Difference between revisions of "Semi Oscon"

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{{Japanese Semi postwar}}
 
{{Japanese Semi postwar}}
The '''Semi Oscon''' (セミ・オスコン) is a [[Japanese 4.5&times;6 folders|Japanese 4.5&times;6 folding camera]] distributed by [[Ōsawa Shōkai]] in 1953 and 1954.<REF> Dates: {{Kokusan}}, p.&nbsp;348. </REF> It is said that it was made by [[Yamagata|Yamagata Kikai]], a company affiliated with [[Nikon|Nippon Kōgaku]].<REF> Lewis, p.&nbsp;79. </REF>
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The '''Semi Oscon''' (セミ・オスコン) is a [[Japanese 4.5×6 folders|Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera]] distributed by [[Ōsawa|Ōsawa Shōkai]] in 1953 and 1954.<REF> Dates: articles and advertisements listed in {{Kokusan}}, p.348. </REF> It is said that it was made by [[Yamagata|Yamagata Kikai]], a company affiliated with [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]].<REF> Attribution to Yamagata: {{Kokusan}}, p.348, Lewis, p.79, {{SUG}}, item 1381. Affiliated with Tōkyō Kōgaku: See the [http://www.topcon.co.jp/en/about/history/ chronology of the Topcon official website] and the [http://www.topcon-yamagata.co.jp/kaisha/ayumi.html chronology of the Topcon Yamagata official website]. Lewis, p.79, {{SUG}}, item 1381, and Tanaka, p.79 of {{KKS}} no.8 say that Yamagata Kikai was related to [[Nikon|Nippon Kōgaku]], certainly by mistake. </REF>
  
It is a vertical folder with a die-cast body and a top housing placed on the right as seen by the photographer holding the camera vertically. This is the reverse of the usual arrangement but allows to have a body release actioned by the right hand's finger. The optical finder protrudes from the top housing and is slightly offset to the left. There is an accessory shoe immediately on the right. On the right end of the top plate, there is a dial that seems to be a film reminder. The advance knob is at the left end, near the folding bed release button. The Semi Oscon has automatic stop advance. The back is hinged to the right.
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== Description ==
 +
The Semi Oscon is a vertical folder with a die-cast body. The top housing is placed on the right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera vertically, the reverse of the usual arrangement. The body release is tripped by the right hand's finger. The Semi Oscon has automatic stop advance. The advance knob is at the left end, near the folding bed release button, and it seems surrounded by an exposure counter.
  
The folding struts are engraved with a ''YK'' logo (certainly for <U>Y</U>amagata <U>K</U>ikai), and the body seems to have a nameplate marked ''Oscon'' screwed or riveted to the front.
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The viewfinder protrudes from the top housing; it is slightly offset to the left. Above the viewfinder is a folding sports-finder, with a bar in the middle of the front frame. There is an accessory shoe to the right of the finder and a dial on the right of the top plate, which seems to be a film reminder. The back is hinged to the right.
  
The Semi Oscon is equipped with a Toko 75/3.5 coated lens made by [[Topcon|Tōkyō Kōgaku]]. The shutter is an [[NKS]], gives B, 1&ndash;200 speeds and has a self-timer.
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The folding struts are engraved with a ''YK'' logo (certainly for <U>Y</U>amagata <U>K</U>ikai), and an ''Oscon'' nameplate is screwed to the front of the body. The name ''Oscon'' is embossed in the leather case too.
  
The camera is advertised<REF> Advertisements published in the August, September and December 1953 issues o f ''Asahi Camera'', reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.&nbsp;124 and 175. </REF> by [[Ōsawa Shōkai]] together with the [[Primoflex]] or [[Topcon 35]] cameras made by [[Topcon|Tōkyō Kōgaku]], in a way that ambiguously suggests that it was made by this company too, with no mention of Yamagata. (For example, in [http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/archives/cat_911880.html#17007923 this advertisement dated 1954], reproduced in the [http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/ Shashin-Bako website], we read the following: "Applaused cameras by Tōkyō Kōgaku, representing the Japanese optical world", translation of "日本の光学界を代表する東京光学の絶讃カメラ"). This is obviously intentional, as Tōkyō Kōgaku was a reputed company while Yamagata Kikai was virtually unknown.
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The Semi Oscon has a Toko 75mm f/3.5 coated lens made by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]]. The shutter is an [[NKS|NKS-TB]], gives B, 1–200 speeds and has a self-timer and a PC synch post.
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The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in {{SUG}}.<REF> {{SUG}}, item 1381. </REF>
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== Advertising ==
 +
The camera was advertised by [[Ōsawa|Ōsawa Shōkai]] in August, September and December 1953,<REF> Advertisements published in ''[[Asahi Camera]],'' reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, pp.124 and 175. </REF> together with the [[Primoflex]] or [[Topcon 35]] cameras made by [[Tōkyō Kōgaku]]. The advertisements ambiguously suggest that the Semi Oscon was made by this company too, and they do not mention Yamagata. (For example, in [http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/archives/cat_911880.html#17007923 this advertisement dated 1954], reproduced in the [http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/ Shashin-Bako website], we read the following: "Applaused cameras by Tōkyō Kōgaku, representing the Japanese optical world", translation of "日本の光学界を代表する東京光学の絶讃カメラ"). This is obviously intentional: Tōkyō Kōgaku was a reputed company whereas Yamagata Kikai was virtually unknown.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
Line 14: Line 20:
  
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
* {{Showa10}} Item 433. (See also the advertisement for items 785&ndash;6.)
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* {{Showa10}} Item 433. (See also the advertisement for items 785–6.)
* {{Lewis}} P.&nbsp;79.
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* {{Lewis}} P.79.
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* {{Zukan}} Item 1381.
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* Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Sonota no nihon no supuringu-kamera" (その他の日本のスプリングカメラ, "Other Japanese folding cameras"). {{KKS008}} Pp.76–80.
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
* {{Shashinbako|Semi Oscon, Primoflex and Topcon 35|17007923}}
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* [http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/archives/17007923.html Advertisement for the Semi Oscon, Primoflex and Topcon 35], published in 1954, reproduced in [http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/archives/cat_911880.html a page of Japanese postwar advertisements] at the [http://blog.livedoor.jp/united3arrows/ Shashin-Bako website]
  
 
[[Category: Japanese 4.5x6 viewfinder folding|Oscon, Semi]]
 
[[Category: Japanese 4.5x6 viewfinder folding|Oscon, Semi]]
 
[[Category: S]]
 
[[Category: S]]
 
[[Category: O|Oscon, Semi]]
 
[[Category: O|Oscon, Semi]]

Revision as of 10:34, 7 September 2017

Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Postwar models (edit)
folding
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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 Oscon (セミ・オスコン) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera distributed by Ōsawa Shōkai in 1953 and 1954.[1] It is said that it was made by Yamagata Kikai, a company affiliated with Tōkyō Kōgaku.[2]

Description

The Semi Oscon is a vertical folder with a die-cast body. The top housing is placed on the right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera vertically, the reverse of the usual arrangement. The body release is tripped by the right hand's finger. The Semi Oscon has automatic stop advance. The advance knob is at the left end, near the folding bed release button, and it seems surrounded by an exposure counter.

The viewfinder protrudes from the top housing; it is slightly offset to the left. Above the viewfinder is a folding sports-finder, with a bar in the middle of the front frame. There is an accessory shoe to the right of the finder and a dial on the right of the top plate, which seems to be a film reminder. The back is hinged to the right.

The folding struts are engraved with a YK logo (certainly for Yamagata Kikai), and an Oscon nameplate is screwed to the front of the body. The name Oscon is embossed in the leather case too.

The Semi Oscon has a Toko 75mm f/3.5 coated lens made by Tōkyō Kōgaku. The shutter is an NKS-TB, gives B, 1–200 speeds and has a self-timer and a PC synch post.

The only surviving example observed so far is pictured in Sugiyama.[3]

Advertising

The camera was advertised by Ōsawa Shōkai in August, September and December 1953,[4] together with the Primoflex or Topcon 35 cameras made by Tōkyō Kōgaku. The advertisements ambiguously suggest that the Semi Oscon was made by this company too, and they do not mention Yamagata. (For example, in this advertisement dated 1954, reproduced in the Shashin-Bako website, we read the following: "Applaused cameras by Tōkyō Kōgaku, representing the Japanese optical world", translation of "日本の光学界を代表する東京光学の絶讃カメラ"). This is obviously intentional: Tōkyō Kōgaku was a reputed company whereas Yamagata Kikai was virtually unknown.

Notes

  1. Dates: articles and advertisements listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.348.
  2. Attribution to Yamagata: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.348, Lewis, p.79, Sugiyama, item 1381. Affiliated with Tōkyō Kōgaku: See the chronology of the Topcon official website and the chronology of the Topcon Yamagata official website. Lewis, p.79, Sugiyama, item 1381, and Tanaka, p.79 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.8 say that Yamagata Kikai was related to Nippon Kōgaku, certainly by mistake.
  3. Sugiyama, item 1381.
  4. Advertisements published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.124 and 175.

Bibliography

Links