Picny

Template:127 Japan The Picny was a 3x4 camera, introduced in 1935 by a Japanese company called Miyagawa Seisakusho.

Its general aspect was similar to the later Gelto, but with a more rounded body. The lens and shutter assembly was collapsible, mounted on a helical, focusing down to 1/3 meter. On the top plate there was an advance knob, a key to open the camera, a tubular optical finder and a round part that could hold a filter. Film loading was by the top plate, in the same spirit as the bottom loading of the Leica screw models. There were two red windows in the back to control the film advance. A serial number was engraved in a round part on the bottom plate.

The shutter was unmarked, of the cocking type, with T-B-25-50-75-100 speeds, and the lens was a Picny anastigmat 40/4.5.

The Picny existed in both chrome and black versions. From what has been observed, it seems that the chrome version added a soft shutter release, and that the cocking and release buttons differed slightly. It is probable that the chrome version was later.

There are 1937 and 1938 ads for the Picny published on this page (from the 24/3/1937 and 2/2/1938 issues of Asahi Graph). In both ads the Picny was offered in black finish. In 1937 the price was 48.80 yen, case included, and a lens hood was offered for 1.20 yen. In 1938 the price was 58 yen, case not included, and more accessories were offered: a lens cap for 0.20 yen, a filter holder for 1.20 yen, a lens hood for 1.50 yen, a case for 3.60 yen, something related to the case for 0.35 yen and an album (?) for 1.50 yen.

In both ads the name Miyagawa did not appear. The distributor's name is hard to read: 三？寫眞機賣場 (?? Shashinki Uriba, with old kanji forms, means ?? Camera Shop).

Links

• The Picny page at the Mediajoy Classic Camera website, follow the "Next" links to have an illustrated operating manual
• A Picny at Kamada Tetsuya's blog
• The Picny in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
• Old Japanese ads, including the Picny