Semi Prince

The Semi Prince (セミプリンス) is a series of Japanese 4.5×6 folders, made by Fujimoto Shashinki Seisakusho and distributed by Fukada Shōkai from 1934 to 1939. It was the first Japanese 4.5×6 camera, predating the Semi Minolta and Semi Proud.

General description

All the Semi Prince models are copies of the Ikonta, with the typical three-part folding struts. They have a folding optical finder, whose opening is coupled to the release of the folding bed. The film advance is at the bottom right, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and has two red windows. The name Semi Prince is embossed in the leather at the front and on the back, and the folding struts are engraved Semi Prince too.

Semi Prince (I)

Original model

The original model (1934–7) has uncovered red windows and no body release, and the back latch is covered by a leather handle.

It is said that the development of the camera was plagued by various problems, such as light leaks, and that the company had a hard time to adjust the pressure plate and the finder opening mechanism, certainly because the experience of making such a product was lacking in Japan at the time.

The earliest advertisement for the Semi Prince is in the November 1934 issue of Asahi Camera, where the camera is announced as "available soon" (発売迫る) with a German Laack 75/4.5 lens and a New Vario shutter (25, 50, 100, T, B). This and later advertisements, inserted by Fukada Shōkai, say that the camera was made by "Prince Camera Works", which was certainly a mere dummy name (see Camera Works). The Semi Prince is also featured in a column of the January 1935 issue of Asahi Camera.

The earliest examples have an advance knob. The only such example observed so far is pictured in Tanimura and has a Regulyt f/4.5 lens and a Vario shutter. The knob was soon replaced by a key, shaped as a barrel, which would be replaced again by a newer key on the improved Semi Prince (see below).

The advertisement in Asahi Camera July 1935 offers the camera in five versions (with an advance key), priced at ¥89, ¥65, ¥60 and ¥55 with an f/4.5 lens and at ¥52 with an f/6.3 lens, the latter being mentioned as "newly available" (新発売). The advertisement in the January 1936 issue of the same magazine gives details about these five versions:

• Radionar f/6.3 lens, Perfect shutter by Neumann & Heilemann, 5–250, B, T speeds (¥52);
• Radionar f/4.5 lens, Perfect shutter (¥60);
• Laack Regulyt f/4.5 lens, New Vario shutter, 25, 50, 100, B, T speeds (¥55);
• Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Pronto shutter, T, B, 100, 50, 25 speeds, with selftimer (¥65);
• Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Compur shutter, T, B, 1–300 speeds (¥89).

The pictures of these early advertisements show the name SEMI PRINCE embossed in capital letters in the front leather, typical of the early cameras. This was later replaced by another Semi Prince embossing, written in lowercase letters inside a hexagon.

At some times, the Pronto shutter option was replaced by two new versions with a Prontor shutter, which appear in the April 1937 advertisement in Asahi Camera:

• Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Prontor I shutter, T, B, 25–125 speeds (¥65);
• Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Prontor II shutter, T, B, 1–175 speeds (¥75).

It is said that the Schneider lenses were imported as separate elements and were assembled in Japan. This was certainly the case of the Radionar lenses, engraved N.&H. Radionar, surely because they were assembled by Neumann & Heilemann. It is unclear if this applies to the Isco as well.

Semi Prince, original model, older advance key, Neumann & Heilemann Radionar 7.5cm f/4.5 lens, Perfect shutter (5–250, B, T). Pictures courtesy of Adrian Gotts. (Image rights)

Case for a Semi Prince. Picture courtesy of Pacific Rim Camera. (Image rights)

Surviving examples of the original Semi Prince with the older type of advance key are known in all the above combinations, except for the Radionar f/6.3 and for the Compur shutter:

• Radionar f/4.5, Perfect;
• Regulyt f/4.5, Vario;
• Isco f/4.5, Pronto;
• Isco f/4.5, Prontor I;
• Isco f/4.5, Prontor II.

The Perfect shutters have the early type of shutter plate with a PERFECT engraving (see Perfect), and come with lenses engraved N.&H. Radionar with a serial number.

In all the cameras equipped with an Isco lens, the actual engraving is Jsco, with an old form of the capital I, and the distance scale is on the side of the lens rim. Most Isco lenses are engraved Schneider–Jsco 1:4.5 F=7.5cm, but at least one example has Jsco Anastigmat 1:4.5 F=7.5cm instead. None has a serial number visible on the front rim; they perhaps have a number engraved on the rear element's rim, as found on later cameras.

Improved model

The original model was replaced for a couple of months in July and August 1937 by the improved Semi Prince (改良型セミプリンス). The only modification visible in the original documents is a new type of advance key, shaped as a half-moon. This model is sometimes said to have a common sliding cover for the red windows, but this is not mentioned in the advertisements seen so far and the surviving examples do not seem to confirm this.

Three versions of the improved Semi Prince are listed in advertisements dated July and August 1937:

• Schneider Isco f/4.5 lens, Prontor II shutter (¥75);
• Schneider Isco f/4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥89);
• Schneider Xenar f/4.5 lens, Compur-Rapid shutter (¥113).

Actual examples of the Semi Prince are known with the newer advance key and no red window cover, presumably corresponding to the improved Semi Prince. They have been observed with the Prontor II shutter (175–1, B, T) and Isco lens, engraved Schneider–Jsco f:4.5 F=7.5cm with a silver distance scale on the side. At least one example is known with a Vario shutter and a Laack Regulyt 7.5cm f/4.5 lens.

At least two cameras are known with the Xenar lens and Compur-Rapid shutter; they have no body release and at least one is confirmed to have the newer type of advance key.

Semi Prince II

The Semi Prince II has an added body release and a common cover for the red windows, controlled by a vertically sliding lever. It was advertised from September 1937 to April 1938. The September 1937 advertisement in Asahi Camera lists the same three lens and shutter combinations as for the previous model, with no mention of the price. The November 1937 advertisement in the same magazine gives the following list:

• Schneider Isco f/4.5 lens, Prontor II shutter (¥93);
• Schneider Isco f/4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥109);
• Schneider Xenar f/4.5 lens, Compur-Rapid shutter (¥143).

In addition to the introduction of the body release, the important price rise was perhaps caused by a new excise tax levied after the outbreak of war with China.

Actual examples of the Semi Prince II have been seen with all three lens and shutter combinations. Minor variations are known in the lens engraving and in the shape of the lens rim. The cameras with Compur shutter have Schneider–Jsco f:4.5 F=7.5cm lens markings and a silver distance scale on the side of the lens. On the cameras with Prontor shutter, the lens bezel is either the same or has a silver distance scale at the front, as on some examples of the Semi Prince III.

An isolated example of the Semi Prince II is known with a Lucky Anastigmat 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a Compur shutter (T, B, 1–300). However this example belongs to the Fujimoto company and has the low lens number 00184; it is probable that the lens and shutter were mounted on the camera for testing purpose and that this equipment was never sold on the Semi Prince.

Semi Prince III

The Semi Prince III has a modified back latch, consisting of a long sliding bar with no leather handle, and a chrome trim line around the top and bottom plates and around the folding bed. It was advertised from May 1938 to December 1939. The following lens and shutter combinations are listed in the January 1939 advertisement in Asahi Camera:

• Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Prontor I shutter, 125–25, B, T speeds (¥85);
• Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Prontor II shutter, 175–1, B, T speeds (¥105);
• Schneider Isco Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, Compur shutter, T, B, 1–300 speeds (¥120);
• Schneider Xenar f/4.5 lens, Compur-Rapid shutter, T, B, 1–500 speeds (¥155).

Actual examples of the Semi Prince III have been seen with the first three combinations, but none has been observed so far with the Xenar and Compur-Rapid. None of the Isco lenses has a serial number visible at the front; at least some of them are known to have a number on the rear element's rim.

Minor variations are known in the engraving and shape of the front bezel. On the cameras with Prontor and Isco, the presumably early lenses have the distance scale at the front of the rim and are engraved Schneider Jsco, other lenses have the same engraving and a new rim with the distance scale on the side, and the presumably late lenses have the newer rim and the engraving Jsco Anastigmat with no mention of Schneider. The cameras with Compur and Isco have a larger lens bezel engraved Schneider Jsco f:4.5 F=7.5cm, with a black distance scale on the side and two silver rims at the front, perhaps to accommodate a different filter size.

The Compur shutter is actually not marked as such, and merely has a plate with F.DECKEL–MÜNCHEN screwed to the top and an FD logo to the right; the usual Compur marking appears nowhere, neither under the lens focusing ring nor under the aperture scale at the bottom. The "Compur" brand was a solid sales point at the time, and this strange feature remains unexplained.

The Semi Prince was succeeded by the Semi Sport with a new lens and shutter. It is said that the name was changed because the contract between the manufacturer Fujimoto and the distributor Fukada, owner of the name "Prince", was rescinded. The Semi Prince is not in the official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, presumably because it was no longer sold.

Aftermarket conversion

The Sun film stop is an auto-stop device, advertised by Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten in January 1939, and described in the page about Yamashita. The conversion was available for the Semi Prince and other similar cameras, such as the Super Ikonta, Ikonta, Nettar, Welta Perle, Semi Lyra and Semi Minolta.

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. Items 225–8. (See also the advertisements for items 155 and 230–1 and the picture p.428.)
• Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Purinsufurekkusu" (プリンスフレックス, Prince Flex). In Camera Collectors' News no.114 (December 1986). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. (With a reproduction of an advertisement for the Semi Prince II.)
• Kawamata Masataku (川又正卓). "Semi Prince — Luck." 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. 78–80.
• "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in 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. Pp.108—9. The Semi Prince does not appear in this document.
• 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). Pp.53, 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.331–2.
• Omoide no supuringu-kamera-ten (思い出のスプリングカメラ展, Exhibition of beloved self-erecting cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P.15.
• 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 1228–32.
• 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"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.8, September 1986. No ISBN number. Supuringu kamera (スプリングカメラ, special issue on spring cameras). Pp.76–80.
• Tanimura Yoshihiko (谷村吉彦). "Semi Purinsu kara Rakku made — Takahashi Kenzō shi ni kiku" (セミプリンスからラックまで・高橋健三氏にきく, "From the Semi Prince to the Luck — Asking Takahashi Kenzō"). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.11, March 1988. No ISBN number. Shirarezaru kamera (知られざるカメラ, special issue on unknown cameras). Pp.50–1. Based on an interview of Takahashi Kenzō, former CEO of Fujimoto, who entered the company in 1934.

Links

General links

In English: Semi Prince, a detailed picture of an original model among Dave's photos

• Schneider-Jsco lens of a Semi Prince at ksmt.com, with a link to a Semi Prince picture

In Japanese:

• Pages in Ranzōsha's camera site:
  • Semi Prince improved (Prontor II, Isco f/4.5)
  • Semi Prince improved (Perfect, Radionar f/4.5)
  • Semi Prince II (Compur-Rapid, Xenar f/4.5)
• Semi Prince II at Itō Sadanobu's camera collection (archived)

Other documents

In Japanese:

• History page at the Fujimoto official website (archived)