Difference between revisions of "Semi Oscon"

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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>
 
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>
  

Revision as of 21:55, 2 December 2006

Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Postwar models (edit)
folding
Apollo | Semi Blond | Semi Crystar | Daido Semi | Doris | Semi Frank | Semi Gelto | Semi Golder | Karoron | Karoron RF | Kely | Kiko Semi | Korin | Kuri | BB Kuri | Lark | Semi Leotax | Semi Leotax DL / R | Lo Ruby | Semi Lord | Luck | Semi Lyra | Semi Masmy | Middl 120 | Semi Mihama | Mikado | Million Proud | Semi Minolta III | Semi Minolta P | Semi Oscon | Semi Pearl | Pearl I–III | Pearl IV | Petri | Petri RF | Petri Super | Pioneer | Semi Proud | Semi Rocket | Rocky Semi | Rosen | Ruby | Shinkoh Rabbit | Semi Sport | Tsubasa Semi | Union Semi | Union Model U | Walcon Semi | Waltax | Semi Wester | Zenobia
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 Nippon Kōgaku.[2]

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.

The folding struts are engraved with a YK logo (certainly for Yamagata Kikai), and the body seems to have a nameplate marked Oscon screwed or riveted to the front.

The Semi Oscon is equipped with a Toko 75/3.5 coated lens made by Tōkyō Kōgaku. The shutter is an NKS, gives B, 1–200 speeds and has a self-timer.

The camera is advertised[3] by Ōsawa Shōkai together with the Primoflex or Topcon 35 cameras made by Tōkyō Kōgaku, in a way that ambiguously suggests that it was made by this company too, with no mention of 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, as Tōkyō Kōgaku was a reputed company while Yamagata Kikai was virtually unknown.

Notes

  1. Dates: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 348.
  2. Lewis, p. 79.
  3. Advertisements published in the August, September and December 1953 issues o f Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 124 and 175.

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 433. (See also the advertisement for items 785–6.)
  • 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. 79.

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