Semi Rody

The Semi Rody (セミ・ロデイ) are Japanese 4.5×6 folders, made by Shibayama Seisakusho in 1941 and 1942 and distributed by Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten. There are two very different models, the first being a Baldax copy and the second being a horizontal folder inspired by the Duo Six-20.

The Baldax copy

The first Semi Rody is a Baldax copy, with a folding optical finder, a knob advance on the left of the finder and a body release. The release of the folding bed is below the camera. The back is hinged to the right. Film advance is controlled by two red windows, near the bottom of the back, protected by vertically sliding individual covers. The front leather is embossed SEMI-RODY.

It was first advertised in the February 1941 issue of Asahi Camera as the Semi Rody I, in three variants:

• Semi Rody IA: U.L.L. Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, T, B, 5–200 shutter (¥74);
• Semi Rody IB: U.L.L. Anastigmat f/4.5 lens, T, B, 1–300 shutter (¥88);
• Semi Rody IC: U.L.L. Anastigmat f/3.5 lens, T, B, 1–300 shutter (¥98).

In an advertisement dated July 1941, the lenses are called Rody Anastigmat and the following variant has been added:

• Semi Rody III: f/3.5 lens, Koho shutter with self-timer (¥120).

In advertisements dated October 1941 and January 1942 inserted by the distributor Yamashita Yūjirō Shōten, the lens name is U.L.L. again, the shutter is called Sport and only two variants are listed:

• f/4.5 lens, T, B, 1–300 speeds (¥88 in 1941, ¥102);
• f/3.5 lens, T, B, 1–300 speeds (¥98 in 1941, ¥114).

Another advertisement dated January 1942, directly inserted by the maker Shibayama Seisakusho, calls this model the Semi Rody I to distinguish it from the new Semi Rody II (see below). The lens name is Rody Anastigmat, the shutter speeds are T, B, 1–300 and the following variants are listed:

• f/4.5 lens (¥102);
• f/3.5 lens (¥114);
• f/3.5 lens, self-timer (¥141).

The incoherent lens naming probably reflects that the lenses were supplied by Miyoshi Kōgaku, the maker of the U.L.L., and were marked RODY Anastigmat at least after some time. One example has been observed with such a marking. It seems that the shutter plate of the early models is marked RODY at the bottom while it is marked SPORT on the later ones.

The Semi Rody II

The Semi Rody II is a very different camera, made in 1941 and 1942. It is a horizontally folding camera, with a body somewhat inspired from the Duo Six-20 and not unlike the Semi Prux made by Proud and Miyoshi. There is a top housing made of multiple facets and containing the optical finder in the middle. The advance knob is on the left, and there is a body release. The front leather is embossed SEMI-RODY.

This camera appeared in the advertisement by Shibayama dated January 1942 that is mentioned above. The lens name is Rody Anastigmat and two shutter types are mentioned: T, B, 5–200 and T, B, 1–200. In the advertising picture, the shutter plate is marked AMI TOKYO at the top and the shutter speeds seem to go from 1/5 to 1/200. Three variants are listed:

• f/4.5 lens (¥87);
• f/3.5 lens (¥100);
• f/4.5 lens, self-timer (¥128).

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 341–2. (See also the advertisement for item 220.)