Semi Minolta (I) and II
The Semi Minolta was a series of 4.5×6 folding cameras made by Molta then by Chiyoda Kōgaku (the company that later became Minolta). They were inspired by the Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 4.5×6 model.
The Semi Minolta I and Semi Minolta II were prewar models with a folding optical finder.
The Auto Semi Minolta, released in 1937, had a coupled rangefinder contained in a top housing. The Auto Semi Minolta had a focusing system inspired by the Welta Weltur and an exposure counter inspired by the Plaubel Roll-Op models.
The Semi Minolta III was a postwar version of the I and II. It existed in three variants called A, B and C, with very little difference between the three.
The Semi Minolta P from 1951 is a version with tubular optical finder, at a time when the folding finders were beginning to be old-fashioned. It was the last folding camera made by Chiyoda.
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