Difference between revisions of "Pearl (6×9 self-erecting)"

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(-- and there's more to add besides, but the "real world" beckons)
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The '''Pearl 2''', released in 1923, is for 6&times;9cm on 120 film, and was the first Japanese camera sold for roll film only. At first it was supplied with a lens and shutter from [[Wollensak]]; alternatives were available later. An improved model, sold from 1930, is made of metal rather than wood, provides for 4.5&times;6 as well as 6&times;9 exposures, and has a wire frame finder hinged on the lens assembly, with the eyepiece on the body itself.<ref>''Konika-Minoruta-ten,'' pp.&nbsp;5&ndash;6.</ref>
 
The '''Pearl 2''', released in 1923, is for 6&times;9cm on 120 film, and was the first Japanese camera sold for roll film only. At first it was supplied with a lens and shutter from [[Wollensak]]; alternatives were available later. An improved model, sold from 1930, is made of metal rather than wood, provides for 4.5&times;6 as well as 6&times;9 exposures, and has a wire frame finder hinged on the lens assembly, with the eyepiece on the body itself.<ref>''Konika-Minoruta-ten,'' pp.&nbsp;5&ndash;6.</ref>
  
The '''Year-Eight Pearl'''<ref>This is Camerapedia's nonce translation of 8年型パール, ''hachinen-gata Pāru''; named after year 8 of Shōwa, i.e. 1933.</ref> (1933) is a folder with a self-erecting lens: the bellows open and the lens board springs forward when the front is opened. It thus appears to be a copy of the Zeiss Ikonta of 1929; however, focusing moves the entire lens assembly, mounted on a helical, and not merely the frontmost element. There is a folding frame finder on the body and a brilliant finder on the shutter housing. The lens is an f/6.3 or f/4.5 ザイオン (later, オプター). There was the choice between two Konishiroku shutters, both with two blades and having a dial under the brilliant finder: an Apus shutter (copy of the German Vario; T, B, 25, 50, 100) or a ゼウス shutter (copy of the German イブソール; T, B, 1&ndash;2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 125).<ref>''Konika-Minoruta-ten,'' p.&nbsp;6; Tanaka, p.&nbsp;58.</ref>
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The '''Year-Eight Pearl'''<ref>This is Camerapedia's nonce translation of 8年型パール, ''hachinen-gata Pāru''; named after year 8 of Shōwa, i.e. 1933.</ref> (1933) is a folder with a self-erecting lens: the bellows open and the lens board springs forward when the front is opened. It thus appears to be a copy of the Zeiss Ikonta of 1929; however, focusing moves the entire lens assembly, mounted on a helical, and not merely the frontmost element. There is a folding frame finder on the body and a brilliant finder on the shutter housing. The lens is an f/6.3 or f/4.5 Zion (later, Optor) by Asahi K&#333;gaku. There was the choice between two Konishiroku shutters, both with two blades and having a dial under the brilliant finder: an Apus shutter (copy of the German Vario; T, B, 25, 50, 100) or a ゼウス shutter (copy of the German イブソール; T, B, 1&ndash;2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 125).<ref>''Konika-Minoruta-ten,'' p.&nbsp;6; Tanaka, p.&nbsp;58.</ref>
  
 
The '''Pearl with rangefinder'''<ref>In Japanese, the camera is referred to as ''kyorikei-tsuki Pāru'' (距離計つきパール).</ref> (1936) moves the folding frame finder to the far left (as seen by the photographer), above the hinge, thereby making space for a separate, horizontal rangefinder, attached via an accessory shoe. The "Sakura" brand rangefinder that was supplied is a device of high quality, with a baselength of 60mm.<ref>Tanaka, p.&nbsp;58.</ref>
 
The '''Pearl with rangefinder'''<ref>In Japanese, the camera is referred to as ''kyorikei-tsuki Pāru'' (距離計つきパール).</ref> (1936) moves the folding frame finder to the far left (as seen by the photographer), above the hinge, thereby making space for a separate, horizontal rangefinder, attached via an accessory shoe. The "Sakura" brand rangefinder that was supplied is a device of high quality, with a baselength of 60mm.<ref>Tanaka, p.&nbsp;58.</ref>
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<references />
 
<references />
  
==Sources==
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==Sources and further reading==
 +
In Japanese:
 +
* Inoue Yasuo (井上康夫).  古典名玉を探そう: 8年型パール・オプター10.5cmF4.5. (Article on the Year-Eight Pearl.) ''Shashin K&#333;gy&#333;'' March 2005. <!-- Not seen. Source for this info: http://www.shashinkogyo.co.jp/sk-teiki/sk-kako/sk-2005/0503sk-m.html -->
 
* ''Konika-Minoruta-ten'' (コニカミノルタ展, Konica-Minolta Exhibition). Exhibition catalogue. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2005.
 
* ''Konika-Minoruta-ten'' (コニカミノルタ展, Konica-Minolta Exhibition). Exhibition catalogue. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2005.
 
* Tanaka (田中政雄). "Nihon no supringu-kamera: Konishiroku" (日本のスプリングカメラ Konishiroku,<!-- Yes, the name is written in roomazi --> The spring cameras of Japan: Konishiroku). ''Kamera Reby&#363; Bessatsu: Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' (''All about Historical Cameras''),<!-- Yes, it has an English-language alternative title; later issues I have seen do not. --> Autumn 1986, 58&ndash;61.
 
* Tanaka (田中政雄). "Nihon no supringu-kamera: Konishiroku" (日本のスプリングカメラ Konishiroku,<!-- Yes, the name is written in roomazi --> The spring cameras of Japan: Konishiroku). ''Kamera Reby&#363; Bessatsu: Kurashikku Kamera Senka'' (''All about Historical Cameras''),<!-- Yes, it has an English-language alternative title; later issues I have seen do not. --> Autumn 1986, 58&ndash;61.
 +
 +
==Links==
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* [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/hexar00.htm www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/hexar00.htm]
 +
* [http://www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/hexar0.htm www2f.biglobe.ne.jp/~ter-1212/sakura/hexar0.htm] <!-- to be digested! -->
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* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371032&APage=4 Improved Pearl 2]
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* [http://sts.kahaku.go.jp/sts/detail.php?id=1033&key=103310371035&APage=4 Year-Eight Pearl]
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[[Category: 6x9 viewfinder folding]]
 
[[Category: 6x9 viewfinder folding]]

Revision as of 11:21, 3 July 2006

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The name Pearl was given by Konishi and Konishiroku (the later Konica) to many models of rollfilm folders.[1] See also Pearl (4.5×6 folders).

The original Pearl, released in 1909, is for tefuda format plates and 118 film. There is only a brilliant finder perched on the front of the lens. Various lenses and shutters were available for it.[2]

The Pearl 2, released in 1923, is for 6×9cm on 120 film, and was the first Japanese camera sold for roll film only. At first it was supplied with a lens and shutter from Wollensak; alternatives were available later. An improved model, sold from 1930, is made of metal rather than wood, provides for 4.5×6 as well as 6×9 exposures, and has a wire frame finder hinged on the lens assembly, with the eyepiece on the body itself.[3]

The Year-Eight Pearl[4] (1933) is a folder with a self-erecting lens: the bellows open and the lens board springs forward when the front is opened. It thus appears to be a copy of the Zeiss Ikonta of 1929; however, focusing moves the entire lens assembly, mounted on a helical, and not merely the frontmost element. There is a folding frame finder on the body and a brilliant finder on the shutter housing. The lens is an f/6.3 or f/4.5 Zion (later, Optor) by Asahi Kōgaku. There was the choice between two Konishiroku shutters, both with two blades and having a dial under the brilliant finder: an Apus shutter (copy of the German Vario; T, B, 25, 50, 100) or a ゼウス shutter (copy of the German イブソール; T, B, 1–2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 125).[5]

The Pearl with rangefinder[6] (1936) moves the folding frame finder to the far left (as seen by the photographer), above the hinge, thereby making space for a separate, horizontal rangefinder, attached via an accessory shoe. The "Sakura" brand rangefinder that was supplied is a device of high quality, with a baselength of 60mm.[7]

Notes

  1. "Pearl" is written in roman script on most or all of these models. In Japanese, the line was and is called Pāru (i.e. the English word "Pearl" fitted into Japanese phonology): the Japanese word for "pearl" is shinju, but this does not seem ever to have been applied to the camera.
  2. Konika-Minoruta-ten, p. 5.
  3. Konika-Minoruta-ten, pp. 5–6.
  4. This is Camerapedia's nonce translation of 8年型パール, hachinen-gata Pāru; named after year 8 of Shōwa, i.e. 1933.
  5. Konika-Minoruta-ten, p. 6; Tanaka, p. 58.
  6. In Japanese, the camera is referred to as kyorikei-tsuki Pāru (距離計つきパール).
  7. Tanaka, p. 58.

Sources and further reading

In Japanese:

  • Inoue Yasuo (井上康夫). 古典名玉を探そう: 8年型パール・オプター10.5cmF4.5. (Article on the Year-Eight Pearl.) Shashin Kōgyō March 2005.
  • Konika-Minoruta-ten (コニカミノルタ展, Konica-Minolta Exhibition). Exhibition catalogue. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2005.
  • Tanaka (田中政雄). "Nihon no supringu-kamera: Konishiroku" (日本のスプリングカメラ Konishiroku, The spring cameras of Japan: Konishiroku). Kamera Rebyū Bessatsu: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (All about Historical Cameras), Autumn 1986, 58–61.

Links