Difference between revisions of "Makina Optical"

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'''Makina Optical Co., Ltd''' is a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, lenses, and other photographic equipment.
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'''Makina Optical Co., Ltd''' was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras and lenses.
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{{stub}}
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==Description==
 
==Description==
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'''Makina Optical Co., Ltd''' is a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, lenses, and other photographic equipment. In Japan they are known as '''Makina Kogaku Kambushiki Kaisha'''. Makina has manufactured lenses and other equipment for OEM branding by other companies such as [[Vivitar]] and [[Hanimex]]. They also sell equipment under their own brand names, '''Makinon''' and '''Makinar'''. (note that Makina, Makinon and Makinar were also brand names used by German company [[Plaubel]] prior to the 1970s) Their trademark filings from the late 1970s provide this contact information:
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'''Makina Optical Co., Ltd''' was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras and lenses. In Japan they were known as '''Makina Kogaku Kambushiki Kaisha'''. Makina Optical was founded in 1967 in Gotanda, Shinagawa, Tokyo. According to stories, the company started manufacturing in a garage and employed part time housewives for assembly<ref name="spiral">[http://spiral-m42.blogspot.com/2009/08/makina-optical-co-auto-makinon-28mm-f28.html Spiral Blog: Makina Optical Co. History]</ref><ref name="siecle">[http://siecleinventionphoto.elcet.net/siecle_1970.html Makinon History]</ref> Makina has manufactured lenses and other equipment for OEM branding by other companies such as [[Vivitar]] and [[Hanimex]]. Starting in 1974 they began sell lenses under their own brand names, primarily '''Makinon''' but they also registered the '''Makinar''' trademark. (note that Makina, Makinon and Makinar were also brand names used by German company [[Plaubel]] prior to the 1970s). Like many small Japanese lens manufacturers, Makina Optical went out of business in the late 1980s due as consumers switched from manual focus to auto focus camera systems. High-patent licensing costs made development of auto focus lenses cost-prohibitive for small companies.<ref name="siecle" />
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The Makinon 28mm f/2.8 is generally well-regarded by collectors, as is the 28-85mm zoom. Otherwise, while their lenses were solidly built, they have a reputation for inconsistent quality control and often have slight alignment issues that affect the image quality or the operation of the lens. None of their lenses are considered the match the quality of major Camera-brand lenses or high quality 3rd party lenses.<ref name="spiral" /><ref name="siecle" />
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The company published an English-language book in 1983 titled ''Makinon Lens Photography'' by Stephen Bayley to promote the sales of their lenses in the United Kingdom.<ref>Bayley, Stephen, ''Makinon Lens Photography'', Dorkstar, Ltd. UK.</ref>
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Their trademark filings from the late 1970s provide this contact information:
  
 
  MAKINA OPTICAL CO., LTD. (MAKINA KOGAKU KAMBUSHIKI KAISHA)
 
  MAKINA OPTICAL CO., LTD. (MAKINA KOGAKU KAMBUSHIKI KAISHA)
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According to trademark filings the Makinon brand name was first used in February of 1975. The Makinon trademark was filed in the United States on 11 November, 1976<ref>[http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=73105747 Makinon trademark filing in United States]</ref>, in Canada on 15 November 1976<ref>[http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&fileNumber=404205 Makinon trademark filing in Canada]</ref>, in Australia on 10 September 1979<ref>[http://trade.mar.cx/AU300372 Makinon trademark filing in Australia]</ref>, and in Ireland on 23 October, 1979<ref>[http://www.patentsoffice.ie/eregister/register/TMRegister.aspx?idappli=96413 Makinon trademark filing in Ireland]</ref>. The Makinar trademark was filed in the United States on 8 November 1976<ref>[http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=73105745 Markinar trademark filing in United States]</ref> and in Canada on 15 November 1976<ref>[http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&fileNumber=404206 Makinar trademark filing in Canada]</ref>. Both the Makinar and Mikinon trademarks have expired and are no longer actively used.
 
According to trademark filings the Makinon brand name was first used in February of 1975. The Makinon trademark was filed in the United States on 11 November, 1976<ref>[http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=73105747 Makinon trademark filing in United States]</ref>, in Canada on 15 November 1976<ref>[http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&fileNumber=404205 Makinon trademark filing in Canada]</ref>, in Australia on 10 September 1979<ref>[http://trade.mar.cx/AU300372 Makinon trademark filing in Australia]</ref>, and in Ireland on 23 October, 1979<ref>[http://www.patentsoffice.ie/eregister/register/TMRegister.aspx?idappli=96413 Makinon trademark filing in Ireland]</ref>. The Makinar trademark was filed in the United States on 8 November 1976<ref>[http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=73105745 Markinar trademark filing in United States]</ref> and in Canada on 15 November 1976<ref>[http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do?lang=eng&fileNumber=404206 Makinar trademark filing in Canada]</ref>. Both the Makinar and Mikinon trademarks have expired and are no longer actively used.
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==Cameras==
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* Makinon MK-II 35mm Range-finder
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* Makinon MK-V 35mm SLR
  
 
==Lenses==
 
==Lenses==
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==Links==
 
==Links==
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* [http://spiral-m42.blogspot.com/2009/08/makina-optical-co-auto-makinon-28mm-f28.html M42 Mount Spiral Blog: Makina Optical Co. Auto Makinon 28mm f/2.8]
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* [http://siecleinventionphoto.elcet.net/siecle_1970.html Makinon 28-80mm f/3.5 Zoom Review]

Revision as of 03:13, 5 March 2012

Makina Optical Co., Ltd was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras and lenses.

Description

Makina Optical Co., Ltd was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras and lenses. In Japan they were known as Makina Kogaku Kambushiki Kaisha. Makina Optical was founded in 1967 in Gotanda, Shinagawa, Tokyo. According to stories, the company started manufacturing in a garage and employed part time housewives for assembly[1][2] Makina has manufactured lenses and other equipment for OEM branding by other companies such as Vivitar and Hanimex. Starting in 1974 they began sell lenses under their own brand names, primarily Makinon but they also registered the Makinar trademark. (note that Makina, Makinon and Makinar were also brand names used by German company Plaubel prior to the 1970s). Like many small Japanese lens manufacturers, Makina Optical went out of business in the late 1980s due as consumers switched from manual focus to auto focus camera systems. High-patent licensing costs made development of auto focus lenses cost-prohibitive for small companies.[2]

The Makinon 28mm f/2.8 is generally well-regarded by collectors, as is the 28-85mm zoom. Otherwise, while their lenses were solidly built, they have a reputation for inconsistent quality control and often have slight alignment issues that affect the image quality or the operation of the lens. None of their lenses are considered the match the quality of major Camera-brand lenses or high quality 3rd party lenses.[1][2]

The company published an English-language book in 1983 titled Makinon Lens Photography by Stephen Bayley to promote the sales of their lenses in the United Kingdom.[3]


Their trademark filings from the late 1970s provide this contact information: 

MAKINA OPTICAL CO., LTD. (MAKINA KOGAKU KAMBUSHIKI KAISHA)
NO. 31-1, KITASENZOKU 2-CHOME
OHTA-KU, TOKYO-TU
Japan

According to trademark filings the Makinon brand name was first used in February of 1975. The Makinon trademark was filed in the United States on 11 November, 1976[4], in Canada on 15 November 1976[5], in Australia on 10 September 1979[6], and in Ireland on 23 October, 1979[7]. The Makinar trademark was filed in the United States on 8 November 1976[8] and in Canada on 15 November 1976[9]. Both the Makinar and Mikinon trademarks have expired and are no longer actively used.

Cameras

  • Makinon MK-II 35mm Range-finder
  • Makinon MK-V 35mm SLR

Lenses

  • Makinon 24mm f/2.8 Multi-Coated
  • Makinon 28mm f/2.8 Multi-Coated
  • Makinon 50mm f/1.7 Multi-Coated
  • Makinon 135mm f/2.8 Multi-Coated
  • Makinon 200mm f/4.5 Multi-Coated
  • Makinon 200mm f/3.3 Multi-Coated
  • Makinon 300mm f/5.6 MC Catadioptric Reflex Macro
  • Makinon 500mm f/8 MC Catadioptric Reflex
  • Makinon 1000mm f/11 MC Catadioptric Reflex
  • Makinon 24-50mm f/3.3-4.5 MC Zoom
  • Makinon 28-80mm f/3.5-4.5 MC Zoom
  • Makinon 35-70mm f/3.5 MC Zoom
  • Makinon 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 Zoom
  • Makinon 75-150mm f/4.5 MC Zoom
  • Makinon 75-150mm f/3.8 MC Zoom
  • Makinon 80-200mm f/4.5 MC Zoom
  • Makinon Auto 2X Tele Converter

See also: Vivitar

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Spiral Blog: Makina Optical Co. History
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Makinon History
  3. ↑ Bayley, Stephen, Makinon Lens Photography, Dorkstar, Ltd. UK.
  4. ↑ Makinon trademark filing in United States
  5. ↑ Makinon trademark filing in Canada
  6. ↑ Makinon trademark filing in Australia
  7. ↑ Makinon trademark filing in Ireland
  8. ↑ Markinar trademark filing in United States
  9. ↑ Makinar trademark filing in Canada

Links

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