Semi Leotax DL and R

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The Semi Leotax DL (セミレオタックスDL型) and Semi Leotax R (セミレオタックスR型) 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 usually B, 1–200, with the top speed pushed to 1/300 on the late model R. The lens is a 7.5cm f/3.5, focused by turning the front cell, supplied by different manufacturers. The lens types are the Toko, Kominar and Reginon or S-Reginon, all of which are presumed to have three elements.[1] At the time, the Toko lens was the most expensive and the Reginon was the cheapest.

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.[2]

The description mentions three-part 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 certainly 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.

Documents

The earliest advertisement actually showing the camera is reportedly dated January 1951.[3] 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).[4]

The earliest document mentioning the name "Semi Leotax DL" is an advertisement dated May 1952.[5] That in Shashin Kōgyō November 1952, reproduced above, only has the name "Semi Leotax", and lists three lens and shutter combinations:[6]

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[7] and Shashin Kōgyō[8] 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.

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.

Evolution

The Semi Leotax DL evolved little during the production run. The early cameras have the same type of advance key as the previous Semi Leotax.[9] The minimum distance is marked as 3.5 on the viewfinder side, and presumably corresponds to 3.5ft minimum setting on the lens rim.

The lens and shutter combinations observed on those examples are the Reginon and Wester, Toko and Copal, Kominar and Copal. The Wester shutters used at the period have the brand name WESTER at the top of the front plate, the maker's initials N.K.K. on the speed rim, and a single synch pin at the bottom right (as seen from the front). The corresponding Reginon lenses have the name inscribed on a black bezel as C.REGINON (with a red C.) for the earliest ones, and later plain REGINON. They have a five-digit number in the 35xxx to 38xxx range, and the removal of the red C. occurred in the 358xx or 359xx range.[10]

The Copal shutters have a white front plate and an ASA synch post at the top right. The Kominar lenses used in the period have a chrome bezel and a five-digit number in the 21xxx to 23xxx range. The Toko lenses have a similar chrome bezel and a six-digit number in the 110xxx to 111xxx range, such as the camera pictured above.

At some point, the minimum distance became 4ft, both on the lens rim and on the viewfinder's parallax compensation mechanism. It seems that this coincides with the switch from the Reginon to the S. Reginon or S-Reginon lens. The name change perhaps indicates that the lens was recomputed, but this is unconfirmed. The sequence of serial numbers was reset, certainly at 1001. The early lenses have the name inscribed as S. REGINON with a dot, such as on the camera pictured at the top of the section, but the engraving was soon changed to S–REGINON with a hyphen.[11]

Immediately after, the camera was fitted with newer Wester shutters, with an ASA synch post and the name WESTER moved to the bottom of the front plate, as on the example pictured below.

The later cameras are distinguished by a newer advance key with sharp edges. These are most common with the S-Reginon lens and Wester shutter, with lens numbers in the 6xxx to 16xxx range.[12] It seems that a few very late ones have a PC socket instead of the ASA bayonet.[13]

Others have an unchanged Copal shutter, with a Kominar lens in the 26xxx range, or a Toko lens in the 113xxx to 114xxx range.[14] Finally, a few cameras have the New Trio shutter, with the brand name NEW TRIO inscribed at the bottom of the front plate, and the initials I.J.K. on the rim (see IJK). It has a synch post at the bottom right, either of the PC type or of another specific type. These shutters are paired with Kominar lenses, whose bezel evolved from a chrome finish in the 26xxx range to a black finish in the 29xxx range.[15]

A few cameras from the late period have EP inside a diamond engraved on the accessory shoe, indicating that they were sold by US Post Exchange facilities to soldiers based in Japan. One isolated example is known to have a body number engraved on the top plate behind the accessory shoe, a feature which curiously appears on no other camera observed so far.[16]

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.[17] It was soon renamed Semi Leotax R and was sold under that name from 1952 to early 1955.[18]

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[19] offered this version for ¥18,500, and at least one surviving example is known.[20]

A later advertisement, dated September 1954[21], offered the following combinations:

All three variants have been observed and are confirmed to exist.[23]

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,[24] later ¥2,000.[25] 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.

Notes

  1. This is certain for the Toko, a brand name which was used by Tōkyō Kōgaku for three-element designs only. The S-Reginon is reported to have three elements in this page at Orio's Modern Classic Cameras, by someone who disassembled one. The Kominar lens was priced roughly the same, and certainly has three elements too.
  2. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.211. The contents of the news column is summarized in the same book, p.374 (item 1036).
  3. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.374.
  4. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.211.
  5. {{Kokusan}, p.374.
  6. Advertisement in Shashin Kōgyō November 1952, p.11.
  7. Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.212.
  8. Advertisement in Shashin Kōgyō January 1953, p.24. The price of the version with Kominar and Copal is mentioned as ¥13,000, perhaps a misprint.
  9. Examples with Kominar lens in the 21xxx to 23xxx range, with the Toko lens in the 110xxx and 111xxx range, with Reginon lens in the 35xxx to 38xxx range and S-Reginon lens in the 1xxx to 5xxx range.
  10. Examples with C.Reginon observed in this page at Minor House and in an online auction. Examples with Reginon observed in various posts [1][2] at Junk Binbō, and in online auctions.
  11. Examples pictured in this page at medfmt, and observed in an online auction.
  12. Examples pictured in Supuringu kamera de ikou, p.92, and observed in online auctions. The example with lens no.7851 still has the older key, indicating that the transition does not strictly follow the order of the lens numbers.
  13. Example with lens number 14xxx pictured in this page of the AJCC. The example with lens no.16266 still has the ASA bayonet.
  14. Examples observed in online auctions.
  15. Examples observed in online auctions.
  16. Example observed in an online auction, body no.10747.
  17. Date: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.374. The advertisement published in Asahi Camera is reproduced on p.212.
  18. Dates: advertisements mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.374.
  19. Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.212.
  20. Example observed in an online auction.
  21. Published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.212.
  22. This is the variant pictured in this page at Orio's Modern Classic Cameras.
  23. Examples observed in various online auctions.
  24. Advertisement in Shashin Kōgyō November 1952, p.11; advertisement in Asahi Camera January 1953 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.212.
  25. Advertisement in Nihon Camera September 1954 reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.212.

Bibliography

Original documents

  • Shashin Kōgyō. Advertisements by Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki:
    • no.1, June 1952, p.47;
    • no.6, November 1952, p.11;
    • no.8, January 1953, p.24;
    • no.9, February 1953, p.82;
    • no.11, April 1953, p.209;
    • no.13, June 1953, p.305;
    • no.14, July 1953, p.18;
    • no.21, February 1954, p.129;
    • no.27, August 1954, p.129.
  • 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.
  • Showa Optical Works (translation for Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki). Instructions for use of the Semi Leotax. User manual in English language, published c.1951. 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). P.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:

In Japanese: