Nescon 35
The Nescon 35 is a Japanese 35mm viewfinder camera, made in 1956 and 1957.[1] It was made by Nihon Seiki Kōgyō and distributed by Goyō Shōkai.[2]
General description
The camera is certainly a derivative or successor of the Aruba 35 II distributed in 1954 and 1955 by Chūō Shashin-yōhin and attributed to Koike Seiki. It has a metal body with chrome top and bottom plates. The advance knob is at the right end and the rewind knob at the left. They are bigger than the knobs of the Aruba 35 II and the exposure counter surrounds the base of the advance knob.
The viewfinder is offset to the left and is contained in a top housing covering the space between both knobs. This housing also supports an accessory shoe and the body release. The release is bigger than the release of the Aruba and it is surronded by a milled part. There is a button placed close behind, at the place of the exposure counter of the Aruba, probably to unlock the rewind. The front of the top housing has a NESCON 35 marking. The serial number is engraved above the viewfinder.
The lens is a unit-focusing 40mm f/3.5. The lens rim is engraved Nihon Seiki Nescon 1:3.5 f=40mm with no serial number. The shutter is situated behind the focusing helical. It gives B, 25–200 speeds, selected by a lever with the 25, B, 50, 100, 200 positions in that order. It is synchronized for flash via a PC connector at the bottom.
Advertising
The original Nescon 35 was announced in various Japanese magazines in 1956.[3] Kokusan kamera no rekishi says that it was only advertised as the Nescon 35 II New (ネスコン35Ⅱ新型). An advertisement dated January 1957[4] offers the Nescon 35 II New for ¥4,950. The only company name mentioned is the distributor Goyō Shōkai. The advertising picture shows a camera with detachable back. It is probable that the fixed back version is the Nescon 35 and that the detachable back version is the Nescon 35 II New.
Actual examples and versions
Two versions have been observed. The presumed first version has a fixed back and the film loading is through the bottom plate. It is pictured in Sugiyama.[5] It probably corresponds to the original Nescon 35.
The presumed second version has a back detachable together with the bottom plate. The bottom plate has a locking key in the middle and a tripod thread offset to the left.[6] It probably corresponds to the Nescon 35 II New.
The Soligor 45 is usually described as an export version of the Nescon. Its first version still has some features of the Aruba 35 II, and its second version is very similar to the Nescon 35 II New, except for the lower 1/100 top speed.
Notes
- ↑ Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.395.
- ↑ Nihon Seiki Kōgyō: a camera was sold in an online auction with a box reportedly inscribed "Nihon Seiki Kogyo Co., Ltd."
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 395.
- ↑ Published in Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.265.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 3523. Close scrutiny of the body edge reveals that the back is fixed.
- ↑ Example observe in an online auction.
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 1435–6.
- 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. 721.
- 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. Item 3523.
