Semi Rosen

The Semi Rosen (セミ・ローゼン) is a series of Japanese 4.5×6 folders. At least three different cameras share the name "Semi Rosen". They were distributed by Ōsawa Shōkai, which was probably the owner of the Rosen name. Their maker is unclear, perhaps it was the company Proud which made the Baby Rosen and Rosen Four. (A proposed attribution to K.S. Fabrik is surely a mistake.)

The name Rosen was used again after the war on a completely different 4.5×6 folder, certainly a version of the Tsubasa Semi and described in the corresponding page.

The original model

The original Semi Rosen, briefly advertised in early 1937, is certainly a name variant of the Semi Dymos. It is an Ikonta copy, with the typical Ikonta struts. There is a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate. Its front part folds above the back one and it is perhaps of the Newton type. There is no body release, the folding bed release is on the right of the viewfinder and the film advance key is at the bottom right — as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and the back latch is covered by a leather handle. There is a special device for advance control (捲取特種装置), similar to the "talkie numbers" of the Semi Dymos, with a square plate on the camera's back and a red window at the extreme left, protected by a vertically sliding cover, probably to set the first exposure. The brand name ROSEN is embossed in the front leather in capital letters.

In an advertisement dated April 1937, the original Semi Rosen was offered with a Rosen Anastigmat f/4.5 lens and a Rosen shutter giving T, B, 5–250 speeds, for ¥58 — case extra ¥5. The Rosen shutter was certainly a name variant of the Light B mounted on the Semi Dymos. An auxiliary rangefinder called Cosmos (コスモス) was offered too, apparently in two versions, graduated in meter or in feet, both for ¥15.

The Semi Rosen III

The only record of the Semi Rosen III is found in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, itself based on the new products column of the April 1940 issue of Asahi Camera. This model is said to be a Baldax copy with a folding optical finder and a body release. The lens and shutter combinations mentioned are a Rosen 75/4.5 lens on a Rex shutter and a Keef or Welta 75/4.5 lens on a Prontor II shutter.

The Semi Rosen III is listed for ¥74 in the Template:Kakaku1940 short compiled in late 1940.

No record of a Semi Rosen II has been found yet.

The Semi Rosen U

The Semi Rosen U is another Ikonta copy, advertised in 1942 but certainly introduced earlier. Its body completely differs from the original model: it is more angular, has metal trimming and seems to be made of die-cast metal instead of pressed steel. The folding optical finder is more modern, with its rear part folding above the front one. The camera normally has a body release on the left of the viewfinder and a folding bed release on the right. The back latch consists of a long sliding bar and there is no leather handle. The name ROSEN is embossed in the front leather: the letter "R" is larger than the others and extends under the whole word.

The Semi Rosen U is listed in the late 1940 official price list too, for ¥88. In an advertisement dated January 1942 in Hōdō Shashin, the camera was offered with a Presto shutter giving T, B, 1–500 speeds and a choice of two lenses: a Rosen f/3.5 (¥161) and a Rosen f/4.5 (¥130). The f/4.5 version was offered alone in an advertisement dated February 1942 in Asahi Camera.

The "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras") lists the Semi Rosen U in two versions, with the Rapid-Presto shutter made by Kinshō and a Hildar 75/4.5 or Hildar 75/3.5 three-element lens made by Ōki.

Two examples have been observed with the Presto shutter. The speed rim is engraved RAPID–PRESTO at the bottom, the shutter plate is inscribed PRESTO at the top and K.S. FABRIK at the bottom. These examples reportedly have a Hildar Anastigmat 75mm f/4.5 lens.

One example has been observed with a Rapit Anastigmat 75mm f/3.5 lens and an unknown shutter, only inscribed K.K.S. at the bottom of the shutter plate. It reportedly has a K.S. Nippon marking on the back.

Another example has been observed with a Prouder II shutter, giving T, B, 1–175 speeds and having a self-timer. The shutter plate is inscribed PROUDER II at the bottom and reportedly Kostbar Bruder at the top. The lens is reported as a Coronar Anastigmat 75mm f/5.6. This example has no body release and the folding bed release is placed at the bottom, next to the advance key.

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 328–30.
• "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced 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: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7. Items 31–2.
• Template:Kakaku1940
• 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. 572 and 804.
• 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 1243–4.

Links

In Japanese:

• Advertisement for the Semi Rosen U published in Asahi Camera February 1942, visible in this page about old camera magazines of Xylocopal's photolog