Difference between revisions of "Semi Frank"

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== Description of the body ==
 
== Description of the body ==
The Semi Frank is a vertical folder, but the viewfinder is to the right when the camera is held vertically by the photographer, the reverse of the usual arrangement. The viewfinder is contained in a top housing, with the advance knob on the left end. The body and folding struts look very similar to the [[Semi Mihama]].
+
The Semi Frank is a vertical folder, with no rangefinder and controlling film advance via a red window on the back. The folding struts are copied on the [[Ikonta]], and the body casting and folding struts look very similar to the [[Semi Mihama]]. The viewfinder and controls are to the right when the camera is held vertically by the photographer, the reverse of the majority of the 4.5×6 folders.
  
== Lens and shutter equipment ==
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The viewfinder is is the middle of the top housing, and there is an advance key at the top left. The release button is to the right of the viewfinder and has a smooth shape, perhaps designed to minimize the vibrations. There is an accessory shoe placed just behind, and a folding bed release on the left of the viewfinder. The back is hinged to the right and contains a red window at the top left, protected by a vertically sliding cover. The lens standard has protruding corners.
An advertisement in the May 1952 issue of the Japanese magazine ''Camera Fan''<REF> Reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;174. </REF> offers the camera with a Seriter 75/3.5 coated lens and a [[TKS]] synchronized shutter (B, 1&ndash;200 and self-timer), for {{yen|9,800|1952}}. The advertisement does not mention the maker, only the retailer Million Shōkai (ミリオン商会). It seems that the Semi Frank was also sold by [[Endō|Endō Kamera-ten]]<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;362. </REF>.
 
  
Other lens and shutter combinations have been reported or observed:
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The name ''Frank'' is engraved above the viewfinder in cursive style, surrounded by the drawing of a concave lens element. The name ''SEMI FRANK'' is stamped in capital letters on the pressure plate, inside the back. The ''T.K'' logo of <U>T</U>ōsei <U>K</U>ōki is engraved on the folding struts and on the lens standard in one corner. At least one example is known with the name ''Flank'' embossed in the front leather: this typo is explained by the Japanese phonology, which does not distinguish the "l" and "r". The name ''Frank'' is also embossed at the front of the leather case.
* Seriter Anastigmat 75/3.5 lens, NKS shutter (B, 1&ndash;unknown, self-timer);<REF> Observed in a Yahoo Japan auction. </REF>
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* Tosei Anastigmat 80/3.5 lens, TKO shutter (B, 10&ndash;200);<REF> Reported in [http://web.archive.org/web/20040819210529/http://homepage.mac.com/jakiswede/3photo/32photo_col/826semifrank.html this web archive link]. TKO is perhaps a typo for TSK. </REF>
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== Advertisements and actual examples ==
* Chibanon<REF> Inferred from the ''katakana'' チバノン. </REF> f/3.5 lens.<REF> According to {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;362, it appears in the book ''Kamera Zukan'' by Sugiyama and Naoi and it is an early version of the camera. </REF>
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An advertisement dated May 1952<REF> Advertisement published in ''[[Camera Fan]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;174. </REF> offered the camera with a Seriter 75/3.5 coated lens and a [[TKS]] synchronized shutter (B, 1&ndash;200 and self-timer), for {{yen|9,800|1952}}. The advertisement does not mention the maker, only the distributor [[Million Shōkai]], and it contains typos: the Semi Frank is called "Semi Flank" and the [[Frank Six]] is called "Flank Six". It seems that the Semi Frank was also sold by [[Endō|Endō Kamera-ten]].<REF> {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;362. </REF>
 +
 
 +
The following lens and shutter combinations have been observed or reported:
 +
* Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens, [[NKS]] shutter (B, 1&ndash;200, self-timer, synch pin at the bottom right);<REF> Examples observed in online auctions. </REF>
 +
* E. Chibanone Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 lens, [[TKS]] shutter (B, 1&ndash;200, self-timer, synch pin at the bottom right);<REF> Example pictured in {{Sugiyama}}, item 1302. </REF>
 +
* reported only: Tosei Anastigmat 80/3.5 lens, TKO shutter (B, 10&ndash;200).<REF> Example reported in [http://web.archive.org/web/20040819210529/http://homepage.mac.com/jakiswede/3photo/32photo_col/826semifrank.html this web archive link]. TKO is perhaps a typo for TKS. </REF>
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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* {{Showa10}} Item 783.
 
* {{Showa10}} Item 783.
 
* {{Lewis}} Page 75 (brief mention only).
 
* {{Lewis}} Page 75 (brief mention only).
 +
* {{Zukan}} Item 1302.
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==

Revision as of 10:22, 17 May 2007

Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Postwar models (edit)
folding
Apollo | Semi Blond | Semi Crystar | Daido Semi | Doris | Semi Frank | Semi Gelto | Semi Golder | Karoron | Karoron RF | Kely | Kiko Semi | Korin | Kuri | BB Kuri | Lark | Semi Leotax | Semi Leotax DL / R | Lo Ruby | Semi Lord | Luck | Semi Lyra | Semi Masmy | Middl 120 | Semi Mihama | Mikado | Million Proud | Semi Minolta III | Semi Minolta P | Semi Oscon | Semi Pearl | Pearl I–III | Pearl IV | Petri | Petri RF | Petri Super | Pioneer | Semi Proud | Semi Rocket | Rocky Semi | Rosen | Ruby | Shinkoh Rabbit | Semi Sport | Tsubasa Semi | Union Semi | Union Model U | Walcon Semi | Waltax | Semi Wester | Zenobia
rigid or collapsible
Semi Dak | Semi Hobix | Super Semi Plum | Rocket Camera | Tomy
Prewar and wartime models ->
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo models ->
Japanese 3×4 and 4×4, 4×5 and 4×6.5, 4.5×6 and older 6×9 ->

The Semi Frank (セミ・フランク) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera, made in 1951 and 1952 by Tōsei Kōki.[1]

Description of the body

The Semi Frank is a vertical folder, with no rangefinder and controlling film advance via a red window on the back. The folding struts are copied on the Ikonta, and the body casting and folding struts look very similar to the Semi Mihama. The viewfinder and controls are to the right when the camera is held vertically by the photographer, the reverse of the majority of the 4.5×6 folders.

The viewfinder is is the middle of the top housing, and there is an advance key at the top left. The release button is to the right of the viewfinder and has a smooth shape, perhaps designed to minimize the vibrations. There is an accessory shoe placed just behind, and a folding bed release on the left of the viewfinder. The back is hinged to the right and contains a red window at the top left, protected by a vertically sliding cover. The lens standard has protruding corners.

The name Frank is engraved above the viewfinder in cursive style, surrounded by the drawing of a concave lens element. The name SEMI FRANK is stamped in capital letters on the pressure plate, inside the back. The T.K logo of Tōsei Kōki is engraved on the folding struts and on the lens standard in one corner. At least one example is known with the name Flank embossed in the front leather: this typo is explained by the Japanese phonology, which does not distinguish the "l" and "r". The name Frank is also embossed at the front of the leather case.

Advertisements and actual examples

An advertisement dated May 1952[2] offered the camera with a Seriter 75/3.5 coated lens and a TKS synchronized shutter (B, 1–200 and self-timer), for ¥9,800. The advertisement does not mention the maker, only the distributor Million Shōkai, and it contains typos: the Semi Frank is called "Semi Flank" and the Frank Six is called "Flank Six". It seems that the Semi Frank was also sold by Endō Kamera-ten.[3]

The following lens and shutter combinations have been observed or reported:

  • Seriter Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens, NKS shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer, synch pin at the bottom right);[4]
  • E. Chibanone Anastigmat 80mm f/3.5 lens, TKS shutter (B, 1–200, self-timer, synch pin at the bottom right);[5]
  • reported only: Tosei Anastigmat 80/3.5 lens, TKO shutter (B, 10–200).[6]

Notes

  1. Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 362.
  2. Advertisement published in Camera Fan, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 174.
  3. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 362.
  4. Examples observed in online auctions.
  5. Example pictured in Sugiyama, item 1302.
  6. Example reported in this web archive link. TKO is perhaps a typo for TKS.

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 783.
  • 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). Page 75 (brief mention only).
  • 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. Item 1302.

Links