Orion Six
The Orion Six is a Japanese folding camera with an uncoupled rangefinder, taking both 6×6cm and 4.5×6cm exposures. It was made by Orion Seiki (predecessor of Miranda), certainly in the mid-1950s.[1]
General 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 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. 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 Orion Six RIII
The Orion Six RIII has an uncoupled rangefinder, controlled by a wheel falling under the right thumb. The name Orion Six is engraved above the view and rangefinder, and the body serial number and model name MODEL RIII are engraved above the viewfinder eyepiece.
The shutter is a synchronized TSK (B, 1–200, self-timer). The lens is a Rhythner 75mm f/3.2, engraved RHYTHNER LENS.
Various surviving examples are known, with a PC synch post.[2] The known body numbers are 7361 and 7482, probably indicating that at least a few hundred units were made.
One similar example has been reported as an "Orion Six Model RII", perhaps by mistake; it perhaps has an ASA synch post.[3]
The Orion 66 Super S
Bibliography
- Furukawa Haruo (古川保男). "Orion 66 Super S: 'Naka kara patto hakuen ha denakatta'" (Orion 66 Super S・'中からパッと白煙は出なかった', Orion 66 Super S: 'no white smoke is coming out of it'). In Camera Collectors' News no.263 (May 1999). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. Pp.5–7.
- 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