Owla Stereo
The Owla Stereo (アウラステレオ) is a Japanese stereo camera taking pairs of 23×24mm exposures on 35mm film. It was first announced in 1956 by Sankei Kōki under the name Stereo Sankei (ステレオサンケイ), and was later made by Owla Kōki until the early 1960s.
Contents
General description
The camera has an all-metal body. The viewfinder window is contained in the middle of the top housing. The film is advanced by a knob at the right end of the top plate, as seen by the photographer, and the rewind knob is at the opposite end; arrows are engraved to indicate the turning direction. The shutter release is at its usual location on the right, and is surrounded by a small cup. The exposure counter is above the top housing, to the left of the viewfinder, and there is an accessory shoe on the right. The back is hinged to the right for film loading.
The lenses are contained in a metal casing with round edges, grafted to the front of the body. A sliding button is visible above this casing, certainly the shutter setting lever. The synch post is placed under the left-hand lens, and there is an F/X selector under the other lens. The speed and aperture are controlled by turning the lens rims: the left-hand lens rim has the aperture scale and the right-hand lens rim has B, 10–200 speed settings. The lenses are Owla Anastigmat 35/3.5.[1]
Evolution
Announced as the Stereo Sankei
The camera was announced as the Stereo Sankei (ステレオサンケイ) by Sankei Kōki in 1956. It was advertised in the February 1956 issue of Sankei Camera and featured in the March 1956 issue of the same magazine.[2] It is not known if there is a further relationship between the magazine Sankei Camera and the company Sankei Kōki.
In the February advertisement, the lenses are announced as three-element 35/3.5, the speeds are given as B, 10–200 and the price is ¥12,000.[3] The pictured camera is very similar to the first version of the Owla Stereo. It has a large knob between the two lenses, reportedly controlling the focusing distance.[4] It seems that the shutter is cocked by a lever placed between the focus knob and the right-hand lens. The marking at the front of the top housing only reads STEREO in small capital letters. It is said that the camera has auto-stop advance but no double exposure prevention;[5] it is not known if the Owla Stereo has the same features.
Released as the Owla Stereo
Second version of the Owla Stereo
Notes
- ↑ Lenses: Sugiyama, item 6037.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.388.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.252.
- ↑ Distance knob on the Stereo Sankei: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.388.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.388.
Bibliography
- 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 1089 and 1317.
- 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.770.
- Shima Kazuya (島和也). "Sutereo kamera onparēdo" (ステレオカメラオンパレード, Stereo cameras on parade). 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.27, December 1993. No ISBN number. Stereo World (ステレオワールド). Pp.21–5.
- 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 6037.
Links
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