Samocaflex 35
The Samocaflex 35 (サモカフレックス35) is a Japanese 35mm TLR made by Sanei Sangyō, later Samoca Camera from 1954 to 1957.
Contents
Description
The Samocaflex 35 is shaped as a conventional 35mm camera with a mirror box and viewing lens grafted above the taking lens. The film runs horizontally in a body made of black plastic. The advance knob is at the right end of the top plate, as seen by the photographer. It has an arrow indicating the turning direction and its base is surrounded by an exposure counter. Next to it are the rewind unlock lever and the shutter release, surrounded by a milled cup. The other end of the top plate has the rewind knob, again with an arrow, and an additional direct vision finder.
The viewing screen has a condenser and a stigmometer in the middle.[1] The viewing hood has a magnifying lens hinged to the back and the AAA logo of Sanei Sangyō at the front. The model name is engraved to the front of the mirror box, above the viewing lens. The body serial number is engraved above the direct vision finder.
The back is removable together with the bottom plate for film loading, and it is locked in place by two knobs at the bottom. The bottom plate also has a tripod thread and a pivoting arm allowing the camera to stand upright on a table.
The taking and viewing lenses are mounted together on a focusing helical, driven by a tab at the bottom left. The shutter cocking lever is coupled to the film advance via an external linkage, and the body release linkage is externally visible too. All the models have B, 1–500 speeds and a PC synch post.
The lens cap is made of black plastic, with the name FLEX SAMOCA 35 moulded on it.
The original Samocaflex 35
The original Samocaflex 35 has a Seikosha-Rapid shutter. It was already featured in the August-September 1954 issue of Ars Camera, and was first advertised in January 1955.[2]
In the February 1955 advertisement in Asahi Camera,[3] the lenses are called C Samoca 50/2.8 and 50/3.5; it is not completely understood if this is a choice of two versions or if the 50/2.8 is the viewing lens and the 50/3.5 the taking lens. The pictured camera has a plain SAMOCAFLEX engraving above the viewing lens and has silver lens rims. This version has not been observed yet and perhaps corresponds to a prototype.
In the May 1955 advertisement in Asahi Camera,[4] the taking lens is announced as a four-element D.Ezumar 50/2.8, and the viewing lens as a View Ezumar 50/2.8. (The "D" in D.Ezumar is probably inspired by the D.Zuiko by Olympus, where the fourth letter of the alphabet is used to indicate the presence of four elements.) The picture shows the SAMOCAFLEX 35 engraving above the viewing lens, and black lens rims.
This version has only been observed with a pair of seemingly identical D.Ezumar lenses, engraved SAMOCA CO. D.EZUMAR 1:2.8 50mm No.xxxxx with a red D. Most body numbers have five or six digits beginning with 55, and come with five-digit lens numbers in the 55xxx to 58xxx range. The prefix "55" in the body number probably indicates the release year, the three or four other digits being the production number itself. The lens numbers were probably affected in plain ascending order, perhaps starting with 55001. One example is known with a six-digit body number starting in 57, and lens numbers in the 70xxx and 71xxx range, perhaps corresponding to a second batch.
The Samocaflex 35 II
Notes
- ↑ Condenser: advertisements reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.139.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.352.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.139.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.139.
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. Items 531 and 1306.
- 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.869.
- 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 3758–9.
- Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten (私の二眼レフカメラ展, Exhibition of twin lens reflex cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P.31.
Links
In English:
- History of the 35mm TLR in John Marriage's Photo-history pages
- 35mm TLR at Massimo Bertacchi's Innovative cameras, also reproduced here at Fotografia e Reflex (these pages are based on the above article by John Marriage)
- Past auctions by Auction Team Breker:
- Samocaflex 35: lot no.65 of the April 30, 2005 Photographica and Film auction, also in the highlights of the sale
- Samocaflex 35: lot no.68 of the March 25, 2006 Photographica and Film auction
In Swedish:
- Samocaflex 35, lot no.147 of LP Foto auction no.26 (22 April 2007).
In Japanese:
In Korean:
