Difference between revisions of "Konan"

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'''Konan''' was founded by Nishimura Gakan (西村雅貫) and his associate and began producing camera prototypes in 1947, among them the '''Mica Automat''' subminiature camera for 16mm film cartridges. In 1950 it introduced the [[Konan-16 Automat]], a model derived from the Mica, and taken over by [[Minolta|Chiyoda]] (the predecessor of Minolta). In 1951 it was renamed '''Konan Camera Research Institute Inc.''' (甲南カメラ研究所, '''Kōnan Camera Kenkyūjo'''). The company then specialized itself in industrial, scientific, medical and other special cameras, and it still exists. It claims in its official website to have developed the Single-8 movie film cartridge in 1959, while it is usually thought that it was introduced by [[Fuji]] in 1965.<REF> See [http://www.konan.com/hp2001/english/company/history.htm Konan's history page] versus [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-8 the Wikipedia page about Single-8]. </REF>
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'''Konan''' is a Japanese company, which developed various camera projects taken over by other manufacturers.
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'''Kōnan Camera Kenkyūjo''' (甲南カメラ研究所, meaning Konan Camera Research Institute) was founded in 1947 by Nishimura Gakan (西村雅貫) and an associate.<REF name="Konan official"> [http://www.konan.com/english/profile/profile_enkaku.html Konan history in English] and [http://www.konan.com/japanese/profile/profile_enkaku.html in Japanese] in the official website. </REF> In the late 1940s, it tested the [[Mica Automat]] subminiature camera for 16mm film cartridges. An evolution of this camera was released in 1950 as the [[Konan-16 Automat]], which was taken over by [[Minolta|Chiyoda]] (predecessor of Minolta) and would later become the [[Minolta 16]]. In 1951 the company was incorporated as '''K.K. Kōnan Camera Kenkyūjo''' ({{kabu}}甲南カメラ研究所).
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It continued to make camera designs, and claims to have developed the Single-8 movie film cartridge in 1959.<REF name="Konan official" /> (It is usually thought that this was introduced by [[Fuji]] in 1965.)<REF> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-8 Wikipedia page about Single-8]. </REF> In 1958–59, Takahama Sachi (高浜祥), one of the company's engineers, designed the internals of the [[Yashica Future 127|Future 127]] auto-exposure prototype camera for [[Yashica]].
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The company later concentrated on industrial, scientific or medical applications. It changed its name to '''K.K. Kōnan''' ({{kabu}}コーナン) in 1992, and merged within its trading department in 2001, becoming '''K.K. Kōnan Medical''' ({{kabu}}コーナン・メディカル). The company currently still exists under that name (2009).
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
 
In English:
 
In English:
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* [http://www.konan.com/english/profile/profile_enkaku.html Konan history in English] and [http://www.konan.com/japanese/profile/profile_enkaku.html in Japanese] in the [http://www.konan.com/ Konan Medical official website] (important source for this page)
 
* [http://www.subclub.org/shop/konan.htm Konan] at [http://www.subclub.org/ subclub]
 
* [http://www.subclub.org/shop/konan.htm Konan] at [http://www.subclub.org/ subclub]
* [http://www.konan.com/hp2001/english/company/history.htm Konan history in English] and [http://www.konan.com/contents/history.html in Japanese] in the [http://www.konan.com/ Konan Medical official website] (important source for this page)
 
  
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese camera makers]]
 
[[Category: Konan|*]]
 
[[Category: Konan|*]]
 
[[Category: K]]
 
[[Category: K]]

Revision as of 17:04, 21 March 2009

Konan is a Japanese company, which developed various camera projects taken over by other manufacturers.

Kōnan Camera Kenkyūjo (甲南カメラ研究所, meaning Konan Camera Research Institute) was founded in 1947 by Nishimura Gakan (西村雅貫) and an associate.[1] In the late 1940s, it tested the Mica Automat subminiature camera for 16mm film cartridges. An evolution of this camera was released in 1950 as the Konan-16 Automat, which was taken over by Chiyoda (predecessor of Minolta) and would later become the Minolta 16. In 1951 the company was incorporated as K.K. Kōnan Camera Kenkyūjo (㈱甲南カメラ研究所).

It continued to make camera designs, and claims to have developed the Single-8 movie film cartridge in 1959.[1] (It is usually thought that this was introduced by Fuji in 1965.)[2] In 1958–59, Takahama Sachi (高浜祥), one of the company's engineers, designed the internals of the Future 127 auto-exposure prototype camera for Yashica.

The company later concentrated on industrial, scientific or medical applications. It changed its name to K.K. Kōnan (㈱コーナン) in 1992, and merged within its trading department in 2001, becoming K.K. Kōnan Medical (㈱コーナン・メディカル). The company currently still exists under that name (2009).

Notes

Links

In English: