Konilette
There is also a Konilette 35, rigid-bodied 35mm viewfinder camera.
The Konilette is a plastic-bodied folding camera, made by Konishiroku in 1953.[1] It uses unperforated 35 mm film in special cassettes. Because of the lack of perforations, the image frame is 30x36 mm, somewhat larger and squarer than the Leica standard 35 mm format.[2] Twelve pictures can be taken on a roll. The film is advanced with a winding knob, with a mechanical frame counter incorporated. The film transport release button (on the back of the top housing) must be pressed before winding on each frame; this is also the rewind release. The camera was supplied with a supplementary mask for the film chamber, in case it was desired to mask the film for the 24x36 mm format, and there are marks for this smaller format in the viewfinder.[2][3]
The lens is a coated 50 mm f/4.5 Konitor, and the shutter a Konix with speeds 1/25 - 1/200 second, plus 'B'. It is synchronised, with an ASA style bayonet contact.[2]
The Konilette II of about 1957[1] is very similar.[4] It has a Copal shutter, with the same speed range as the Konix, and synchronised with a PC socket. The camera also has a silvered top housing, instead of the blue-grey plastic housing of the first model.
The Konilette IIM of about 1959[1] has an uncoupled selenium lightmeter built into the top housing.[5] It has a 55 mm f/3.5 Konitor lens, and the same Copal shutter as the II.
All three models have a 'foot' mounted on the folding bed, so that when unfolded, the camera will stand level on a table.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 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). p543.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 User's manual at Mike Butkus' Orphan Cameras.
- ↑ Konilette (I) listed in a page of the All Japan Classic Camera Club (AJCC) website.
- ↑ Konilette II at the AJCC website.
- ↑ Konilette IIM at the AJCC website.
Bibliography
- Asahi Camera (アサヒカメラ) editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10–40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN 4-02-330312-7. Items 518 and 1267–9.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). Pp.83–4.
- 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.543.
- 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. Items 3316–8.
Links
In Japanese:
- Konilette among classic cameras at Marichan's Camera World; Brief text in Japanese, and one picture.
