Koniken
The Koniken is a Japanese 6×6 pseudo TLR, made in the 1950s by an unknown company. The name of the camera is an obvious rip-off of Konica and Nikon. The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in Takasaki.[1]
Description
The body of the Koniken is much inspired by the Ricohflex III, but the camera is fixed-focus. The film is advanced by a knob on the photographer's right. The name KONIKEN is inscribed in capital letters on a nameplate in front of the viewing hood.
The shutter gives B, 25–200 speeds and is perhaps of the everset type; it is synchonized via a pin placed on the side. The viewing and taking lenses are inscribed KONIKEN ACHROMAT U.S. 1:3.5 F=80mm on the silver rim. At first glance, the diameter of the barrel and front element would fit f/3.5 lenses, but U.S. aperture 3.5 (in the Uniform Scale) actually corresponds to f/11: what looks like the front element is certainly a piece of plain glass, and the lenses are hidden behind.
Notes
- ↑ Example pictured in Takasaki, p.67 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.49.
Bibliography
- Takasaki Akio (高崎晶夫). "Kokusan 6×6cm-han nigan-refu A to Z" (国産6×6cm判二眼レフA to Z, Japanese 6×6cm TLR A to Z). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.49, December 1998. ISBN 4-257-13022-9. Amerika-sei 35mm renzu-shattā kamera (アメリカ製35mmレンズシャッターカメラ, issue about American 35mm lens-shutter cameras). Pp.64–73.
This camera is not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi or in Sugiyama.
