Hit
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| the one ... image by John Kratz (Image rights) |
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| ... and the other wide-spread version image by Martin Stockley (Image rights) |
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| shutter image by Warren Yee (Image rights) |
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| case image by Martin Stockley (Image rights) |
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
- ↑ 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
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| image by Still Cameras (Image rights) |
In English:
- Hit at Submin.com
- Hit (also in Japanese) at Cosmonet.org's Classic Camera website (archived)
In Swedish:
- Hit among Hit-type cameras (archived) at Fotomuseet i Osby
