Difference between revisions of "Semi Proud"
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The '''Semi Proud''' (セミ・プラウド) is a [[Japanese 4.5×6 folders|Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera]] made by the company [[Proud]]. It first appeared as a [[Baldax]] copy. This body was sold to [[Olympus|Takachiho]] (the precursor of [[Olympus]]) company for its first camera the [[Semi Olympus]].<REF> Source: [http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/corc/history/camera/index.cfm?ote=1 The medium format folders at the Olympus corporate site]. Somewhat confirmed by a discussion with John Foster in [[Talk:Olympus folders]]. </REF> (It is possible that the [[Adler|Adler CII]] and [[Adler|Adler III]] models by [[Riken]] are based on this body too.) A variant called '''Super Semi Proud''' appeared with a rangefinder, inspired by the [[Roll-Op|Roll-Op II]] by [[Plaubel]]. The name Semi Proud was also applied later to an [[Ikonta]] copy, and it was used again after the war for different cameras. | The '''Semi Proud''' (セミ・プラウド) is a [[Japanese 4.5×6 folders|Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera]] made by the company [[Proud]]. It first appeared as a [[Baldax]] copy. This body was sold to [[Olympus|Takachiho]] (the precursor of [[Olympus]]) company for its first camera the [[Semi Olympus]].<REF> Source: [http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/corc/history/camera/index.cfm?ote=1 The medium format folders at the Olympus corporate site]. Somewhat confirmed by a discussion with John Foster in [[Talk:Olympus folders]]. </REF> (It is possible that the [[Adler|Adler CII]] and [[Adler|Adler III]] models by [[Riken]] are based on this body too.) A variant called '''Super Semi Proud''' appeared with a rangefinder, inspired by the [[Roll-Op|Roll-Op II]] by [[Plaubel]]. The name Semi Proud was also applied later to an [[Ikonta]] copy, and it was used again after the war for different cameras. | ||
| − | All the prewar models were distributed by [[Yamashita | + | All the prewar models were distributed by [[Yamashita|Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten]]. |
== The original Baldax copy == | == The original Baldax copy == | ||
Revision as of 14:36, 4 September 2006
The Semi Proud (セミ・プラウド) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera made by the company Proud. It first appeared as a Baldax copy. This body was sold to Takachiho (the precursor of Olympus) company for its first camera the Semi Olympus.[1] (It is possible that the Adler CII and Adler III models by Riken are based on this body too.) A variant called Super Semi Proud appeared with a rangefinder, inspired by the Roll-Op II by Plaubel. The name Semi Proud was also applied later to an Ikonta copy, and it was used again after the war for different cameras.
All the prewar models were distributed by Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten.
Contents
The original Baldax copy
The original model appears in 1935[2] and is perhaps the first Japanese copy of the Baldax. It is based on the large Baldax model for #0 size shutters. It has a folding optical finder and the advance knob on the opposite side. Film advance is controlled by two red windows in the back, protected by individual pivoting covers. The back itself is hinged to the left. The front leather is embossed SEMI PROUD.
It exists with a number of lens and shutter combinations. In July 1935, the following options are advertised[3], all of them with a Corygon lens by Friedrich, engraved C. Friedrich München Corygon Anastigmat:
- f:4.5 lens, Vario shutter (¥54);
- f:4.5 lens, Pronto shutter (¥63);
- f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥89);
- f:3.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥105);
- f:2.9 lens, Compur shutter (¥120).
The advertisement does not mention the shutter speeds. Kokusan kamera no rekishi[4] reports T, B, 25–100 for the Vario and Pronto and T, B, 1–300 for the Compur. However one example of the Semi Proud has been observed[5] with a Compur giving T, B, 1–250 speeds and a Corygon f:3.5 lens.
In some advertisements, a distinction is made between the popular edition (大衆版) with a Proud Anastigmat lens and the model equipped with an imported Corygon lens and an imported shutter. In April 1937[6], the options were as follows:
- popular edition with a Proud Anastigmat lens[7]:
- model with an imported Corygon lens:
It is worth noting that the lens and shutter alone represent a substantial part of the price. As was the case above, the shutter speeds are not mentioned in the advertisement. Kokusan kamera no rekishi gives T, B, 25–150 for the Rulex D, T, B, 5–150 for the Rulex B, T, B, 1–175 for the Prontor II and T, B, 1–500 for the Compur-Rapid. However, an example has been observed[10] with a Prontor II shutter giving T, B, 1–150 speeds.
The Semi Proud II and III
The Semi Proud II and Semi Proud III appear in 1938. They introduce two innovations: a body release and an automatic stop advance device with an exposure counter. The latter seems inspired by the Plaubel device mounted on the Roll-Op II folder and on roll-film backs for the Makina, but it is not a plain copy.
There is some confusion in the early advertisements for the Semi Proud II and III: in an advertisement dated February 1938[11] the Semi Proud II is announced with the auto-stop advance only, while the Semi Proud III has both auto-stop advance and a body release. The camera pictured is a Semi Proud II: the Compur shutter has a sort of release arm mounted on the shutter plate and connected with the shutter's own release lever. The release lever of the Compur is meant to be used with a body release linkage and thus it is not very accessible. The purpose of the release arm is probably to overcome this problem.
In a later advertisement dated September 1938[12] the Semi Proud II has the body release only and costs between ¥63 and ¥125, while the Semi Proud III again has both features and costs between ¥68 and ¥130.
Later the same year, in November 1938, the Semi Proud II is advertised with body release and red window advance, and the Semi Proud III designation has disappeared. The auto-stop device is available as an option, costing ¥4.50 to which was added an extra ¥0.50 for fitting. The camera is offered with a U.L.L. lens by Miyoshi Kōgaku, engraved U.L.L. Anastigmat, in the following combinations:
- f:4.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥63);
- f:4.5 lens, Rulex A shutter (¥68)[13];
- f:3.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥72);
- f:3.5 lens, Rulex A shutter (¥77);
- f:4.5 lens, unknown shutter, maybe Parker[14], giving 1–250 speeds with self-timer (¥89);
- f:3.5 lens, same shutter (¥98);
- f:2.9 lens, same shutter (¥115);
- f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥100);
- f:3.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥110);
- f:2.9 lens, Compur shutter (¥125).
One example with an U.L.L. Anastigmat 7.5cm f:4.5 lens and a Compur shutter giving T, B, 1–250 speeds has been observed[15]. Kokusan kamera no rekishi also mentions a Prontor II shutter option with the f:4.5 and f:3.5 lenses.[16]
The Super Semi Proud
The Super Semi Proud (スーパー・セミ・プラウド) is a model with coupled rangefinder. The whole lens and shutter assembly is mounted on a helical for unit focusing. The models observed have no auto-stop advance. In the advertisements observed, the pictures do not clearly show the film advance part, and the text is ambiguous about the availability of the auto-stop advance for the rangefinder model.
The first advertisements, in 1937, show a pre-production version, mentioned to be "available soon".[17] There is no finder visible, and the rangefinder housing extends to the left end of the top plate, in a rounded shape. Maybe a combined view- and rangefinder was planned but never made, another possibility being that the camera was pictured in an unfinished state.
On the first production version, the overall layout is similar to the Roll Op II by Plaubel (itself derived from the Baldax). The viewfinder is a separate tubular one, offset at the right end of the top plate. The rangefinder unit has one rectangular and one round window, and it is engraved SUPER SEMI–PROUD between both. The body itself is still engraved SEMI PROUD in the front leather. There is a long rod between the viewfinder and the rangefinder, certainly the folding bed opening. A body release is mentioned in the advertisements, it seems that it is located on the folding bed, to be tripped by the left hand, but the pictures do not show this very precisely.
This version is advertised in the June 1938 issue of Asahi Camera[18] with the following options:
- Proud f:3.5 lens, Rulex B shutter (¥120);
- Proud f:3.5 lens, Rulex A shutter (¥130);
- Proud f:3.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥155);
- Corygon f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥155);
- Corygon f:3.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥167);
- Corygon f:2.9 lens, Compur shutter (¥190).
It also appears in a 1938 price list of the dealer Shinbi-Dō (眞美堂), offered with an f:4.5 lens and a Compur shutter for ¥140. Kokusan kamera no rekishi also mentions U.L.L. f:4.5, f:3.5 and f:2.9 lenses mounted in Compur or Parker[19] shutters. It has been observed with such a combination: U.L.L. Proud Anastigmat 7.5cm f:4.5 lens and Compur shutter giving T, B, 1–250 speeds.[20]
The second production version is released at the end of 1938[21]. It has a restyled top housing, reminiscent of the Super Sport Dolly by Certo, integrating both the view- and the rangefinder. There are two identically sized rectangular windows at one end and one round window at the other. The folding bed release button protrudes slightly from this top housing. The body release seems is again mentioned in an advertisement[22], and it seems to be at the same place as before. Here is the list of available variants:
- U.L.L. Proud f:4.5 lens, Parker shutter (¥135 — case extra ¥6);
- U.L.L. Proud f:3.5 lens, Parker shutter (¥145);
- U.L.L. Proud f:2.9 lens, Parker shutter (¥165);
- U.L.L. Proud f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥145);
- U.L.L. Proud f:3.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥155);
- U.L.L. Proud f:2.9 lens, Compur shutter (¥175);
- Corygon f:4.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥155);
- Corygon f:3.5 lens, Compur shutter (¥167);
- Corygon f:2.9 lens, Compur shutter (¥190).
It has been observed[23] with a U.L.L. Proud Anastigmat 7.5cm f:3.5 lens and a Compur shutter giving T, B, 1–250 speeds.
Notes
- ↑ Source: The medium format folders at the Olympus corporate site. Somewhat confirmed by a discussion with John Foster in Talk:Olympus folders.
- ↑ Earliest advertisement mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 88.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
- ↑ At the Bièvres fair 2006.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.
- ↑ Shutter speeds according to Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
- ↑ It is the example pictured in this page of Japan Family Camera, mistakenly called "Semi Proud II", with an accessory shoe that is probably not original. The same version has also been observed in a Yahoo Japan auction.
- ↑ It is the example pictured in this page of Puppy's Island.
- ↑ In this page of Puppy's Island.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.
- ↑ The prices of the two first versions is swapped in the advertisement, obviously by mistake.
- ↑ Inferred from the katakana パーカー.
- ↑ In a Yahoo Japan auction.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the May 1937 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
- ↑ Again inferred from the katakana パーカー.
- ↑ Example displayed in this page of the JCII collection.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340, mentions an advertisement dated December 1938.
- ↑ Advertisement published in the February 1939 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
- ↑ Pictured in a Chinese forum.
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 218–21. (See also the advertisement for item 222.)
Links
In Japanese:
- Semi Proud at Japan Family Camera, with an accessory shoe that is probably not original
- Semi Proud at Puppy's Island
- Super Semi Proud in the Camera database of the Center of the History of Japanese Industrial Technology
