Difference between revisions of "Pearl (I), II and III"
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'''Postwar''' examples of the '''Semi Pearl''' are rare. Small-scale production was resumed between 1946 and 1948, largely from stocks of older parts. Perhaps because of difficulty in obtaining needed additional components, many of the postwar examples only have front-cell focusing. They also have slightly different finish. The earlier examples have Optar lenses, the later ones Hexar lenses. Miyazaki shows two examples, both with "SEMI PEARL" embossed on the leather (but in slightly different ways); the earlier one has front-cell focusing and a Hexar lens and Apus shutter both marked Rokuoh-sha; the later one has unit focusing and a Hexar lens and Durax shutter both marked Konishiroku.<ref>Miyazaki, ''Konika kamera no 50nen,'' p. 128; Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 60.</ref> | '''Postwar''' examples of the '''Semi Pearl''' are rare. Small-scale production was resumed between 1946 and 1948, largely from stocks of older parts. Perhaps because of difficulty in obtaining needed additional components, many of the postwar examples only have front-cell focusing. They also have slightly different finish. The earlier examples have Optar lenses, the later ones Hexar lenses. Miyazaki shows two examples, both with "SEMI PEARL" embossed on the leather (but in slightly different ways); the earlier one has front-cell focusing and a Hexar lens and Apus shutter both marked Rokuoh-sha; the later one has unit focusing and a Hexar lens and Durax shutter both marked Konishiroku.<ref>Miyazaki, ''Konika kamera no 50nen,'' p. 128; Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 60.</ref> | ||
| − | The '''Pearl I''' (1949) | + | The '''Pearl I''' (1949) has the same basic body as the Semi Pearl, with a top housing containing a viewfinder and an uncoupled rangefinder. Film advance is now by knob. It retains the Hexar–Durax combination of late examples of the Semi Pearl, but now the Hexar lens is coated. There is still no flash synchronization.<ref>Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 60. For this and subsequent models: ''Konika-Minoruta-ten,'' p. 8.</ref> Presumably "Semi" was dropped from the name in view of the unlikeliness of a revival of any 6×9 folder: the [[Pearl (6×9 and larger folders)|prewar 6×9 Pearl]] had been rather unusual among Japanese cameras even when new, and a modernized successor would probably have struck most photographers in 1949 as a bulky extravagance. |
The '''Pearl I RS''' (1950) has a Konirapid S shutter (B, 1–500) with Kodak-type flash synchronization. An accessory shoe is added at the top right of the camera (as seen by a photographer taking a "vertical" photograph).<ref>Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", pp. 60–61.</ref> | The '''Pearl I RS''' (1950) has a Konirapid S shutter (B, 1–500) with Kodak-type flash synchronization. An accessory shoe is added at the top right of the camera (as seen by a photographer taking a "vertical" photograph).<ref>Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", pp. 60–61.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 02:06, 10 July 2006
The name Pearl was given by Konishi and Konishiroku (the later Konica) to many models of rollfilm folders. Other articles deal with the Pearl (6×9 and larger folders), and the Baby Pearl and Pearlette cameras (both using 127 film); this one deals with the Semi Pearl and Pearl for 4.5×6cm.
The Semi Pearl of 1938 is a 4.5×6 folder copied from the Ikonta A, with curved folding struts, unit focusing, a folding optical finder, a shutter release on the door (parallel and close to the hinge), a key to advance the film (to the right, as seen by the photographer taking "vertical" photographs), and a strap along the edge of the camera next to the take-up spool. One version has an Optar 75mm f/4.5 lens (by Asahi) and an Apus shutter (B, T, 10–100), another a Hexar 75mm f/4.5 lens and a Durax shutter (B, T, 1–100).[1]
Postwar examples of the Semi Pearl are rare. Small-scale production was resumed between 1946 and 1948, largely from stocks of older parts. Perhaps because of difficulty in obtaining needed additional components, many of the postwar examples only have front-cell focusing. They also have slightly different finish. The earlier examples have Optar lenses, the later ones Hexar lenses. Miyazaki shows two examples, both with "SEMI PEARL" embossed on the leather (but in slightly different ways); the earlier one has front-cell focusing and a Hexar lens and Apus shutter both marked Rokuoh-sha; the later one has unit focusing and a Hexar lens and Durax shutter both marked Konishiroku.[2]
The Pearl I (1949) has the same basic body as the Semi Pearl, with a top housing containing a viewfinder and an uncoupled rangefinder. Film advance is now by knob. It retains the Hexar–Durax combination of late examples of the Semi Pearl, but now the Hexar lens is coated. There is still no flash synchronization.[3] Presumably "Semi" was dropped from the name in view of the unlikeliness of a revival of any 6×9 folder: the prewar 6×9 Pearl had been rather unusual among Japanese cameras even when new, and a modernized successor would probably have struck most photographers in 1949 as a bulky extravagance.
The Pearl I RS (1950) has a Konirapid S shutter (B, 1–500) with Kodak-type flash synchronization. An accessory shoe is added at the top right of the camera (as seen by a photographer taking a "vertical" photograph).[4]
The Pearl II (1950) is the same with a coupled rangefinder and an f/3.5 option.
The Pearl III (1955) adds auto-stop film advance, getting rid of the red window.
The Pearl IV (1958) has a completely different diecast body and a very advanced projected frame finder with automatic parallax correction.
Notes
- ↑ Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 60.
- ↑ Miyazaki, Konika kamera no 50nen, p. 128; Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 60.
- ↑ Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 60. For this and subsequent models: Konika-Minoruta-ten, p. 8.
- ↑ Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", pp. 60–61.
Sources
In Japanese:
- Konika-Minoruta-ten (コニカミノルタ展, Konica-Minolta Exhibition). Exhibition catalogue. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2005.
- Miyazaki Shigemoto (宮崎繁幹). Konika kamera no 50nen: Konika I-gata kara Hekisā RF e (コニカカメラの50年：コニカI型からヘキサーRFへ, Fifty years of Konica cameras: From the Konica I to the Hexar RF). Tokyo: Asahi Sonorama, 2003. ISBN 4-257-12038-X
- Tanaka (田中政雄). "Nihon no supuringu-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 (special issue on Supuringu Kamera [スプリングカメラ, spring cameras]), 58–61.
