Nifcarette

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). Billy Neumann previously worked for Krauss and the Nifcalette was inspired from the Rollette made by this company. The lens and shutter were imported from Germany and only the body was made in Japan.

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.

Reported versions

An anonymous Japanese source reproduced in Tanimura gives the following list of lens and shutter combinations:

• Xenar f/4.5, Compur;
• Wekar Doppel Anastigmat f/4.5, Compur;
• Wekar Anastigmat f/4.5, Ibsor;
• Wekar Anastigmat f/6.3, Ibsor;
• Wekar Anastigmat f/6.3, Pronto;
• Aplanat f/8, Pronto;
• Aplanat f/8, Vario.

This list probably comes from some original advertisement. It is said that the price of the Xenar version was ¥75.

Francesch gives a similar list of lens and shutter combinations, grouped in three models called Nifcalette A, B and D, with a total of eleven versions. The Nifcalette A has all the Compur and Ibsor combinations, the Nifcalette B has all the combinations with a Wekar lens and the Nifcalette D only has the Aplanat lenses. Francesch also adds a Nifcalette A version with Heliostar f/6.3 lens and Koilos shutter. It is strongly suspected that this version does not appear in original documents and that it is only known from the surviving example mentioned below (perhaps a Nifcalette B).

Actual examples

Only five different Nifcalette cameras have been observed so far, in three different body versions. It is strongly suspected that these body variants correspond to the model A, B and D.

First version

The first body version has two handles at the bottom of the lens standard to pull it out. Focusing is done by turning a wheel engaging a rack and pinion mechanism and moving the lens standard back and forth on precisely machined rails. This version perhaps corresponds to the Nifcalette A.

One example is pictured in Scheibel and Lewis. It has a Schneider Xenar 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a rim-set Compur shutter giving T, B, 1–300 speeds. The bottom of the lens standard is written Nifca and 1370 (certainly the serial number). The body edges have a metal finish. It seems that the pictures are retouched pictures found in period advertisements.

Second version

The second body version has two pins to pull out the lens standard. Focusing is done by a lever placed on the right side and the sliding rails are simply made of folded sheet metal. This version perhaps corresponds to the Nifcalette B.

One example is pictured in Francesch and Sugiyama and in this page of the Konica Minolta website. This example belongs to the Minolta Gallery. It has a Wekar Anastigmat 75mm f/6.3 lens (Nr.3782), probably made by Kenngott, and a dial-set Pronto shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds and sporting an AGC logo. The bottom of the lens standard is written Nifca and 3774. The body edges are metal finished. There is a folding frame finder made of a wireframe attached to the front standard and a simple eyepiece attached to the back. It is the only example known with a frame finder.

A very similar example with Pronto shutter is pictured in this page at Yone Lab. It is reported to have a "Wekar-Aplanat" 75/8 lens but this is unconfirmed.

A third example is pictured in Francesch, Scheibel, McKeown and Baird. It has a Heliostar Anastigmat München 75mm f/6.3 lens (Nr 75004) and a dial-set Koilos shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds. The shutter plate is written Nifca Photo. It seems that the nameplate with the serial number has fallen from the lens standard and a hole is visible for the attaching screw. This example has black body edges and a different advance key. This variant with Heliostar and Koilos is reported by Francesch to be a Nifcalette A but this is perhaps a mistake.

Third version

The third body version has a simpler lens standard in plain metal finish. There is an index on the left that is perhaps used for focusing. This version perhaps corresponds to the Nifcalette D.

One example is pictured in Francesch and Sugiyama. It has a dial-set Vario shutter giving 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds and it is reported to have an Aplanat 75mm f/8 lens. The body edges are black painted.

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.
• 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. 8–9.
• 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.
• 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 German:

• Nifcalette at kefk.net

In Japanese:

• Nifcalette in the Konica Minolta official history site
• Nifcalette and specs at the Yone Lab website
• Nifcalette in the Map Camera Museum
• Nifcalette in the Kitamura Camera Museum

In Korean:

• Nifcalette at infocam.co.kr

In Chinese:

• Nifcalette in a Chinese webpage