Semi Leotax DL and R

This is a work in progress.

The Semi Leotax DL and R are Japanese 4.5×6 folding cameras made from late 1950 to early 1955 by Shōwa Kōgaku, that was also making the Leotax Leica copies. The viewfinder-only Semi Leotax DL appeared first, to replace the previous Semi Leotax with folding finder. The Semi Leotax R was introduced later, as a more expensive alternative with an uncoupled rangefinder.

General description

The Semi Leotax DL and R are vertical folding cameras. The body casting is certainly the same as on the previous Semi Leotax. The three-part folding struts are different, and are now copied on the Ikonta, whereas the previous model was a copy of the Nettar. The folding bed has a chrome frame and no bulge for the lens, unlike the previous model.

The film is advanced by a key at the bottom right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left, and locked by a sliding bar on the right. It contains a single red window at the bottom left, protected by a vertically sliding cover, similar to that found on the late examples of the previous Semi Leotax. The shutter release is at the top left, close to the front hinge. The front door is opened by a button placed under the camera, next to the advance key, and there is a ¼-inch tripod thread on the opposite side.

The name SEMI LEOTAX is embossed in slanted capital letters on the artificial leather covering at the front. The rectangular S.O.W logo of Shōwa Kōgaku (for Showa Optical Works) is embossed on the back, and engraved in the folding struts.

The shutter has a self-timer and is synchronized for flash on all the cameras, and the range of speeds is either B, 1–200 or B, 1–300. The lens is a 7.5cm f/3.5, focused by turning the front cell, supplied by different manufacturers.

Early announce

The camera was first announced under the name "New Semi Leotax" in the December 1950 issue of Asahi Camera. The new model is described both in the news column and in the advertisement placed by Shōwa Kōgaku, which nonetheless shows a picture of the former Semi Leotax.

The description mentions three-element folding struts, a flat folding bed with a chrome frame, and a chrome top cover containing the viewfinder and an uncoupled rangefinder. The latter feature would only appear 18 months later on the Semi Leotax R, but was already planned at that period.

In both the advertisement and the news column, the shutter is announced as a Copal (B, 1–200) and the lens as a Yōkō (ヨーコー) 75/3.5 made by Olympus. This lens name is otherwise unknown, and it is likely that this is a typo, either for the Olympus-made Zuiko (ズイコー) lens or for the Toko (トーコー) lens that was not made by Olympus but by Tōkyō Kōgaku.

The actual camera was released as the Semi Leotax New (セミレオタックス新型) in early 1951 before it was gradually renamed Semi Leotax DL (セミレオタックスDL型) in mid to late 1952, with no apparent reason. It has all the features announced but for the rangefinder and the lens and shutter equipment.

Semi Leotax DL, with tubular finder

Description

The Semi Leotax DL has a tubular finder, mounted on a rectangular metal plate which also holds the accessory shoe on the right. The rear of the finder is moved up and down for parallax correction by sliding a button placed on the left, from the infinity position to the close distance position, either 3.5 or 4 (expressed in feet). The release button is surrounded by a cup and has a screw-thread to attach a distant-release connector. There are flanges at both ends of the top part, which can be lifted to insert the film spools. The shutter always has 1/200 top speed.

Semi Leotax New or DL, S. Reginon 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no.1801, N.K.K. Wester shutter (B, 1–200), synch pin at the bottom. Pictures courtesy of eBayer Costellochris. (Image rights)

Documents

The earliest advertisement actually showing the camera is reportedly dated January 1951. The August 1951 advertisement in Asahi Camera gives no price, and mentioned a Reginon or Kominar 75/3.5 lens and a Wester or Copal shutter (B, 1–200).

Advertisement in Shashin Kōgyō November 1952. (Image rights)

The earliest document mentioning the name "Semi Leotax DL" is an advertisement dated May 1952. That in Shashin Kōgyō November 1952, reproduced above, only has the name "Semi Leotax", and lists three lens and shutter combinations:

• Toko 7.5cm f/3.5 lens, Copal shutter, ¥14,500;
• Kominar 7.5cm f/3.5 lens, Copal shutter, ¥13,500;
• Reginon 7.5cm f/3.5 lens, Wester shutter, ¥12,500.

The Toko was supplied by Tōkyō Kōgaku and the Kominar by Nittō Kōgaku. The maker of the Reginon is unknown; it might be Nishida, which made the Wester shutter, and supplied Wester Anastigmat lenses for the early postwar Semi Leotax just before the introduction of the Reginon lens brand.

Advertisements dated January 1953 in Asahi Camera and Shashin Kōgyō mostly convey the same information, and show a picture of the newly released Semi Leotax R (see below).

The advertisement in Shashin Kōgyō July 1953, reproduced below, mentions a New Trio shutter in addition to the Copal and Wester, and lists the usual Toko, Kominar and Reginon lenses. The maker of the New Trio is unknown, though actual examples show the initials I.J.K., also found on the shutter of a few Tougodo cameras.

Advertisement in Shashin Kōgyō July 1953. (Image rights)

The leaflet reproduced below is dated 1953 or perhaps earlier. It shows the Semi Leotax DL along with the Leotax rangefinder camera. The document describes the usual lens and shutter equipment; the New Trio is not mentioned, and the price is not given.

Semi Leotax DL in a leaflet by Shōwa Kōgaku, c.1953. (Image rights)

Actual examples

Semi Leotax DL, Toko 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no.110xxx, Copal shutter (B, 1–200), ASA synch post. Pictures courtesy of eBayer Jsahm. (Image rights)

All three lens and shutter combinations have been observed on actual examples. The Reginon lens is engraved S-REGINON and is said to have three elements. The Wester shutter is engraved N.K.K. in the speed rim and exists in three versions. The older one is marked WESTER at the top of the shutter plate and has a single pin synch post at the bottom right. The next one is marked WESTER at the bottom and has an ASA synch post at the top right, and the last one has a PC synch post at the same place. All the Copal shutters have an ASA synch post at the top right.

Semi Leotax New or DL, S. Reginon 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no.4804, N.K.K. Wester shutter (B, 1–200), ASA synch post. Pictures courtesy of eBayer Dugwerks. (Image rights)

A further lens and shutter combination has been observed, consisting of a Kominar 7.5cm f/3.5 lens and a B, 1–200 shutter with self-timer and a PC synch post at the bottom right, marked NEW TRIO at the bottom and with a three-letter acronym ending in "K" on the speed rim.

Semi Leotax R, with uncoupled rangefinder

The rangefinder model was announced in May 1952 as the Semi Leotax DL II, with Copal shutter and Toko 75/3.5 lens. It was soon renamed Semi Leotax R and was sold under that name from 1952 to early 1955.

The camera has a top housing containing the viewfinder in the middle, surrounded by the uncoupled rangefinder's windows. The rangefinder eyepiece is on the left of the finder and the distance setting knob falls under the right thumb. The distance is read in a small window in the top housing, to the right of the accessory shoe. The top plate is engraved SEMI LEOTAX and Showa Optical Works, Ltd. The serial number is engraved in front of the shoe. The rest of the body is similar to the Semi Leotax DL.

At the beginning, the lens and shutter equipment was a Toko 7.5cm f/3.5 by Tōkyō Kōgaku and a Copal shutter giving B, 1–200 speeds and synchronized via an ASA bayonet post. An advertisement dated January 1953 offered this version for ¥18,500, and at least one surviving example is known.

A later advertisement, dated September 1954, offered the following combinations:

• Toko 7.5cm f/3.5 lens by Tōkyō Kōgaku, Copal B, 1–300 shutter, self-timer, PC synch post (¥17,200);
• Kominar 7.5cm f/3.5 lens by Nittō Kōgaku, Copal B, 1–300 shutter, self-timer, PC synch post (¥16,100);
• Reginon 75/3.5 lens, Wester B, 1–200 shutter by Nishida, self-timer, ASA synch post (¥15,000).

All three variants have been observed and are confirmed to exist.

Accessories

A flash unit called Leotax High-Power Flash BCB (レオタックス強力発光機BCB型) was offered together with the Semi Leotax, for ¥2,500, later ¥2,000. Its name reminds the contemporary Nikon BCB flash unit, but it is much lighter and probably unrelated; the initials might have a common meaning, which is currently unknown.

Leotax BCB flash unit in a leaflet by Shōwa Kōgaku, c.1953. (Image rights)

Bibliography

Original documents

• Shashin Kōgyō. Advertisements by Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki:
  • p.11 of issue no.6, November 1952
  • p.24 of issue no.8, January 1953;
  • p.18 of issue no.14, July 1953.
• Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki. Leotax to Semi Leotax, anata no go-aiyō ni fusawashii kamera (LeotaxとSemi Leotax あなたの御愛用にふさわしいカメラ, Leotax and Semi Leotax, convenient cameras for you). Leaflet published c.1953, date not indicated. Presents the Leotax and Semi Leotax (DL), and has an additional insert on the Leotax S and Semi Leotax R. Document reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.

Recent sources

• 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 1037–40. (See also the advertisement and description of item 1036.)
• Kawamata Masataku (川又正卓). Semi Leotax. In Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: The use of and actual examples from 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp. 92–3.
• 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.75 (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). Pp.893.
• 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 1319–21.

Links

In English:

• Semi Leotax DL at medfmt
• Semi Leotax R at Cosmonet's Classic Camera site

In Japanese:

• Semi Leotax DL in various posts [1][2] at the Junk Binbō blog
• Semi Leotax DL with S-Reginon and Kominar lenses at the AJCC website, the caption mistakenly tells that the DL has auto-stop advance
• Semi Leotax DL at Minor House camera collection
• Semi Leotax DL at kosaka's site
• Semi Leotax R at Orio's Modern Classic Cameras
• Semi Leotax R (Copal, Toko) and more pictures at Hayata Camera Laboratory