Difference between revisions of "Nifca-Dox"
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{{Japanese plate strut-folding}} | {{Japanese plate strut-folding}} | ||
| − | The '''Nifca-Dox''' (ニフカドックス) is a Japanese strut folding camera taking 6.5×9cm film plates or pack film. It was made | + | The '''Nifca-Dox''' (ニフカドックス) is a Japanese strut folding camera taking 6.5×9cm film plates or pack film. It was made by Nichidoku Shashinki Shōten (predecessor of [[Minolta]]) in 1930–1. |
== Name == | == Name == | ||
| − | "Nifca" comes from <u>Ni</u>chidoku <u>F</u>oto <u>Ca</u>mera.<REF> | + | "Nifca" comes from <u>Ni</u>chidoku <u>F</u>oto <u>Ca</u>mera.<REF> Taniguchi, p.276 of ''[[Shashin Kōgyō]]'' no.77 (article also reproduced in Tanimura, p.8 of {{CCN}} no.116), Francesch, p.17, [http://ca.konicaminolta.jp/history/minolta/1940/1929.html Nifcarette page of the Konica Minolta website]. </REF> ''Nichi'' in Nichidoku means Japan, and it is certainly not coincidental that "Nifca" can also be read as <u>Ni</u>ppon <u>F</u>oto <u>Ca</u>mera. |
Many sources say that "Dox" refers to the giant flying boat Dornier Do X (see for example [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_X this Wikipedia page]) which first flew in 1929 and made a transatlantic flight, leaving Friedrichshafen in November 1930 and reaching New York in August 1931.<REF> Baird, p.40; Francesch, p.19; Lewis, p.45; Scheibel, p.11; Sugiyama, item 1182; Tanimura in {{CCN}} no.116. </REF> | Many sources say that "Dox" refers to the giant flying boat Dornier Do X (see for example [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_X this Wikipedia page]) which first flew in 1929 and made a transatlantic flight, leaving Friedrichshafen in November 1930 and reaching New York in August 1931.<REF> Baird, p.40; Francesch, p.19; Lewis, p.45; Scheibel, p.11; Sugiyama, item 1182; Tanimura in {{CCN}} no.116. </REF> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Release date == | ||
| + | Most sources say that the Nifca-Dox was released in 1930.<REF> Francesch, pp.18, 67 and 263, Awano, p.14 of {{KKS}} no.12, Saeki, p.77 of the same magazine, Baird, p.40, Scheibel, p.11, {{McKeown}}, p.672, {{Sugiyama}}, item 1182. </REF> However documents compiled by the company [[Minolta|Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō]] (i.e. [[Minolta]]) and published in ''[[Shashin Kōgyō]]'' September 1958 say 1931 instead.<REF> Taniguchi, p.275 of ''[[Shashin Kōgyō]]'' no.77, and "Hensen kamera ichiran-pyō", p.295 of the same magazine (documents also reproduced in Tanimura, pp.7–8 of {{CCN}} no.116). </REF> The only original document observed so far is an advertisement in ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' February 1931,<REF> Advertisement reproduced in Hagiya, p.9 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF> and no definitive conclusion can be drawn on the release date. | ||
== Description of the body == | == Description of the body == | ||
| − | The Nifca-Dox has a metal body. There is no folding bed but a rectangular front plate supported by straight struts | + | The Nifca-Dox has a metal body. There is no folding bed but a rectangular front plate supported by straight spring-loaded struts at the four corners. This configuration is similar to that of the [[Goerz]] [[Pocket Tenax]]. ([[Minolta|Nichidoku]] also copied the [[Roll-Tenax]], another [[Goerz]] product, for the focusing device of the [[Nifcarette|Nifcarette A]].) Unlike the Tenax, the bellows is of the classical type, with multiple creases. |
| − | + | {| class="plainlinks floatright" width=120px style="text-align: center;" | |
| + | || [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2396414190/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2072/2396414190_a87f6f18c8_t_d.jpg] | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | || ''Nichidoku logo on a [[Nifcarette]]. Picture by Andrea Apra {{with permission}}'' | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | There is a Newton finder on the photographer's left; the front element swings down along the front plate to gain size, and the rear bead is retractable too. A handle is attached to the right end of the body. | ||
| − | The name '' | + | The name ''NIFCA–DOX'' is inscribed of the front plate at the bottom right, as seen from the front. The serial number is at the bottom left, and the logo of [[Minolta|Nichidoku]] is at the top left; the logo has the letters ''N'', ''D'', ''P<small>H</small>'' and ''C<small>o</small>'' assembled inside a circle, surely for <u>N</u>ichi <u>D</u>oku <u>Ph</u>oto <u>Co</u>mpany. The ground glass back has the same round logo embossed in the leather hood.<REF> Picture of the ground glass back visible in [http://asahide.zdap.jp/hcla02/htakat18.htm this page of the Nagoya Club website]. </REF> |
== Lens and shutter == | == Lens and shutter == | ||
| − | The shutter is a [[Koilos]], mounted in a black | + | The shutter is ostensibly a [[Koilos]], but at least one source reports that it was "clearly made by the company ([[Minolta|Nichidoku]]) itself".<REF> Awano, p;14 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF> It is mounted in a black octagonal casing protruding from the front plate. It is everset and gives 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds, set by a wheel at the top. This wheel is covered by a metal plate inscribed ''KOILOS'' and ''Nifca Photo'', the same as on the isolated example of the [[Nifcarette|Nifcarette B]] found with a [[Koilos]] shutter. The release lever is attached to the front of the shutter casing, and there is a connector for a cable release protruding from the octagon's left edge (as seen from the front). |
| + | |||
| + | The lens is a front-cell focusing Nifca Anastigmat 105mm f/6.8, engraved ''Nifca–Anastigmat 1:6.8 f=105mm Nr xxxx'' with no mention of a lens maker. This might be an imported German lens that was rebranded, or a genuine Japanese lens.<REF> Awano, p.14 of {{KKS}} no.12, says that this is a Japanese lens. </REF> The aperture is set by a wheel protruding from the bottom right edge of the octagon (as seen from the front), certainly containing Waterhouse stops; the selected f-number is read in a small window on the right of the lens. | ||
| + | |||
| + | It is said that the Nifca-Dox was the first Japanese model to have a front-cell focusing lens.<REF> Awano, p.14 of {{KKS}} no.12. </REF> If the lens is Japanese, it would also be the first Japanese camera sold with a Japanese lens, released shortly before the [[Lily (metal)|Tropical Lily]] with [[Hexar lenses before 1945|Hexar lens]]. | ||
| − | + | Some sources mention a 105mm f/6.3 lens too, but its existence is unconfirmed.<REF> {{McKeown}}, p.672, says that two models were made, with f/6.8 or f/6.3 lens. [http://asahide.zdap.jp/hcla02/htakat18.htm This page of the Nagoya Camera Club] says that the lens is a Nifca-Anastigmat 105mm f/6.3, but this might be a typo. </REF> | |
== Advertising == | == Advertising == | ||
| Line 32: | Line 44: | ||
* Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Senzen no Minolta kamera" (戦前のミノルタカメラ, "Prewar Minolta cameras"). {{KKS012}} Pp.13–17. | * Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Senzen no Minolta kamera" (戦前のミノルタカメラ, "Prewar Minolta cameras"). {{KKS012}} Pp.13–17. | ||
* {{Baird Japanese}} P.40. | * {{Baird Japanese}} P.40. | ||
| − | * {{Francesch Minolta}} | + | * {{Francesch Minolta}} Pp.18–9, 67, 70–1 and 263. |
* Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Kōkoku ni miru Minolta kamera no rekishi" (広告に見るミノルタカメラの歴史, "Minolta camera history seen through the advertisements"). {{KKS012}} Pp.9–12. | * Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Kōkoku ni miru Minolta kamera no rekishi" (広告に見るミノルタカメラの歴史, "Minolta camera history seen through the advertisements"). {{KKS012}} Pp.9–12. | ||
* {{Lewis}} P.45. | * {{Lewis}} P.45. | ||
| Line 38: | Line 50: | ||
* Saeki Kakugorō (佐伯恪五郎). "Tashima Gizō<!-- or Yoshimi -->-shi ni kiku" (田嶋義三氏に聞く, "Asking Tashima Gizō<!-- or Yoshimi -->"). {{KKS012}} Pp.76–9. | * Saeki Kakugorō (佐伯恪五郎). "Tashima Gizō<!-- or Yoshimi -->-shi ni kiku" (田嶋義三氏に聞く, "Asking Tashima Gizō<!-- or Yoshimi -->"). {{KKS012}} Pp.76–9. | ||
* {{Scheibel}} Pp.10–1. | * {{Scheibel}} Pp.10–1. | ||
| + | * ''[[Shashin Kōgyō]]'' no.77 (September 1958). "Hensen kamera ichiran-pyō" (変遷カメラ一らん表, Table of camera evolution.) P.295. (This is a chronology of Minolta cameras from the Nifcarette onwards. This document is also reproduced in Tanimura, p.7 of {{CCN}} no.116.) | ||
* {{Zukan}} Item 1182. | * {{Zukan}} Item 1182. | ||
| − | * Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minolta I-gata to II-gata." (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型, "Semi Minolta I and II") In {{CCN}} no. 116 (February 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. | + | * Taniguchi Masao (谷口匡男), from the commercial department (営業部) of [[Minolta|Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō]]. "Minoruta kamera no sakujitsu, konnichi" (ミノルタ・カメラの昨日、今日, Minolta cameras, yesterday and today). In ''[[Shashin Kōgyō]]'' no.77 (September 1958). Pp.275–9. (The two first pages of this document, on pre-1937 cameras, are also reproduced in Tanimura, p.8 of {{CCN}} no.116.) |
| + | * Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minolta I-gata to II-gata." (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型, "Semi Minolta I and II") In {{CCN}} no. 116 (February 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. (Contains a reproduction of the articles in ''[[Shashin Kōgyō]]'' no.77, a discussion of the release dates and no other information on the Nifca-Dox.) | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
| Line 48: | Line 62: | ||
In Japanese: | In Japanese: | ||
* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?18=&key=103310371029&APage=616 Nifca-Dox] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology] | * [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?18=&key=103310371029&APage=616 Nifca-Dox] in the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/set_brws_01.php?id=1033 Camera database] of the [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/ Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology] | ||
| − | * [http://asahide.zdap.jp/hcla02/htakat18.htm Nifca-Dox] at [http://asahide.zdap.jp/ Nagoya | + | * [http://asahide.zdap.jp/hcla02/htakat18.htm Nifca-Dox] at the [http://asahide.zdap.jp/ Nagoya Camera Club] |
In Chinese: | In Chinese: | ||
* [http://www.xitek.com/info/showarticle.php?id=1040 Nifca-Dox] in a Chinese webpage | * [http://www.xitek.com/info/showarticle.php?id=1040 Nifca-Dox] in a Chinese webpage | ||
Revision as of 15:25, 1 May 2008
The Nifca-Dox (ニフカドックス) is a Japanese strut folding camera taking 6.5×9cm film plates or pack film. It was made by Nichidoku Shashinki Shōten (predecessor of Minolta) in 1930–1.
Contents
Name
"Nifca" comes from Nichidoku Foto Camera.[1] Nichi in Nichidoku means Japan, and it is certainly not coincidental that "Nifca" can also be read as Nippon Foto Camera.
Many sources say that "Dox" refers to the giant flying boat Dornier Do X (see for example this Wikipedia page) which first flew in 1929 and made a transatlantic flight, leaving Friedrichshafen in November 1930 and reaching New York in August 1931.[2]
Release date
Most sources say that the Nifca-Dox was released in 1930.[3] However documents compiled by the company Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō (i.e. Minolta) and published in Shashin Kōgyō September 1958 say 1931 instead.[4] The only original document observed so far is an advertisement in Asahi Camera February 1931,[5] and no definitive conclusion can be drawn on the release date.
Description of the body
The Nifca-Dox has a metal body. There is no folding bed but a rectangular front plate supported by straight spring-loaded struts at the four corners. This configuration is similar to that of the Goerz Pocket Tenax. (Nichidoku also copied the Roll-Tenax, another Goerz product, for the focusing device of the Nifcarette A.) Unlike the Tenax, the bellows is of the classical type, with multiple creases.
|
| Nichidoku logo on a Nifcarette. Picture by Andrea Apra (Image rights) |
There is a Newton finder on the photographer's left; the front element swings down along the front plate to gain size, and the rear bead is retractable too. A handle is attached to the right end of the body.
The name NIFCA–DOX is inscribed of the front plate at the bottom right, as seen from the front. The serial number is at the bottom left, and the logo of Nichidoku is at the top left; the logo has the letters N, D, PH and Co assembled inside a circle, surely for Nichi Doku Photo Company. The ground glass back has the same round logo embossed in the leather hood.[6]
Lens and shutter
The shutter is ostensibly a Koilos, but at least one source reports that it was "clearly made by the company (Nichidoku) itself".[7] It is mounted in a black octagonal casing protruding from the front plate. It is everset and gives 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds, set by a wheel at the top. This wheel is covered by a metal plate inscribed KOILOS and Nifca Photo, the same as on the isolated example of the Nifcarette B found with a Koilos shutter. The release lever is attached to the front of the shutter casing, and there is a connector for a cable release protruding from the octagon's left edge (as seen from the front).
The lens is a front-cell focusing Nifca Anastigmat 105mm f/6.8, engraved Nifca–Anastigmat 1:6.8 f=105mm Nr xxxx with no mention of a lens maker. This might be an imported German lens that was rebranded, or a genuine Japanese lens.[8] The aperture is set by a wheel protruding from the bottom right edge of the octagon (as seen from the front), certainly containing Waterhouse stops; the selected f-number is read in a small window on the right of the lens.
It is said that the Nifca-Dox was the first Japanese model to have a front-cell focusing lens.[9] If the lens is Japanese, it would also be the first Japanese camera sold with a Japanese lens, released shortly before the Tropical Lily with Hexar lens.
Some sources mention a 105mm f/6.3 lens too, but its existence is unconfirmed.[10]
Advertising
The Nifca-Dox appears in an advertisement dated February 1931.[11] The price was ¥29.[12] It is said that 2–3,000 were made;[13] in his autobiography, Tashima Kazuo mentioned that the camera "sold like hot cakes" (free translation of 飛ぶように売れ).[14]
Actual examples
Only four surviving examples have been observed so far. One has Nr 6650 and belongs to the Minolta company, another has Nr 6671, the third has Nr 6798 and the fourth has an unknown number.[15] The four cameras look exactly identical.
Notes
- ↑ Taniguchi, p.276 of Shashin Kōgyō no.77 (article also reproduced in Tanimura, p.8 of Camera Collectors' News no.116), Francesch, p.17, Nifcarette page of the Konica Minolta website.
- ↑ Baird, p.40; Francesch, p.19; Lewis, p.45; Scheibel, p.11; Sugiyama, item 1182; Tanimura in Camera Collectors' News no.116.
- ↑ Francesch, pp.18, 67 and 263, Awano, p.14 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12, Saeki, p.77 of the same magazine, Baird, p.40, Scheibel, p.11, McKeown, p.672, Sugiyama, item 1182.
- ↑ Taniguchi, p.275 of Shashin Kōgyō no.77, and "Hensen kamera ichiran-pyō", p.295 of the same magazine (documents also reproduced in Tanimura, pp.7–8 of Camera Collectors' News no.116).
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Hagiya, p.9 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
- ↑ Picture of the ground glass back visible in this page of the Nagoya Club website.
- ↑ Awano, p;14 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
- ↑ Awano, p.14 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12, says that this is a Japanese lens.
- ↑ Awano, p.14 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
- ↑ McKeown, p.672, says that two models were made, with f/6.8 or f/6.3 lens. This page of the Nagoya Camera Club says that the lens is a Nifca-Anastigmat 105mm f/6.3, but this might be a typo.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera February 1931, reproduced in Hagiya, p.9 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
- ↑ Francesch, p.18; Lewis, p.45; Scheibel, p.11.
- ↑ According to Tashima Gizō (son of Tashima Kazuo, founder of the company), interviewed by Saeki Kakugorō on p.77 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12.
- ↑ Tashima Kazuo, Watakushi no rirekisho, reproduced in Andō, p.2 of Camera Collectors' News no.127.
- ↑ No.6650 pictured in Francesch, p.70 and Sugiyama, item 1182. No.6671 pictured in Baird, p.40, Lewis, p.45, McKeown, p.672, Scheibel, p.10, this page of the Manual Minolta website and this Chinese webpage. Sugiyama says that no.6671 belongs to the Minolta Gallery. 6798 pictured in Awano, p.14 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.12. Third example pictured in this page of the Nagoya Club website.
Bibliography
- Andō Yoshinobu (安藤嘉信). "Arukadia no nazo" (アルカデリアの謎, Arcadia mystery). In Camera Collectors' News no.127 (January 1988). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. (Brief mention of the Nifca-Dox in a quote from Tashima Kazuo's book Watakushi no rirekisho.)
- Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Senzen no Minolta kamera" (戦前のミノルタカメラ, "Prewar Minolta cameras"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.13–17.
- Baird, John R. The Japanese Camera. Yakima, WA: Historical Camera Publications, 1990. ISBN 1-879561-02-6. P.40.
- Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Minolta de 1929 à 1985. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27685-4. Pp.18–9, 67, 70–1 and 263.
- Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Kōkoku ni miru Minolta kamera no rekishi" (広告に見るミノルタカメラの歴史, "Minolta camera history seen through the advertisements"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.9–12.
- 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.45.
- 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.672.
- Saeki Kakugorō (佐伯恪五郎). "Tashima Gizō-shi ni kiku" (田嶋義三氏に聞く, "Asking Tashima Gizō"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.12, October 1988. No ISBN number. Minoruta kamera no subete (ミノルタカメラのすべて, special issue on Minolta). Pp.76–9.
- Scheibel, Anni Rita and Joseph. 70 Jahre Minolta Kameratechnik — Von der Nifcalette bis zur Dynax 9. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 3rd edition, 1999. ISBN 3-89506-191-3. Pp.10–1.
- Shashin Kōgyō no.77 (September 1958). "Hensen kamera ichiran-pyō" (変遷カメラ一らん表, Table of camera evolution.) P.295. (This is a chronology of Minolta cameras from the Nifcarette onwards. This document is also reproduced in Tanimura, p.7 of Camera Collectors' News no.116.)
- 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 1182.
- Taniguchi Masao (谷口匡男), from the commercial department (営業部) of Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō. "Minoruta kamera no sakujitsu, konnichi" (ミノルタ・カメラの昨日、今日, Minolta cameras, yesterday and today). In Shashin Kōgyō no.77 (September 1958). Pp.275–9. (The two first pages of this document, on pre-1937 cameras, are also reproduced in Tanimura, p.8 of Camera Collectors' News no.116.)
- Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Minolta I-gata to II-gata." (セミミノルタⅠ型とⅡ型, "Semi Minolta I and II") In Camera Collectors' News no. 116 (February 1987). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. (Contains a reproduction of the articles in Shashin Kōgyō no.77, a discussion of the release dates and no other information on the Nifca-Dox.)
Links
In English:
In French:
In Japanese:
- Nifca-Dox in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
- Nifca-Dox at the Nagoya Camera Club
In Chinese:
- Nifca-Dox in a Chinese webpage
| Nifca, Molta and Chiyoda prewar and wartime cameras () | |
|---|---|
| folding plate cameras | |
| Nifcaklapp | Nifcasport | Sirius | Arcadia | Lomax | Eaton | Happy | |
| folding rollfilm cameras | telescopic bakelite cameras |
| Nifcarette | Sirius Bebe | Semi Minolta | Auto Semi Minolta | Minolta Vest | Baby Minolta | Minolta Six |
| strut-folding cameras | TLR cameras |
| Nifca-Dox | Minolta | Auto Minolta | Auto Press Minolta | Minoltaflex | Minoltaflex Automat | Minoltaflex military prototype |
