Difference between revisions of "Ofuna Six"
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== Model with coupled rangefinder == | == Model with coupled rangefinder == | ||
− | A later model (c.1956–7) is only known from a single photograph, published in Hagiya from the album of Kano Masayuki (狩野正之), who was responsible for the assembly and quality control of the [[Ofunaflex]] and Ofuna Six from 1954.<REF> Picture in Hagiya, p.166 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. Kano Masayuki: p.162 of the same source. </REF> | + | A later model (c.1956–7) is only known from a single photograph, published in Hagiya from the album of Kano Masayuki (狩野正之), who was responsible for the assembly and quality control of the [[Ofunaflex]] and Ofuna Six from 1954.<REF> Picture in Hagiya, p.166 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. Kano Masayuki: p.162 of the same source. </REF> |
− | + | According to the testimonies of Kano Masayuki and Kunitomo Kenji recorded by Hagiya, this new Ofuna Six was ordered by [[Kashimura]] for export, after the production of the previous model had stopped.<REF> Hagiya, p.167 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. </REF> The body was supplied by [[Takane]] and is the same as that of the [[Mine Six|Mine Six IIF]]. The lens is the Ofunar 7.5cm f/3.5 of the previous [[Ōfuna]] models. (Takane's manufacture of this camera was one part of an arrangement whereby Takane was able to obtain these Ofunar lenses rebranded as the [[Zunow]] Zuminor for the [[Mine Six|Mine Six IIIS(B)]]; see [[Takane]].)<REF> Hagiya, p.167 of ''Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari''. </REF> | |
+ | |||
+ | The pictured camera is indeed very similar to the [[Mine Six|Mine Six IIF]]. It has a sliding control on the front of the finder housing to move a 6×4.5 finder mask in and out of position. ''OFUNA–SIX'' is inscribed in one line of a non-oblique lettering across the top, and another illegible marking is written below. The knobs at both ends of the top housing are identical, and differ from those of the Mine Six IIF; the one at the photographer's left notably does not have a film reminder. The shutter is of an unknown type. It gives B, 1–300 speeds, engraved in the reverse order on the silver shutter plate, and is synchronized via a PC synch socket. The pictured camera has a four-digit lens number, perhaps in the 78xx range. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== |
Revision as of 22:56, 19 April 2008
Ofuna Six (オフナーシックス, Ofunā Shikkusu)[1] was the name used by Ōfuna for two very different 6×6 rangefinder folders in the 1950s.[2] Both have a diecast body with two windows on the back, for 6×6 and 6×4.5, and have a unit-focussed Ofunar 75mm f/3.5 lens, designed by Kunitomo Kenji (国友健司) within Ōfuna, made by Ōfuna and the same as is used on the Ofunaflex.
Contents
Model with non-coupled rangefinder
The earlier and better-known model seems to have been sold from the very end of 1952 or the start of 1953 and it was still advertised in summer 1956. It has a non-coupled rangefinder, which shares the eyepiece of the viewfinder. As the camera is viewed by somebody using it to take a photograph, the eyepiece is slightly to the left, the focusing dial for the rangefinder is to the right, and the film winding knob is to the left. The finder housing has an accessory shoe in the centre and is inscribed "OFUNA SIX". The struts for the door are curved and are not marked with any manufacturer's name.
The shutter changed over time: originally a Nissei Rapid (B, 1–500), from December 1954 an NKS-FB (B, 1–300), and finally (from some time in 1955–6) a Copal (B, 1–300).
Cosmetic and perhaps other changes were made over the camera's lifetime. An early example (to judge by its Nissei shutter) has "OFUNA SIX" in one line in oblique script (the ends of the "S" extending below the "F" and above the X"), an "OFUNA" logo to the right of the accessory shoe (as the camera is held for use), "∞—feet—4" inscribed below the distance scale of the rangefinder, and no frame around the viewfinder window; a later example (to judge by its Copal shutter) has "OFUNA SIX" in one line and in a straightforward (non-oblique) script, no "OFUNA" logo, no inscription below the distance scale, and an added frame surrounding the viewfinder window.[3]
An advertisement in the November 1953 issue of Asahi Camera offers the Ofuna Six (with Nissei Rapid shutter) for ¥15,000 (exactly half the price of the Ofunaflex); one in the December 1954 issue offers it (with NKS shutter) for ¥14,500 (and the Mamiya Six K for ¥18,800).[4]
About 2000 of these cameras were made.[5]
Model with coupled rangefinder
A later model (c.1956–7) is only known from a single photograph, published in Hagiya from the album of Kano Masayuki (狩野正之), who was responsible for the assembly and quality control of the Ofunaflex and Ofuna Six from 1954.[6]
According to the testimonies of Kano Masayuki and Kunitomo Kenji recorded by Hagiya, this new Ofuna Six was ordered by Kashimura for export, after the production of the previous model had stopped.[7] The body was supplied by Takane and is the same as that of the Mine Six IIF. The lens is the Ofunar 7.5cm f/3.5 of the previous Ōfuna models. (Takane's manufacture of this camera was one part of an arrangement whereby Takane was able to obtain these Ofunar lenses rebranded as the Zunow Zuminor for the Mine Six IIIS(B); see Takane.)[8]
The pictured camera is indeed very similar to the Mine Six IIF. It has a sliding control on the front of the finder housing to move a 6×4.5 finder mask in and out of position. OFUNA–SIX is inscribed in one line of a non-oblique lettering across the top, and another illegible marking is written below. The knobs at both ends of the top housing are identical, and differ from those of the Mine Six IIF; the one at the photographer's left notably does not have a film reminder. The shutter is of an unknown type. It gives B, 1–300 speeds, engraved in the reverse order on the silver shutter plate, and is synchronized via a PC synch socket. The pictured camera has a four-digit lens number, perhaps in the 78xx range.
Notes
- ↑ Note the change of pronunciation from that of Ōfuna (大船), the manufacturer.
- ↑ Much of the information in this article derives from Hagiya, "Ōfuna Kōgaku no kamera."
- ↑ Older example shown here, later example shown by Hagiya, pp.160–61.
- ↑ Both advertisements are reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.125.
- ↑ Hagiya, p.162.
- ↑ Picture in Hagiya, p.166 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari. Kano Masayuki: p.162 of the same source.
- ↑ Hagiya, p.167 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari.
- ↑ Hagiya, p.167 of Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari.
Sources / further reading
- 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 436–7, 1141.
- Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Ōfuna Kōgaku no kamera: Kamera kara kōgaku heiki e" (大船光学のカメラ:カメラから光学兵器へ, The cameras of Ōfuna Kōgaku: From cameras to military optics). Chapter 8 of Zunō kamera tanjō: Sengo kokusan kamera jū monogatari (ズノーカメラ誕生:戦後国産カメラ10物語, The birth of the Zunow camera: Ten stories of postwar Japanese camera makers). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 1999. ISBN 4-257-12023-1. Originally published in 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.39, September 1996. ISBN 4-257-13007-5. Modan kurashikku renzu-hen (特集:モダンクラシックレンズ編, Modern classic lenses)..
Links
In Japanese:
- Ofuna Six (very early version) at Kamera no heya
- Ofuna Six (early version) in a page of the All Japan Classic Camera Club. The photograph shows four folders with non-coupled rangefinders; clockwise from top left these are: Ofuna Six, Zenobia, Sisley 1 and Balm Six.
- Ofuna Six (Copal shutter) at Doraku Oyaji no Kamera Koheya
- Advertisement for the Ofuna Six and Ofunaflex dated 1954, reproduced in Shashin-Bako
Ōfuna cameras ( ) | |||||
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Herlight | Ofunaflex | Ofuna Six |