Nifcarette

This is a work in progress.

The Nifcalette (ニフカレッテ) is a Japanese 4×6.5 folding camera.

Origin

The Nifcalette was the first camera made by Nichi-Doku (the later Minolta) in 1929. To design this camera, Kazuo Tashima, the founder of the company, was helped by the German engineers Billy Neumann and Willy Heilemann (who later founded Neumann & Heilemann).

The Nifcalette was inspired from the Rollette by Krauss. The lens and shutter were imported from Germany and only the body was made in Japan.

The Nifcalette 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.

Nifcalette is sometimes written Nifcarette. In Japanese it is written the same and the Roman name used by Nichi-Doku at the time is unsure. This name was certainly inspired by the names of some German cameras of the time, like the Icarette, Cocarette and Rollette, as well as the Japanese Pearlette.

Description

The Nifcalette is a vertical folder, taking 4×6.5cm exposures on 127 film. It is not self-erecting and the front standard needs to be manually pulled out after opening the bed. It slides on two rails and focusing is done by an index running on a focusing scale placed on the right.

A brilliant finder is attached to the front standard, sometimes also a folding frame finder. There is a winding key at the top right and film advance is controlled by red window. The body trimming is black or metal finish.

Versions

The book by Francesch lists eleven lens/shutter combinations, in three body variants called Nifcalette A, Nifcalette B and Nifcalette D.

The camera that is most often illustrated is the one displayed at Konica Minolta's page. It has a folding frame finder, metal trim, a Wekar Anastigmat 75/6.3 lens, a Pronto 25-50-100, B, T shutter with the AGC logo, and is marked Nifca 3774 in handwritten style under the shutter.

Other variants known by pictures, with no frame finder and black trim:

• Hellostar Anastigmat Munchen 75/6.3, Koilos 25-50-100-B-T shutter marked Nifca Photo in handwritten style, no frame finder, black trim (camera often illustrated, with lens s/n 75004)
• f:8 lens and Vario or Pronto shutter

Bibliography

• Baird, John R. The Japanese Camera. Yakima, WA: Historical Camera Publications, 1990. ISBN 1-879561-02-6. Pp. 37–9.
• 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. 49.
• 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. 671.
• 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 1179–80.

Links

In English:

• Minolta folding cameras in the Manual Minolta website

In German:

• A page about the Nifcalette at [http://www.kefk.net/home.asp kefk.net

In Japanese:

• Nifcalette in the Konica Minolta official history site
• Nifcalette and specs at the Yone Lab website