Nifca-Dox

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 in 1930 by Nichi-Doku (the later Minolta).

Name

"Nifca" comes from Nichi-Doku Foto Camera. Nichi in Nichi-Doku 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.

Description

The Nifca-Dox has a metal body. There is no folding bed but a rectangular front plate supported by straight struts in the four corners. This construction is similar to the Goerz Pocket Tenax. The bellows is of the classical type, with multiple creases (unlike the Tenax).

The Newton finder is to the left end, as seen by the photographer. The front part of the finder is attached to the front plate and can be swivelled to gain size. The rear part is a simple eyepiece attached to the back, presumably retractible. A handle is attached to the right end of the body.

The name NIFCA-DOX is marked on the bottom right of the front plate. The serial number Nr xxxx is written on the bottom left and there is a logo on the top left. The logo is made of letters inside a circle. The top row reads N PH D, perhaps for Nichi Photo Doku. The bottom part perhaps reads CO for Company.

The shutter is a Koilos, mounted in a black octogonal housing protruding from the front plate. The 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds are set by a wheel at the top. This wheel is covered by a metal plate inscribed KOILOS and Nifca Photo. The shutter is everset and the release lever is attached to the front of the octogon. There is a distant release connector protruding from the left edge.

The lens is a front-cell focusing Nifca Anastigmat 105mm f/6.8, obviously an imported German lens that was rebranded. The aperture is set by a wheel protruding from the bottom right edge of the octogon and the selected f-number is read in a small window on the right of the lens.

It is said that the price was ¥29.

Actual examples

Only two surviving examples have been observed so far. One has Nr 6650 and belongs to the Minolta company and the other has Nr 6671. The available pictures are all taken from the same angle and the two cameras look exactly identical.

Bibliography

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Links

In English:

• Minolta folding cameras in the Manual Minolta website

In French:

• Nifca-Dox post in Sylvain Halgand's forum

In Chinese:

• Nifca-Dox in a Chinese webpage