the base of the advance knob.[1]

Redesigned Hit models

Redesigned models were made by Tougodo under the name Hit. One of these is a name variant of the Baby-Max, and the Hit-II is an adaptation of the Toyoca 16 (see the corresponding pages).

Notes

  1. Exposure counter: see this page at Submin.com.

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.929.
  • 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.74–9.
  • 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 5044.

Links

In English:

In Swedish: