Difference between revisions of "Minon Six"

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{{Japanese Six postwar}}
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{{Japanese Six postwar
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|image=[http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2081311465/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2077/2081311465_f278482421_m_d.jpg]<br>''Picture courtesy of eBayer dscamera. {{with permission}}''
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{{WIP}}
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The '''Minon Six''' are a series of Japanese 6×6 folders made by [[Yamato|Yamato Kōki Kōgyō]] in the 1950s. It was perhaps an evolution of the [[Poppy Six]], and the early versions were perhaps made by [[Shin Nippon]].
  
The '''Minon Six''' are a series of Japanese dual-format folders taking 6&times;6cm and 4.5&times;6cm pictures, made by [[Yamato]] in the 1950s.
+
== General description ==
 +
All the models are horizontal folders with an uncoupled rangefinder, which is combined with the viewfinder and is contained in the top housing. The common eyepiece is offset to the left, as seen by the photographer. There is a cap screwed to the rear of the rangefinder, certainly used for adjustment or repair. The uncoupled rangefinder is driven by a knob at the right end of the top plate. The shutter release is at its usual location on the right. The accessory shoe and folding bed release are above the rangefinder unit. The film is advanced by a knob at the left end, with an arrow engraved above to indicate the turning direction. The back is hinged to the right for film loading.
  
The '''Minon Six II''' has an uncoupled rangefinder and a Minon 75mm f/3.5 lens. The '''Minon Six III''' is similar with a Luminar 75/3.2 lens. The model I is unknown.
+
The shutter has B, 1&ndash;200 speeds and a self-timer, and is synchonized. The lens is front-cell focusing. There is a gear on the front standard, actuated by the right-hand fingers and moving the aperture ring. This gear is meant to look like it is driving a helical for unit focusing.
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 +
== Origin ==
 +
The early Minon Six II have an ''SNK TOKYO'' logo on the red window cover.<REF> See the pictures in [http://minorhouse.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2007/09/post_1283.html this page at Minorhouse]. </REF> A picture has been observed of an unknown model of the Minon Six, perhaps corresponding to the hypothetical "Minon Six I", showing the same ''SNK TOKYO'' logo on the folding strut.<REF> See the picture in [http://nekokane.exblog.jp/4855170/ this page at Nekokane]. </REF> This example has a direct vision finder and a [[brilliant finder]] but no rangefinder. Its main body is similar to that of the Minon Six II, and it has the typical gear for aperture control. This camera looks much like the [[Poppy Six]], supposedly made by the [[Shin Nippon]] company, which has the same logo and the same aperture gear. The Poppy Six is itself probably a derivative of the [[Gotex]] made during the war by [[Kigawa]]. The main body of the Gotex, Poppy Six, "Minon Six I" and Minon Six II is similar, and there is certainly a filiation between these cameras.
 +
 
 +
== The Minon Six II ==
 +
The '''Minon Six II''' has three-part folding struts, inspired from the 6×6 [[Ikonta]], a square front standard and a Minon Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens. The name ''Minon Six II'' is engraved in the top housing, and the body serial number appears above the viewfinder eyepiece. The brand ''MINON'' is embossed in the leather of the front door, and ''MINON SIX'' is embossed in the back leather.
 +
 
 +
The early Minon Six II are '''single format''' and can take 6×6cm pictures only. The back contains a single red window in the middle, protected by a horizontally sliding cover, with an ''SNK TOKYO'' logo, probably for [[Shin Nippon]]. This version has been observed with an [[NKS]] shutter, synchronized via two pins at the bottom.<REF> Example pictured in [http://minorhouse.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2007/09/post_1283.html this page at Minorhouse], and example observed in an online auction. </REF> Another example has been observed with an unknown shutter and a single synch pin.<REF> Example observed in an online auction. </REF>
  
 
{| class="plainlinks" align=center style="text-align: center;"
 
{| class="plainlinks" align=center style="text-align: center;"
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|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2081311469/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2055/2081311469_13c702ebde_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2081311477/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/2081311477_f76d21bbed_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2081311473/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2372/2081311473_56a5cb26b4_t_d.jpg]
 
|| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2081311469/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2055/2081311469_13c702ebde_m_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2081311477/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2248/2081311477_f76d21bbed_t_d.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2081311473/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2372/2081311473_56a5cb26b4_t_d.jpg]
 
|-
 
|-
|| ''Minon Six II no.6436, Minon Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens no.7244, [[TSK]] shutter (B, 1&ndash;200).''<br>''Pictures courtesy of eBayer dscamera. {{with permission}}''
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|| ''Minon Six II no.6436, dual format, Minon Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens no.7244, [[TSK]] shutter (B, 1&ndash;200).''<br>''Pictures courtesy of eBayer dscamera. {{with permission}}''
 
|}
 
|}
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The late Minon Six II are '''dual format''' and can take both 6×6cm and 4.5×6cm pictures. The frame in front of the viewfinder window has four prongs indicating the field of view for 4.5×6cm exposures. The back contains two red windows, protected by horizontally sliding individual covers. Some examples are known to have the word ''MINON'' engraved in the folding struts;<REF> Example pictured in this page, and example pictured in [http://clacamera.exblog.jp/i4 this page of doraDD's blog]. </REF> it is not known if the early Minon Six II have ''MINON'' or ''SNK TOKYO'' at this place.
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The Minon Six II was announced in the July 1951 issue of ''[[Asahi Camera]]'', and was advertised from March to November 1952.<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.369. </REF> The July 1952 advertisement in ''[[Photo Art]]'' says that the camera is dual format, and available with [[TSK]] or [[NKS]] shutters. The company name is specified as [[Yamato|Yamato Kōki Kōgyō]].
 +
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== The Minon Six III ==
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The '''Minon Six III''' is similar with a Luminar 75/3.2 lens. The model I is unknown.
 +
  
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
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== Links ==
 
== Links ==
 
In Japanese:
 
In Japanese:
 +
* [http://minorhouse.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2007/09/post_1283.html Minon Six II] at [http://minorhouse.cocolog-nifty.com/ Minorhouse]
 
* [http://clacamera.exblog.jp/i4 Minon Six II and III] at [http://clacamera.exblog.jp/ doraDD's clacamera blog]
 
* [http://clacamera.exblog.jp/i4 Minon Six II and III] at [http://clacamera.exblog.jp/ doraDD's clacamera blog]
 
* [http://aya-2.hp.infoseek.co.jp/minon-six3_ca.html Minon Six III] at [http://aya-2.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ Aya's Camera]
 
* [http://aya-2.hp.infoseek.co.jp/minon-six3_ca.html Minon Six III] at [http://aya-2.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ Aya's Camera]
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* [http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/155344/blog/6151497/ Minon Six III] in [http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/155344/blog/ Suteccar]
 
* [http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/155344/blog/6151497/ Minon Six III] in [http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/155344/blog/ Suteccar]
 
* [http://photozou.jp/photo/show/140493/5112912 Minon Six III] in [http://photozou.jp/photo/top/140493 Bianchi's page at Photozou.org]
 
* [http://photozou.jp/photo/show/140493/5112912 Minon Six III] in [http://photozou.jp/photo/top/140493 Bianchi's page at Photozou.org]
* [http://minorhouse.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2007/09/post_1283.html Minon Six III] at [http://minorhouse.cocolog-nifty.com/ Minorhouse]
 
 
* [http://nekokane.exblog.jp/4855170/ Unknown folding camera] reported as a Minon Six, perhaps corresponding to the Minon Six I, at [http://nekokane.exblog.jp/ Nekokane]
 
* [http://nekokane.exblog.jp/4855170/ Unknown folding camera] reported as a Minon Six, perhaps corresponding to the Minon Six I, at [http://nekokane.exblog.jp/ Nekokane]
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 6x6 rangefinder folding]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 6x6 rangefinder folding]]
 
[[Category: M]]
 
[[Category: M]]

Revision as of 15:34, 3 January 2008

Japanese Six (6×6)
Postwar models (edit)
folding
Aires Viceroy | Angel Six | Aram Six | Astoria Super Six | Atom Six | Balm Six | Baron | Beauty Six (1950) | Beauty Six (1953) | Calm Six | Carl Six | Centre Six | Crown | Crystar Six | Daido Six | Dorima Six | Doris Six | Ehira Six | Elbow Six | First Six | Flora Six | Fodor Six | Frank Six | Fujica Six | Super Fujica Six | Futami Six | Gotex | Grace Six | Kohken Chrome Six | Kyowa Six | Liner Six | Lyra Six | Mamiya Six | Middl Six | Mihama Six | Mine Six | Minon Six | Mizuho Six | Motoka Six | Mount Six | Muse Six | Super Naiku | Ofuna Six | Olympus Six | Olympus Chrome Six | Orion Six | Oscar Six | Pigeon Six | Planet | Please Six | Pluto Six | Poppy Six | Press Van | Press Van-120 | Proud Chrome Six | Proud Super Six | Renown Six | Ricoh Six | Ruvikon | Ruvinal | Sanon Six | Silver Six | Sisley 1 | Sisley 2 & 3 | Sister Six | Tenar Six | Toho Six | Tomic | Toyoca Six | Ugein Six | Wagen Six | Walcon 6 | Welmy Six | Wester | Windsor Six
rigid or collapsible
Dia Six | Ehira Chrome Six | Enon Six | Flora | Flashline | Fujipet | Harmony | Mikono-6 | Orion | Ponix | Rich-Ray-6 | Shumy | Weha Chrome Six
Japanese 6×6 TLR, pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Japanese Semi (4.5×6) and older 6×9 ->
This is a work in progress.

The Minon Six are a series of Japanese 6×6 folders made by Yamato Kōki Kōgyō in the 1950s. It was perhaps an evolution of the Poppy Six, and the early versions were perhaps made by Shin Nippon.

General description

All the models are horizontal folders with an uncoupled rangefinder, which is combined with the viewfinder and is contained in the top housing. The common eyepiece is offset to the left, as seen by the photographer. There is a cap screwed to the rear of the rangefinder, certainly used for adjustment or repair. The uncoupled rangefinder is driven by a knob at the right end of the top plate. The shutter release is at its usual location on the right. The accessory shoe and folding bed release are above the rangefinder unit. The film is advanced by a knob at the left end, with an arrow engraved above to indicate the turning direction. The back is hinged to the right for film loading.

The shutter has B, 1–200 speeds and a self-timer, and is synchonized. The lens is front-cell focusing. There is a gear on the front standard, actuated by the right-hand fingers and moving the aperture ring. This gear is meant to look like it is driving a helical for unit focusing.

Origin

The early Minon Six II have an SNK TOKYO logo on the red window cover.[1] A picture has been observed of an unknown model of the Minon Six, perhaps corresponding to the hypothetical "Minon Six I", showing the same SNK TOKYO logo on the folding strut.[2] This example has a direct vision finder and a brilliant finder but no rangefinder. Its main body is similar to that of the Minon Six II, and it has the typical gear for aperture control. This camera looks much like the Poppy Six, supposedly made by the Shin Nippon company, which has the same logo and the same aperture gear. The Poppy Six is itself probably a derivative of the Gotex made during the war by Kigawa. The main body of the Gotex, Poppy Six, "Minon Six I" and Minon Six II is similar, and there is certainly a filiation between these cameras.

The Minon Six II

The Minon Six II has three-part folding struts, inspired from the 6×6 Ikonta, a square front standard and a Minon Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens. The name Minon Six II is engraved in the top housing, and the body serial number appears above the viewfinder eyepiece. The brand MINON is embossed in the leather of the front door, and MINON SIX is embossed in the back leather.

The early Minon Six II are single format and can take 6×6cm pictures only. The back contains a single red window in the middle, protected by a horizontally sliding cover, with an SNK TOKYO logo, probably for Shin Nippon. This version has been observed with an NKS shutter, synchronized via two pins at the bottom.[3] Another example has been observed with an unknown shutter and a single synch pin.[4]

The late Minon Six II are dual format and can take both 6×6cm and 4.5×6cm pictures. The frame in front of the viewfinder window has four prongs indicating the field of view for 4.5×6cm exposures. The back contains two red windows, protected by horizontally sliding individual covers. Some examples are known to have the word MINON engraved in the folding struts;[5] it is not known if the early Minon Six II have MINON or SNK TOKYO at this place.

The Minon Six II was announced in the July 1951 issue of Asahi Camera, and was advertised from March to November 1952.[6] The July 1952 advertisement in Photo Art says that the camera is dual format, and available with TSK or NKS shutters. The company name is specified as Yamato Kōki Kōgyō.

The Minon Six III

The Minon Six III is similar with a Luminar 75/3.2 lens. The model I is unknown.


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 939–40. (See also the advertisement for item 685.)
  • 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). P.73 (brief mention only).
  • 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.1021.
  • 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 1359–60.

Links

In Japanese:

  • See the pictures in this page at Minorhouse.
  • See the picture in this page at Nekokane.
  • Example pictured in this page at Minorhouse, and example observed in an online auction.
  • Example observed in an online auction.
  • Example pictured in this page, and example pictured in this page of doraDD's blog.
  • Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.369.