Difference between revisions of "Kajiro Kōgaku"

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(Cameras equipped: Semi Rosen III)
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* [[Nōman Flex]] (K.O.L. Nōman Trio)
 
* [[Nōman Flex]] (K.O.L. Nōman Trio)
 
* [[Rollekonter]] (Hitonar 75/3.5 and 75/4.5 and U Hitonar 75/3.5)
 
* [[Rollekonter]] (Hitonar 75/3.5 and 75/4.5 and U Hitonar 75/3.5)
 +
* [[Semi Rosen|Semi Rosen III]] (Keef 75/4.5)
 
* [[Taroflex]] (perhaps K.O.L. Taro)
 
* [[Taroflex]] (perhaps K.O.L. Taro)
 
* [[Weha Chrome Six|Weha Chrome Six III New]] (K.O.L. Gojo, one example reported only)
 
* [[Weha Chrome Six|Weha Chrome Six III New]] (K.O.L. Gojo, one example reported only)

Revision as of 22:38, 30 June 2007

Kajiro Kōgaku Kenkyūjo (上代光学研究所, Kajiro Optical Laboratory) is a Japanese optical company that was founded in 1939 by Kajiro Hitoshi (上代斉), who was previously an employee of Miyoshi Kōgaku.[1] The initials K.O.L. (for Kajiro Optical Laboratory) were adopted as the brand name of the lenses. K.O.L. is engraved in the lenses in handwritten style.

The company became Gojō Kōki Seisakusho (五城光機製作所) in 1941, but at the end of the same year, the plant and brand names were transfered to Kokusaku Seikō, a camera maker which was already buying lenses for its Auto Keef model.[2]

After the war, the company was revived as Sun Kōki.[3]

Lenses

K.O.L. range

It is said that the first lens, mounted on the Mamiya Six in 1940, was the K.O.L. Trio, soon followed by the K.O.L. Special. Both are three element lenses.[4] However the Semi Kreis, a 4.5×6 folder, had these lenses mounted in the reverse order: the original model had the K.O.L. Special and the Semi Kreis II and III had the K.O.L. Trio.

An advertisement for the K.O.L. lenses, mentioning both Gojō and Kokusaku, listed the following lenses:[5]

  • K.O.L. Anastigmat f/4.5 (75mm);
  • K.O.L. Anastigmat f/3.5 (60mm, 75mm);
  • K.O.L. Sola (four elements) f/3.5 (50mm, 75mm);
  • K.O.L. Goka[6] (four elements) f/2.8 (60mm, 75mm, 80mm);
  • K.O.L. Xebec (six elements) f/2 (50mm).

The K.O.L. Xebec is a collapsible lens in Leica screw mount.

Other K.O.L. lenses are as follows:

  • K.O.L. Elmo 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[7]
  • K.O.L. Keef 60mm f/3.5 (three elements)[8]
  • K.O.L. Nōman Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[9]
  • K.O.L. Trio 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[10]

Others

  • U Hitonar 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[11]
  • Kadera 75mm f/3.5 (three elements)[12]

It is probable that the Hitonar 75mm f/3.5 and 75mm f/4.5 were made by the company too.

Cameras equipped

The following list is incomplete. That a particular model is listed should not be taken to mean that all examples were fitted with lenses made by Kajiro or Gojō.

Notes

  1. Inoue, p. 131.
  2. Inoue, p. 132.
  3. Inoue, p. 132.
  4. Inoue, p. 132.
  5. Advertisement reproduced in Inoue, p. 132.
  6. Inferred from the katakana ゴーカ.
  7. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb29, attributed to Kokusaku.
  8. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb29, attributed to Tōa Kokusaku.
  9. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb30, attributed to Gojō.
  10. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb7, attributed to Kokusaku.
  11. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb32, attributed to Kokusaku.
  12. "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb10, attributed to Gojō.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese: