Petal

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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 6mm diameter round pictures on a 25mm diameter film disc, contained in a special circular cassette. The light-tight cassette is made of two parts: the rear part unscrews, revealing the factory-loaded film stock and paper shims, and the front part contains a spring-loaded dark slide, which opens only when the cassette is secured inside the camera.

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 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.

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).
• 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.
• 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

In English:

• Petal and instruction manual at Submin.com
• Petal and variations among miscellaneous subminiature cameras at Subclub.org
• Past auctions by Westlicht Photographica Auction:
  • Evarax A, lot no.666 of auction no.3 (May 24, 2003)
  • Petal (round), lot no.605 of auction no.4 (November 22, 2003)
  • Sakura Petal (octagonal), lot no.666 of auction no.9 (May 20, 2006)
  • Sakura Petal (octagonal), lot no.741 of auction no.7 (May 21, 2005)
  • Petal (round), lot no.667 of auction no.11 (May 26, 2007)
• Petal in Nigel Richards' website

Film and picture dimensions: Sugiyama, item 5110.

Lens features: Sugiyama, items 5110–1.