Difference between revisions of "Petal"

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== General description ==
 
== General description ==
The Petal has a round or octagonal main body. It takes round pictures, 6mm in diameter,<REF> Film size is reported as 6mm in {{SUG}}, item 5110, and in [http://www.submin.com/disc/collection/petal/index.htm this page at Submin.com]; it is reported as 5mm in Lewis, p.64. </REF> on a round film disc, 25mm in diameter,<REF> Film size is reported as 25mm in {{SUG}}, item 5110, and in [http://www.submin.com/disc/collection/petal/index.htm this page at Submin.com]; it is reported as 24mm in Lewis, p.64. </REF> contained in a special circular cassette.
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The Petal has a round or octagonal main body. It takes round pictures, 6mm in diameter,<REF> Picture size is reported as 6mm in {{SUG}}, item 5110, and in [http://www.submin.com/disc/collection/petal/index.htm this page at Submin.com]; it is reported as 5mm in Lewis, p.64. </REF> on a round film disc, 25mm in diameter,<REF> Film size is reported as 25mm in {{SUG}}, item 5110, and in [http://www.submin.com/disc/collection/petal/index.htm this page at Submin.com]; it is reported as 24mm in Lewis, p.64. </REF> contained in a special circular cassette.
  
 
The light-tight film cassette is made of two parts: the rear part unscrews, revealing the film stock and factory-loaded paper shims, and the front part contains a spring-loaded dark slide, which opens only when the cassette is secured inside the camera. Preloaded cassettes were sold as "Petal film",<REF> Original boxes for "Petal film" are pictured in Pritchard, p.55, and in [http://members.tripod.com/Nigel_Richards/Submin/petal.htm this page by Nigel Richards]. </REF> and new film discs can be cut in the darkroom from standard [[35mm film]] — it is said that a special film cutter was sold to that purpose.<REF> Film cutter: [http://www.submin.com/disc/collection/petal/index.htm this page at Submin.com]. </REF>
 
The light-tight film cassette is made of two parts: the rear part unscrews, revealing the film stock and factory-loaded paper shims, and the front part contains a spring-loaded dark slide, which opens only when the cassette is secured inside the camera. Preloaded cassettes were sold as "Petal film",<REF> Original boxes for "Petal film" are pictured in Pritchard, p.55, and in [http://members.tripod.com/Nigel_Richards/Submin/petal.htm this page by Nigel Richards]. </REF> and new film discs can be cut in the darkroom from standard [[35mm film]] — it is said that a special film cutter was sold to that purpose.<REF> Film cutter: [http://www.submin.com/disc/collection/petal/index.htm this page at Submin.com]. </REF>

Revision as of 09:12, 13 March 2010

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Japanese subminiature
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20mm film Guzzi | Mycroflex | Top
round film Evarax | Petal | Sakura Petal | Star
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cine film see Japanese cine film subminiature
110 film see Japanese 110 film

The Petal (ペタル) is a Japanese subminiature camera taking circular images on round film stock.

General description

The Petal has a round or octagonal main body. It takes round pictures, 6mm in diameter,[1] on a round film disc, 25mm in diameter,[2] contained in a special circular cassette.

The light-tight film cassette is made of two parts: the rear part unscrews, revealing the film stock and factory-loaded paper shims, and the front part contains a spring-loaded dark slide, which opens only when the cassette is secured inside the camera. Preloaded cassettes were sold as "Petal film",[3] and new film discs can be cut in the darkroom from standard 35mm film — it is said that a special film cutter was sold to that purpose.[4]

The Petal can take six exposures on one film disc. The rear part of the camera rotates to move the film from one exposure to the next; the available positions, numbered from 1 to 6, are secured by click-stops.

There is a tubular viewfinder at the top of the camera, showing a round image. The 12mm f/5.6 lens[5] is recessed in a hole in the camera's front plate, and has no aperture control. The shutter is tripped by pressing a button on the top right, as seen by the photographer. It is everset and only has bulb and instant settings, selected by a wheel at the front of the camera.

Versions

Two main versions of the camera were produced, distinguished by their round or octagonal shape.

The round Petal is engraved PETAL at the front, and has B and I shutter settings. The bottom part of the front plate is either engraved PATENTS or PATENTED — it is not known which of these markings was applied first.[6]

The Sakura Petal has an octagonal main body, a gear-shaped jagged part around the strap lug, and B and 25 indications for the shutter speed. The front plate is engraved SAKURA PETAL and PATENTS, in red and black or in red and middle blue. Variations have been observed in the size of the inscriptions and in the colour distribution.

Presumably early examples of the Sakura Petal have a nickel finish all around, and later ones have chrome plating on the main body, rear plate, speed dial and front half of the viewfinder, and nickel plating on the remaining parts. At least one example has been observed with a cherry blossom and a small flower branch engraved above the model name.[7]

The Evarax A is an uncommon name variant of the Sakura Petal. It is exactly similar, except for the engravings on the front plate: the name Evarax.A. is inscribed at the bottom in medium blue, immediately above the word PATENTS in red. There is a large stylized flower branch with a cherry blossom, in red and blue. The same two colours are used for the speed indications, with 25 in red and B in blue.

Commercial life and evolution

The Petal was introduced in 1947 or 1948.[8] It was reportedly available for $10 on the US market.[9]

It is likely that the first model was the round Petal. Various sources say that it was originally manufactured by a company called St. Peter Optical Company[10] — the Japanese name was Sei-Petero Kōgaku (聖ペテロ光学)[11] — but the origin of these claims is unknown.

Notes

  1. Picture size is reported as 6mm in Sugiyama, item 5110, and in this page at Submin.com; it is reported as 5mm in Lewis, p.64.
  2. Film size is reported as 25mm in Sugiyama, item 5110, and in this page at Submin.com; it is reported as 24mm in Lewis, p.64.
  3. Original boxes for "Petal film" are pictured in Pritchard, p.55, and in this page by Nigel Richards.
  4. Film cutter: this page at Submin.com.
  5. Lens features: Sugiyama, items 5110–1.
  6. According to Awano, p.2 of Camera Collectors' News no.247, some people suggest that PATENTS came first, while the patents were applied for, and was replaced by PATENTED after the patents were actually granted.
  7. Example observed in a past sale by Auction Team Breker.
  8. Pritchard, p.54, and this page at Submin.com say 1947. Sugiyama, item 5110, Lewis, p.64, and this page by Jerry Friedman at Submin.com, say 1948, perhaps corresponding to the release on the Japanese domestic market.
  9. This page at Submin.com.
  10. Pritchard, p.54, this page by Jerry Friedman at Submin.com.
  11. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.363.

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. Item 803 (see also the picture on p.15).
  • Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Petaru" (ペタル, Petal). In Camera Collectors' News no.247 (January 1998). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha.
  • Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.64.
  • 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.867.
  • Pritchard, Michael and St. Denny, Douglas. Spy Cameras — A century of detective and subminiature cameras. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1993. ISBN 1-874485-00-3. Pp.54–5.
  • 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. Items 5035 and 5110–2.

Links

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