Difference between revisions of "National (4×6.5)"

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The National cameras are a series of Japanese folders sold in the late 1930s by the distributor [[Eikō-Dō]]. The actual maker is unknown. ''See also the [[Semi National and National Six]].''
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The '''National''' (ナショナル) is a Japanese folding camera, taking both 4&times;6.5 and 3&times;4 pictures on [[127 film]] and distributed by [[Eikō-Dō]] from 1936 to 1938.<REF> Dates: {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;338. </REF> It was perhaps made by a company called [[National Camera Works]]. ''For the 4.5&times;6 and 6&times;6 National folders, see [[Semi National and National Six]].''
  
The original '''National''' (ナショナル) is a vertical folding camera taking both 4&times;6.5 and 3&times;4 pictures on [[127 film]]. There is a tubular finder on one side of the body, with two bars in the finder to indicate the 3&times;4 frame size. It is advertised by Eikō-Dō in 1937<REF> {{Showa10ad|Collex and National|109|Apr 1937|Asahi Camera}} </REF> with a three speed shutter and a choice of f:6.8, f:6.3 or f:4.5 lenses, the price varying between &yen;17 and &yen;35, case not included.
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== Description of the body ==
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The camera is a vertical folder with curved struts. There is an advance knob on the top left (as seen by a photographer holding the camera vertically), and the finder is centred on the left. On the right of the viewfinder there is a button to release the folding bed, but there is no body release. The front leather is embossed ''National''.
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== Evolution ==
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In an advertisement dated March 1937<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;80. </REF>, the National has a folding frame finder, with two bars in the front frame to indicate the 3&times;4 image size. It is offered with an Elka<REF> Roman spelling reported in McKeown, p.&nbsp;261. The adverisement is written エルカ in ''katakana''. </REF> shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B speeds, in three lens variants:
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* Trionar or Torionar<REF> McKeown, p.&nbsp;261, reports a Torionar spelling for a 70/6.8 lens mounted on a National and a Trionar spelling for a 75/4.5 lens mounted on a Collex, both distributed by Eikō-Dō. The adverisement is written トリオナー in ''katakana''. </REF> f/6.8 ({{yen|17|1937}});
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* Heliostar<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ヘリオスター. </REF> f/6.3 ({{yen|25|1937}});
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* Bennar<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' ベンナー. </REF> f/4.5 ({{yen|35|1937}}).
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It is said that the f/6.8 variant is [[fixed focus]] and has 70mm focal length<REF> McKeown, p.&nbsp;261. </REF>, while the camera pictured in the advertisement seems to be the f/4.5 variant and has a front-cell focusing lens.
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The next month, in April 1937, the camera is advertised with a rigid tubular finder, again with two bars in the front frame for 3&times;4 pictures.<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;72. </REF> The shutter and lenses offered are the same, as well as the prices, except that the Heliostar lens is written Hemiostar<REF> In ''katakana'' ヘミオスター. </REF>. In an advertisement dated June 1938<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;80. </REF>, all the lenses are called the same and the prices have changed:
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* Trionar/Torionar f/6.8 ({{yen|19.50|1938}});
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* Trionar/Torionar f/6.3 ({{yen|30|1938}});
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* Trionar/Torionar f/4.5 ({{yen|38|1938}}).
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==

Revision as of 09:41, 15 October 2006

Template:127 Japan

This is a work in progress.

The National (ナショナル) is a Japanese folding camera, taking both 4×6.5 and 3×4 pictures on 127 film and distributed by Eikō-Dō from 1936 to 1938.[1] It was perhaps made by a company called National Camera Works. For the 4.5×6 and 6×6 National folders, see Semi National and National Six.

Description of the body

The camera is a vertical folder with curved struts. There is an advance knob on the top left (as seen by a photographer holding the camera vertically), and the finder is centred on the left. On the right of the viewfinder there is a button to release the folding bed, but there is no body release. The front leather is embossed National.

Evolution

In an advertisement dated March 1937[2], the National has a folding frame finder, with two bars in the front frame to indicate the 3×4 image size. It is offered with an Elka[3] shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B speeds, in three lens variants:

It is said that the f/6.8 variant is fixed focus and has 70mm focal length[7], while the camera pictured in the advertisement seems to be the f/4.5 variant and has a front-cell focusing lens.

The next month, in April 1937, the camera is advertised with a rigid tubular finder, again with two bars in the front frame for 3×4 pictures.[8] The shutter and lenses offered are the same, as well as the prices, except that the Heliostar lens is written Hemiostar[9]. In an advertisement dated June 1938[10], all the lenses are called the same and the prices have changed:

  • Trionar/Torionar f/6.8 (¥19.50);
  • Trionar/Torionar f/6.3 (¥30);
  • Trionar/Torionar f/4.5 (¥38).

Notes

  1. Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 338.
  2. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 80.
  3. Roman spelling reported in McKeown, p. 261. The adverisement is written エルカ in katakana.
  4. McKeown, p. 261, reports a Torionar spelling for a 70/6.8 lens mounted on a National and a Trionar spelling for a 75/4.5 lens mounted on a Collex, both distributed by Eikō-Dō. The adverisement is written トリオナー in katakana.
  5. Inferred from the katakana ヘリオスター.
  6. Inferred from the katakana ベンナー.
  7. McKeown, p. 261.
  8. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 72.
  9. In katakana ヘミオスター.
  10. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 80.

Bibliography