Difference between revisions of "Letix"

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The [[Riken]] '''Letix''' was a 4x4cm format camera sold around 1940. It had a [[bakelite]] body with opening back, like the [[Olympic]], but the lens and shutter assembly was mounted on a metal telescopic tube. The Letix had a tubular optical finder and an accessory shoe. At the time, the rollfilm paperback was not marked for 4x4 pictures, so the film advance was not by red window but there was an exposure counter.
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The [[Riken]] '''Letix''' was a 4x4cm format camera released around 1940. It is said on [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/sub1.33.htm#Letix this page from the All Japan Classic Camera Club] that the Letix was made by Asahi Optical Industries (Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō, 旭光学工業, a sub-company of Riken) whereas the Riken [[Letix]] introduced the same year was made by Riken Optical Industries (Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō, 理研光学工業).
  
The lens was a Ukas Anastigmat 50/4.5 front cell focusing triplet. Ricoh's corporate site says the lens name later became Helios Anastigmat. The T-B-25-50-100-150 shutter was probably the same as on the [[Olympic]]. The shutter plate was marked ''Letix'', with an ''AKK'' logo, probably for Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō (旭光学工業, Asahi Optical Industries, see [[Riken]] and [[Olympic]] for a discussion of the companies involved). The body was also embossed ''Letix'', but McKeown shows a picture with the body embossed ''Retix''. This funny mistake can be explained because the Japanese language does not distinguish between the "l" and "r" letters.
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The Letix had a [[bakelite]] body with opening back,  like the [[Olympic]], but the lens and shutter assembly was mounted on a metal telescopic tube. The Letix had a tubular optical finder and an accessory shoe. At the time, the rollfilm paperback was not marked for 4x4 pictures, so the film advance was not by red window but there was an exposure counter.
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The lens was a Ukas Anastigmat 50/4.5 front cell focusing triplet. Ricoh's corporate site says the lens name later became Helios Anastigmat. The T-B-25-50-100-150 shutter was probably the same as on the [[Olympic]]. The shutter plate was marked ''Letix'', with an ''AKK'' logo, probably for Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō. The body was also embossed ''Letix'', but McKeown shows a picture with the body embossed ''Retix''. This funny mistake can be explained because the Japanese language does not distinguish between the "l" and "r" letters.
  
 
McKeown lists the Letix under the Asahi Bussan entry.
 
McKeown lists the Letix under the Asahi Bussan entry.
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Other:
 
Other:
 
* [http://asacame.sugoihp.com/hspbest/riken.htm Riken 127 film cameras at asacame], including the Letix
 
* [http://asacame.sugoihp.com/hspbest/riken.htm Riken 127 film cameras at asacame], including the Letix
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* [http://www.ajcc.gr.jp/sub1.33.htm#Letix A page from the All Japan Classic Camera Club], presenting the [[Roico]] and the Letix side by side
  
 
[[Category: 4x4 viewfinder]]
 
[[Category: 4x4 viewfinder]]
 
[[Category: Ricoh]]
 
[[Category: Ricoh]]
 
[[Category: L]]
 
[[Category: L]]

Revision as of 21:48, 7 April 2006

The Riken Letix was a 4x4cm format camera released around 1940. It is said on this page from the All Japan Classic Camera Club that the Letix was made by Asahi Optical Industries (Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō, 旭光学工業, a sub-company of Riken) whereas the Riken Letix introduced the same year was made by Riken Optical Industries (Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō, 理研光学工業).

The Letix had a bakelite body with opening back, like the Olympic, but the lens and shutter assembly was mounted on a metal telescopic tube. The Letix had a tubular optical finder and an accessory shoe. At the time, the rollfilm paperback was not marked for 4x4 pictures, so the film advance was not by red window but there was an exposure counter.

The lens was a Ukas Anastigmat 50/4.5 front cell focusing triplet. Ricoh's corporate site says the lens name later became Helios Anastigmat. The T-B-25-50-100-150 shutter was probably the same as on the Olympic. The shutter plate was marked Letix, with an AKK logo, probably for Asahi Kōgaku Kōgyō. The body was also embossed Letix, but McKeown shows a picture with the body embossed Retix. This funny mistake can be explained because the Japanese language does not distinguish between the "l" and "r" letters.

McKeown lists the Letix under the Asahi Bussan entry.

Links

Ricoh's corporate website:

Other: