Semi Lead
The Semi Lead[1] (セミ・リード) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera, distributed in 1943 and 1944 by the company Misuzu Shōkai.[2]
Description
The Semi Lead is a vertical folder inspired from the Nettar, with straight diagonal struts and what looks like a die-cast body. There is a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate, a body release on the left and the folding bed release button on the right, as seen by a photographer holding the camera horizontally. The advance knob or key is at the bottom right. The back is hinged to the left.
Advertisement
The Semi Lead was advertised in the May 1944 issue of Shashin Kagaku[3] where it was offered for ¥258.66 with an f/3.5 lens and a T, B, 1–500 shutter. No other record of the camera has been found so far.
Notes
- ↑ It is the name used by Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343, but there is no definite evidence that it was written that way. There is no name visible on the camera pictured in the advertisement reproduced, p. 102, and the text of the advertisement is only written in katakana: セミ・リード.
- ↑ Dates: advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 343.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 102.
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 308.
The Semi Lead is not listed in Sugiyama.