Orion Six
The Orion Six is a Japanese folding camera with an uncoupled rangefinder, taking both 6×6cm and 4.5×6cm exposures.
Origin
The Orion Six was certainly made in the mid-1950s, but its manufacturer and release date are unknown. No original article or advertisement about the camera are reported. The name "Orion" might be related to the manufacturer Orion Seiki, predecessor of Miranda, but this is a mere guess.
Description
The Orion Six has a horizontal folding body with smoothly tapered edges. The folding struts are inspired by those of the 6×6 Ikonta. The viewfinder and uncoupled rangefinder are contained in the top housing. The common eyepiece is offset to the left, as seen by the photographer, and the rectangular second-image window is on the right. The rangefinder is controlled by a wheel falling under the right thumb. There are translucid strips on both sides of the viewfinder, indicating the field of view for 4.5×6cm exposures. There is an accessory shoe on the right of the viewfinder. The name Orion Six is engraved above the view and rangefinder, and the body serial number and model name are engraved above the viewfinder eyepiece.
The film is advanced by a knob at the left end of the top plate, and the advance is controlled by red windows. There is a film flange on the right end of the top plate, and the shutter release is placed next to it. The back is hinged to the right. The folding bed is opened by a sliding button at the top of the front door itself.
The shutter is a synchronized TSK (B, 1–200, self-timer). The lens is a Rhythner 75mm f/3.2, engraved RHYTHNER LENS.
Surviving examples
Three surviving examples are known. One is reported as an "Orion Six Model RII", perhaps by mistake; it perhaps has an ASA synch post.[1] The other two have a PC synch post and are Orion Six Model RIII.[2] One of them is confirmed to have MODEL RIII above the viewfinder eyepiece, and has body no.7361 and lens no.62254.
Bibliography
- 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 1380.
The Orion Six is not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
Links
In Japanese:
- Orion Six in a page of sold-out cameras at Koujiya