Orion Coupler
The company Orion Seiki (predecessor of Miranda Camera) made a number of adapters and accessories in the 1950s.
The best known adapter allows to use Contax lenses or Nikon lenses on Leica screw mount cameras, with correct rangefinder coupling. It has both the internal and external bayonet mounts, and contains a focusing helical, like that attached to the Contax or Nikon body. Two versions exist, reproducing the different setting and helicoid pitch of the two cameras.
It is said that the early adapters made for Contax lenses have no marking, whether later ones, made after the release of the Nikon version, are marked accordingly.[1] Details of the minor variations are described in this page at Cameraquest, which also shows newer reproductions of these adapters, made from 2001 to 2004. It seems that the easier way to recognize an original Orion adapter from a modern reproduction is the presence of the helical threads visible on the side of the original model when focused at close distance.[1]
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| Advertisement by Matsushima in the June 1955 special issue of Photo Art. (Image rights). |
The above advertisement for the Mirax, Focabell and Supreme lenses, placed by the distributor Matsushima in the June 1955 special issue of Photo Art, lists the Contax or Nikon to Leica adapter, called "Coupler" (カプラー), for ¥6,600.[2] It incidentally shows that Orion was making many other adapters and accessories at the time:
- Leica screw lenses on C-mount cine cameras, ¥750;
- Leica screw lenses on D-mount cine cameras, ¥1,000;
- microscope adapter for Mirax, ¥3,500;
- microscope adapter for Exakta, ¥5,000;
- extension tube for Mirax, ¥2,000;
- extension tube for Exakta (set of five),[3] ¥5,850.
Notes
Bibliography
- Photo Art rinji zōkan: Kamera akusesarī zensho (フォトアート臨時増刊・カメラアクセサリー全書, Photo Art special issue: All the camera accessories). June 1955, no.80 of the magazine. Advertisement by the photo department of Matsushima Megane-ten on p.22.
Links
In English:
- Orion adapters at Cameraquest
- Orion adapter for Contax lenses among rare items at the Miranda Camera website
- Orion adapter for Nikon lenses on Leica screw mount: lot no.19 at January 28, 2007 auction by Tamarkin
