Difference between revisions of "Roll Light Ref"

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(extensive rework, classified as a pseudo TLR (changed my mind) but some mysteries remain)
m (other layout, not great but not worse)
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It seems that focusing is done by a lever protruding from the side of the front standard and actioned by the user's left hand, while the shutter release is directly mounted on the shutter housing. It also seems that the taking lens and shutter assembly is attached to the front standard and that the whole plate moves back and forth when focusing. It looks like a hole is cut around the viewing lens, thus the latter would be attached to the body and would not be used for focusing, making the camera a [[pseudo TLR]]. However no distance scale is visible and it is unclear how focusing is controlled. An original leaflet<REF> Undated Ōhashi leaflet, presenting the Ōhashi range. </REF> clearly states that the camera has helical focusing (ヘリコイド), as opposed to front-cell focusing.
 
It seems that focusing is done by a lever protruding from the side of the front standard and actioned by the user's left hand, while the shutter release is directly mounted on the shutter housing. It also seems that the taking lens and shutter assembly is attached to the front standard and that the whole plate moves back and forth when focusing. It looks like a hole is cut around the viewing lens, thus the latter would be attached to the body and would not be used for focusing, making the camera a [[pseudo TLR]]. However no distance scale is visible and it is unclear how focusing is controlled. An original leaflet<REF> Undated Ōhashi leaflet, presenting the Ōhashi range. </REF> clearly states that the camera has helical focusing (ヘリコイド), as opposed to front-cell focusing.
  
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99204584@N00/314168389/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/118/314168389_2ec244bc47_m_d.jpg]
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99204584@N00/315848694/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/118/315848694_9867e4d407_m_d.jpg]
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<br />''Roll Light Ref in a Ōhashi leaflet''
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<br />''and mention of the 50% clearance sale. {{fair use}}''
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This version is pictured in an advertisement dated April 1937<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;100. </REF> and in an undated leaflet by [[Ōhashi]]<REF> Undated Ōhashi leaflet, presenting the Ōhashi range. </REF> (reproduced in this page). In the advertisement, the Roll Light Ref is offered in three variants:
 
This version is pictured in an advertisement dated April 1937<REF> Advertisement published in ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;100. </REF> and in an undated leaflet by [[Ōhashi]]<REF> Undated Ōhashi leaflet, presenting the Ōhashi range. </REF> (reproduced in this page). In the advertisement, the Roll Light Ref is offered in three variants:
 
* Genira Special f/6.3 lens, Genira shutter, 25, 50, 100, B speeds ({{yen|25|1937}});
 
* Genira Special f/6.3 lens, Genira shutter, 25, 50, 100, B speeds ({{yen|25|1937}});
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* Genira Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Light B shutter, 5&ndash;250, T, B speeds ({{yen|49|1937}}).
 
* Genira Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Light B shutter, 5&ndash;250, T, B speeds ({{yen|49|1937}}).
  
<div class="floatright plainlinks" style="text-align: center;">
 
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99204584@N00/314168389/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/118/314168389_2ec244bc47_m_d.jpg]
 
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/99204584@N00/315848694/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/118/315848694_9867e4d407_m_d.jpg]
 
<br />''Roll Light Ref in a Ōhashi leaflet''
 
<br />''and mention of the 50% clearance sale. {{fair use}}''
 
</div>
 
 
The leaflet only mentions the first two, and it also says that the company was clearing the stocks and applying a 50% discount to the [[Baby Light]] and Roll Light Ref. In both documents, the advertising pictures show the variant with f/6.3 lens. The shutter plate is marked ''GENIRA&ndash;SHUTTER'' at the top and ''OKS'' at the bottom.<REF> The same markings are visible on the version of the [[Baby Light]] pictured in the same documents. </REF> ("OKS" probably stands for <U>O</U>hashi <U>K</U>oki <U>S</U>eisakusho.)
 
The leaflet only mentions the first two, and it also says that the company was clearing the stocks and applying a 50% discount to the [[Baby Light]] and Roll Light Ref. In both documents, the advertising pictures show the variant with f/6.3 lens. The shutter plate is marked ''GENIRA&ndash;SHUTTER'' at the top and ''OKS'' at the bottom.<REF> The same markings are visible on the version of the [[Baby Light]] pictured in the same documents. </REF> ("OKS" probably stands for <U>O</U>hashi <U>K</U>oki <U>S</U>eisakusho.)
  

Revision as of 22:23, 6 December 2006

Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
Semi Ace | Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Semi Ako | Ami | Bakyna | Semi Chrome | Semi Clover | Collex | Semi Condor | Semi Dymos | Semi Elega | Semi First | Auto Semi First | Baby Semi First | Gaica | Semi Gelto | Semi Germa | Hansa Semi Rollette | Heil | Hokoku | Hope | Kadera | Kankyu | Kelly | Kiko Semi | Semi Kinka | Semi Konter | Semi Kreis | Semi Kulax | Semi Lead | Semi Leotax | Semi Lester | Loyal | Semi Lucky | Semi Lyra | Semi Makinet | Semi Metax | Semi Minolta (I) and II | Auto Semi Minolta | Semi Miss | Mizuho | Semi Mulber | Semi National | New Gold | Okaco | Oko Semi | Semi Olympus | Semi Olympus II | Semi Osamo | Semi Pearl | Primo | Semi Prince | Semi Proud | Semi Prux | Roavic | Semi Rody | Rondex | Semi Rosen | Semi Rotte | Seica | Seves | Semi Shiks | Sintax | Semi Sixteenth | Semi Solon | Semi Sport | Star Semi | Semi-Tex | Tsubasa Kiko Three | Tsubasa Nettar | Tsubasa Super Semi | Ugein | Vester-Lette | Victor | Waltax | Wester | Zeitax
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Semi Elka | Semi Keef | Napoleon
Postwar models ->
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo ->
Japanese 3×4, 4×4, 4×5, 4×6.5, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Roll Light Ref (ロールライトレフ) is a Japanese 4.5×6 camera shaped like a TLR, made by Ōhashi Kōki Seisakusho in 1937.[1] It is called Roll Light Ref in advertising documents but the camera itself is only marked "Roll Light".

Description

The Roll Light Ref has a metal body, with a large hexagonal front plate, meant to look like the first model of the Ikoflex. There is an advance knob on the top right of the body and three other knobs holding the film spools on both ends. The camera body seems to have some similarity with the Union Ref and Hansa Rollette Ref, but it is difficult to say more without a closer examination of both cameras.

Two versions of the camera have been observed. McKeown distinguishes them by the lens aperture (f/6.3 and f/4.5) but it is not sure that this is the correct distinguishing feature. It also says in both cases that the viewing lens is fixed and is not used for focusing.[2]

First version

In the first version[3], the nameplate is written Roll Light and is partly hidden by the hexagonal front standard, and the viewing hood has an X-shaped rib.

It seems that focusing is done by a lever protruding from the side of the front standard and actioned by the user's left hand, while the shutter release is directly mounted on the shutter housing. It also seems that the taking lens and shutter assembly is attached to the front standard and that the whole plate moves back and forth when focusing. It looks like a hole is cut around the viewing lens, thus the latter would be attached to the body and would not be used for focusing, making the camera a pseudo TLR. However no distance scale is visible and it is unclear how focusing is controlled. An original leaflet[4] clearly states that the camera has helical focusing (ヘリコイド), as opposed to front-cell focusing.

This version is pictured in an advertisement dated April 1937[5] and in an undated leaflet by Ōhashi[6] (reproduced in this page). In the advertisement, the Roll Light Ref is offered in three variants:

  • Genira Special f/6.3 lens, Genira shutter, 25, 50, 100, B speeds (¥25);
  • Genira Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Light C shutter, 25, 50, 100, T, B speeds (¥43);
  • Genira Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Light B shutter, 5–250, T, B speeds (¥49).

The leaflet only mentions the first two, and it also says that the company was clearing the stocks and applying a 50% discount to the Baby Light and Roll Light Ref. In both documents, the advertising pictures show the variant with f/6.3 lens. The shutter plate is marked GENIRA–SHUTTER at the top and OKS at the bottom.[7] ("OKS" probably stands for Ohashi Koki Seisakusho.)

One example of this version has been observed, again with the f/6.3 lens.[8] It is similar to the advertising pictures, except that the shutter has a T setting and that the shutter plate has a white rim and is only marked GENIRA at the top.

Second version

The second version[9] has a nameplate marked ROLL LIGHT in capital letters and shaped differently so that the marking is always visible. The viewing hood is different too and has a square portion that is slightly higher than the rest.

It seems that the hexagonal front standard is fixed and that only the taking lens and shutter assembly is moved for focusing.

This version is pictured in this page of the JCII collection. The shutter plate seems to be marked GELMER. It probabaly corresponds to the variant mentioned with a Gelmer[10] Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens mounted on a Gelmer T, B, 25–150 shutter by various sources.[11]

It is not known if this version corresponds to the f/4.5 lens equipment mentioned in the advertisements or if it is a chronologically later model.

Notes

  1. Date: advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342.
  2. McKeown, p. 743.
  3. It is called "Roll Light (f6.3)" in McKeown, p. 743.
  4. Undated Ōhashi leaflet, presenting the Ōhashi range.
  5. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 100.
  6. Undated Ōhashi leaflet, presenting the Ōhashi range.
  7. The same markings are visible on the version of the Baby Light pictured in the same documents.
  8. For sale by a Japanese dealer.
  9. It is called "Roll Light (f4.5)" in McKeown, p. 743.
  10. There are Gelmer filters sold by Eikō-Dō, and the name is perhaps related.
  11. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 342, says that this combination appears in the book Kamera Zukan, by Sugiyama and Naoi. McKeown, p. 743, also gives the same lens and shutter equipment, probably after Sugiyama.

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 289.
  • Leaflet published by Ōhashi Takeji Shōten, presenting the Hope, Seves, Baby Light, Roll Light Ref, Bosch enlarging lens, Cross filters and Riken hood. Date not indicated.
  • 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. 54 (brief mention only).
  • 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. 743.

Links