Semi Proud

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Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
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For the postwar Semi Proud horizontal folder made by Sumida, see Proud postwar folders.

The Semi Proud (セミ・プラウド, semi puraudo) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera made by Proud-sha. It first appeared as a Baldax copy, and the Semi Proud II and III are variations. The Super Semi Proud is a rangefinder version, inspired by the Plaubel Roll-Op II. The name Semi Proud II was used again for a short-lived Ikonta copy, and different post-war cameras were called Semi Proud too (see Proud postwar folders).

All the prewar and wartime models were distributed by Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten.

The viewfinder-only Baldax copy

General description

The first Semi Proud cameras are copies of the large Baldax model for #0 size shutters. There is a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate and an advance knob at the bottom right, as seen by a photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and the back latch is covered by a leather handle. There are two red windows to control the film advance, protected on some cameras by individual pivoting covers and on others by a common sliding cover.[1] The front leather is embossed SEMI PROUD.

This body was sold to Takachiho (the precursor of Olympus) company for its first camera, the Semi Olympus.[2] (It is possible that the Adler CII and Adler III models by Riken are based on this body too.)

The original model

The original model, with no body release, appeared in 1935. It was mentioned in the January 1935 issue of Asahi Camera, at the end of an article about the Semi Prince,[3] and the earliest reported advertisement is in the June 1935 issue of the same magazine.[4] The Semi Proud is thus the first Japanese copy of the Baldax.

The original Semi Proud exists with a number of lens and shutter combinations. In July 1935, the following options were advertised,[5] all of them with a Corygon lens by Friedrich, engraved C. Friedrich München Corygon Anastigmat:

shutter rowspan="2" | Vario
(T, B, 25–100) 		rowspan="2" | Pronto
(T, B, 25–100) 		rowspan="2" | Compur
(T, B, 1–250)[6]
lens
f/4.5 ¥54 ¥63 ¥89
f/3.5 _ _ ¥105[7]
f/2.9 _ _ ¥120[8]

A popular edition (大衆版) was introduced later with a Japanese-made Proud Anastigmat lens and a Japanese shutter. The Proud Anastigmat lens is known with various engravings: Proud Anastigmat, PROUD Anastigmat or U.L.L. Proud Anastigmat. It was certainly made by Miyoshi Kōgaku. In March 1936,[9] the rest of the range was unchanged (as were the prices), and the popular edition was offered in two versions:

  • f/6.3 lens, Rulex D shutter, T, B, 25–150 speeds (¥40);
  • f/4.5 lens, Rulex D shutter, T, B, 25–150 speeds (¥45).[10]

A September 1936 advertisement[11] added two new versions:

The top speed of the Rulex B was upgraded to 1/200 at some time.

In an April 1937 advertisement,[14] other options were added:

The rest of the range was kept the same, with prices unchanged since 1935.

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 straightforward copy.

There is some confusion in the early advertisements about the Semi Proud II and III: in an advertisement dated February 1938[17] 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[18] 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[19], 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, in the following combinations:

shutter Rulex B Rulex A Parkur
(T, B, 1–250, self-timer)[20]		 Compur
(T, B, 1–250)
lens
f/4.5 ¥63 ¥68[21] ¥89 ¥100[22]
f/3.5 ¥72[23] ¥77 ¥98 ¥110
f/2.9 _ _ ¥115 ¥125

A Prontor II shutter option is also reported with the f:4.5 and f:3.5 lenses.[24]

In February 1940,[25] the same model is advertised again as Semi Proud in short. Only the combinations with a Rulex shutter are offered, at slightly different prices.

The camera is featured in the new products column of the April 1940 issue of Asahi Camera, announced with a Koho shutter by Takachiho (the later Olympus).[26]

The Super Semi Proud rangefinder model

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. Both production versions of the Super Semi Proud were optionally available with auto-stop film advance.[27]

The first advertisements, in 1937, show a pre-production version, described as "available soon".[28] 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[29] with the following options:

shutter Rulex B Rulex A Compur
lens
Proud f/3.5 ¥120 ¥130 ¥155
Corygon f/4.5 _ _ ¥155
Corygon f/3.5 _ _ ¥167
Corygon f/2.9 _ _ ¥190

Later the same year, in November 1938,[30] the Super Semi Proud is advertised together with the Semi Proud II. The auto-stop device is available on the latter as an option, costing ¥4.50 to which was added an extra ¥0.50 for fitting. It is unclear if this option also concerns the rangefinder model, but it probably does. The camera is offered with a U.L.L. lens by Miyoshi Kōgaku, in the following combinations:

shutter Parkur
(T, B, 1–250, self-timer)[31]		 Compur (T, B, 1–250)
lens
f/4.5 ¥135 ¥145[32]
f/3.5 ¥145 ¥155
f/2.9 ¥165 ¥175

The second production version is released at the end of 1938.[33] 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. An advertisement dated February 1939[34] again mentions a body release that seems to be at the same place as before. Here is the list of available variants:

shutter Parkur S Compur
lens
U.L.L. Proud f/4.5 ¥135 ¥145
U.L.L. Proud f/3.5 ¥145 ¥155
U.L.L. Proud f/2.9 ¥165 ¥175
Corygon f/4.5 _ ¥155
Corygon f/3.5 _ ¥167
Corygon f/2.9 _ ¥190

It has been observed[35] with a U.L.L. Proud Anastigmat 7.5cm f:3.5 lens and a Compur shutter giving T, B, 1–250 speeds.

The Ikonta copy

The next model is a copy of the Ikonta, with a folding optical finder, briefly advertised as Semi Proud II (セミ・プラウドⅡ型) in 1941–2[36]. It is probable that the previous Semi Proud II was being called simply Semi Proud for a couple of years, and the model II designation was thus reused.

In advertisements dated October 1941 and January 1942,[37] the following variants are listed:

  • U.L.L. f:4.5 lens, Shinko shutter, T, B, 5–200 (¥74 in 1941, ¥87 in 1942);
  • U.L.L. f:3.5 lens, Selon shutter, T, B, 5–300 (¥83 in 1941, ¥96 in 1942).

In both dates, the advertising company is the distributor Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten, owner of the Shinko brand. There is no mention of Proud-sha.

Notes

  1. ↑ Individual pivoting covers: example pictured in this page at Japan Family Camera and example pictured in an online auction. Common sliding cover: examples observed in online auctions.
  2. ↑ Sakurai Eiichi, p. 64 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 20.
  3. ↑ Tanimura, pp. 1–2 of Camera Collectors' News no. 116.
  4. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  5. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 88.
  6. ↑ Speeds: examples of the Semi Proud are known with a Compur shutter giving T, B, 1–250 speeds. This was standard at the time for Compur shutters in #0 size. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340, says T, B, 1–300 by mistake.
  7. ↑ This version has been observed by User:Rebollo_fr at the 2006 Bièvres fair, with lens no. 189976.
  8. ↑ This version is pictured in Tanaka, p. 77 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 8.
  9. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 71.
  10. ↑ This version is pictured (with a non original accessory shoe) in this page at Japan Family Camera, where it is mistakenly called "Semi Proud II". It has a non original accessory shoe, individual red windows covers and the Proud Anastigmat engraving. Another example has been observed in an online auction, with individual red window covers and the PROUD Anastigmat engraving. Both examples have the old Rulex shutter plate.
  11. ↑ Advertisement published in Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 104.
  12. ↑ This variant has been observed in an online auction, with a common red window cover, the old Rulex shutter plate and the Proud Anastigmat engraving.
  13. ↑ Speeds: the 1/400 top speed was standard at the time for Compur-Rapid shutters in #0 size. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340, says T, B, 1–500 by mistake.
  14. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.
  15. ↑ An example has been observed in an online auction with 5×200, B, T speeds, the old type of Rulex shutter plate and the Proud Anastigmat engraving. Another example is pictured in Inoue, p. 131 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no. 14, with 5–200, B, T speeds, the new type of Rulex shutter plate and the U.L.L. Proud Anastigmat engraving.
  16. ↑ An example is pictured in this page of Puppy's Island, with T, B, 150–1 speeds. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340, says T, B, 1–175 by mistake.
  17. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.
  18. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.
  19. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.
  20. ↑ Shutter characteristics: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  21. ↑ The prices of the Rulex A, f/4.5 and Rulex B, f/4.5 versions is swapped in the advertisement, obviously by mistake.
  22. ↑ One example observed in a Yahoo Japan auction, with the lens engraved U.L.L. Anastigmat.
  23. ↑ One example observed in an eBay auction, with the lens engraved U.L.L. Anastigmat and 5–200, B, T speeds.
  24. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  25. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
  26. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  27. ↑ McKeown, p. 804, mentions a variant with auto-stop advance for both the first and second production versions. The advertisements observed are ambiguous about the availability of the auto-stop advance on the rangefinder model. The few examples of the camera observed are not equipped with this device.
  28. ↑ Advertisement published in the May 1937 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
  29. ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
  30. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.
  31. ↑ Shutter characteristics: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  32. ↑ It is the variant pictured in this page of the JCII collection.
  33. ↑ It is called "Super Semi Proud II" in McKeown, p. 804, but it seems that it was simply called "Super Semi Proud", like the previous version. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340, mentions an advertisement dated December 1938.
  34. ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 90.
  35. ↑ Pictured in a Chinese forum.
  36. ↑ Dates of the two advertisements mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 340.
  37. ↑ October 1941: advertisement published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 106. January 1942: advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 89.

Bibliography

Links

In Japanese:

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