Difference between revisions of "Pearl (I), II and III"
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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 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 viewfinder-only Semi Pearl == | ||
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 Optor 75mm f/4.5 lens (by [[Pentax|Asahi Kōgaku]]) and an Apus shutter (B, T, 10–100), another a Hexar 75mm f/4.5 lens and a Durax shutter (B, T, 1–100).<ref>Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 60.</ref> | 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 Optor 75mm f/4.5 lens (by [[Pentax|Asahi Kōgaku]]) and an Apus shutter (B, T, 10–100), another a Hexar 75mm f/4.5 lens and a Durax shutter (B, T, 1–100).<ref>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 Optor 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 Optor 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> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Pearl I, with rangefinder== | ||
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''' (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> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Pearl II and III, with coupled rangefinder == | ||
The '''Pearl II''' (1952) is based on the I RS but the rangefinder is coupled. There is a depth-of-field knob where the earlier camera had a focusing knob for the rangefinder. In addition to the f/4.5 Hexar, there is an f/3.5 Hexar option.<ref>Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", pp. 60–61.</ref> | The '''Pearl II''' (1952) is based on the I RS but the rangefinder is coupled. There is a depth-of-field knob where the earlier camera had a focusing knob for the rangefinder. In addition to the f/4.5 Hexar, there is an f/3.5 Hexar option.<ref>Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", pp. 60–61.</ref> | ||
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There are two later variants, which are also simply inscribed "Pearl III" and must be distinguished by looking at the name on the shutter. The '''Pearl IIIMX''' (1956) replaces the Konirapid S with a Seikō-sha MX shutter. The advantage for the photographer is that this adds X synchronization for electronic flash, becoming popular at around this time. Tanaka points out that in a time of increased competition in the industry, companies such as Konishiroku that had previously been producing shutters for their own cameras found it more economical to buy them in from either Seikō-sha or Copal.<ref>Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 61.</ref> The '''Pearl IIIL''' (1957) has two further innovations: a Seikō-sha MXL shutter, using the light-value system (whereby changing among the various aperture–speed combinations that result in the same exposure does not need separate adjustments of aperture and speed but instead can be effected by a single twist of both rings ''together''<!-- but this ought to be in the glossary -->), and a new amber coating for the lens.<ref>Miyazaki, ''Konika kamera no 50nen,'' p. 129; Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 61.</ref> | There are two later variants, which are also simply inscribed "Pearl III" and must be distinguished by looking at the name on the shutter. The '''Pearl IIIMX''' (1956) replaces the Konirapid S with a Seikō-sha MX shutter. The advantage for the photographer is that this adds X synchronization for electronic flash, becoming popular at around this time. Tanaka points out that in a time of increased competition in the industry, companies such as Konishiroku that had previously been producing shutters for their own cameras found it more economical to buy them in from either Seikō-sha or Copal.<ref>Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 61.</ref> The '''Pearl IIIL''' (1957) has two further innovations: a Seikō-sha MXL shutter, using the light-value system (whereby changing among the various aperture–speed combinations that result in the same exposure does not need separate adjustments of aperture and speed but instead can be effected by a single twist of both rings ''together''<!-- but this ought to be in the glossary -->), and a new amber coating for the lens.<ref>Miyazaki, ''Konika kamera no 50nen,'' p. 129; Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 61.</ref> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Pearl IV, with parallax correction == | ||
The '''Pearl IV''' (1958) has a completely different diecast body and a very advanced projected frame finder with automatic parallax correction. | The '''Pearl IV''' (1958) has a completely different diecast body and a very advanced projected frame finder with automatic parallax correction. |
Revision as of 10:02, 12 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.
Contents
The viewfinder-only Semi Pearl
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 Optor 75mm f/4.5 lens (by Asahi Kōgaku) 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 Optor 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]
Pearl I, with rangefinder
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]
Pearl II and III, with coupled rangefinder
The Pearl II (1952) is based on the I RS but the rangefinder is coupled. There is a depth-of-field knob where the earlier camera had a focusing knob for the rangefinder. In addition to the f/4.5 Hexar, there is an f/3.5 Hexar option.[5]
In response to increasing competition from 35mm cameras, the Pearl IIB was released in April 1955 as a cheaper (¥23,500) alternative to the II (¥30,150). It retains the f/3.5 Hexar lens but has a Durax shutter (top speed 400) and lacks the depth-of-field scale. It has one innovation: a PC rather than Kodak flash terminal.[6]
The Pearl III (December 1955) adds "semi-automatic" (auto-stop) film advance: once the "start" line on the backup paper is lined up with a dot on the film rail, the camera calculates how far the photographer may wind the film before each exposure. The red window accordingly disappears from the film back. The III also substitutes a film-reminder dial (color, panchromatic, etc., as well as speed) for the depth-of-field dial of the II. It retains the Hexar f/3.5 lens and Konirapid S shutter of the II (although Miyazaki says that a small number are fitted with Konitar lenses), but has the PC flash terminal of the IIB. A concave lever is added to the focusing dial.[7]
There are two later variants, which are also simply inscribed "Pearl III" and must be distinguished by looking at the name on the shutter. The Pearl IIIMX (1956) replaces the Konirapid S with a Seikō-sha MX shutter. The advantage for the photographer is that this adds X synchronization for electronic flash, becoming popular at around this time. Tanaka points out that in a time of increased competition in the industry, companies such as Konishiroku that had previously been producing shutters for their own cameras found it more economical to buy them in from either Seikō-sha or Copal.[8] The Pearl IIIL (1957) has two further innovations: a Seikō-sha MXL shutter, using the light-value system (whereby changing among the various aperture–speed combinations that result in the same exposure does not need separate adjustments of aperture and speed but instead can be effected by a single twist of both rings together), and a new amber coating for the lens.[9]
Pearl IV, with parallax correction
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.
- ↑ Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", pp. 60–61.
- ↑ Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", pp. 60–61.
- ↑ Miyazaki, Konika kamera no 50nen, p. 129; Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 61.
- ↑ Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 61.
- ↑ Miyazaki, Konika kamera no 50nen, p. 129; Tanaka, "Nihon no supuringu-kamera: Konishiroku", p. 61.
Sources and further reading
In Japanese:
- Konika-Minoruta-ten (コニカミノルタ展, Konica Minolta exhibition). Exhibition catalogue. Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 2005.
- Konishiroku Kamera no Rekishi (小西六カメラの歴史, History of Konishiroku cameras), vol. 10 (Autumn 1985 issue) of Kamera Rebyū Bessatsu: Kurashikku Kamera Senka / All about Historical Cameras.
- 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 Masao (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.
Links
In English:
- Konishiroku (Konica) Pearl I & II by Anthony, aka antjam65, at his photo website: on the Pearl I RS and II
- Pearl IIB and IV at The Classic Camera
In Japanese:
- Semi Pearl within a Konica page at Sarusuberi
- Semi Pearl overhaul at Handmade and Classic Camera
- Pearl I at Kitamura camera museum
- Pearl I at Yukara's site
- Restoration of a Pearl I RS at Kan's Room
- Pearl II at this blog
- Pearl II, III and IV within a Konishiroku page at Yume o hakobu shashinki
- Pearl II (with sample photos) at Puppy's Island
- Restoration of a Pearl II at Shiroto shashinki shūri kōbō
- Pearl III at Gacha's Box
- Pearl III (photo and short comment only) at Kurakame to dejikame monokuro
- Restoration and sample photos from a Pearl III at Shiroto shashinki shūri kōbō