Difference between revisions of "Shōwa Kōgaku"
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It made the [[Leotax]] rangefinder cameras until 1961, and it also made the [[Semi Leotax]] and [[Baby Leotax]] folders as well as the [[Gemflex]] subminiature TLR. | It made the [[Leotax]] rangefinder cameras until 1961, and it also made the [[Semi Leotax]] and [[Baby Leotax]] folders as well as the [[Gemflex]] subminiature TLR. | ||
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== 35mm rangefinder == | == 35mm rangefinder == | ||
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Revision as of 21:28, 23 October 2010
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| Leotax K, image by Yann Roffiaen. (Image rights) |
Shōwa Kōgaku, later renamed Leotax Camera, was a Japanese camera maker.
It was founded in January 1938 by Nakagawa Kenzō (中川幹三) as Kyōei-sha (共栄社), based in Nippori (日暮里), Tokyo.[1] Nakagawa, a former engineer of Konishiroku, obtained financial support from Minagawa Shōten.[1] The company was renamed G.K. Shōwa Kōgaku (㈾昭和光学) at the end of 1938.[1] It became Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki K.K. (昭和光学精機㈱) at some time, certainly after the war, and was known under that name until 1956 or 1957,[2] when it was renamed Leotax Camera K.K. (レオタックスカメラ㈱).[3]
It made the Leotax rangefinder cameras until 1961, and it also made the Semi Leotax and Baby Leotax folders as well as the Gemflex subminiature TLR.
Contents
35mm rangefinder
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| Leotax F with Topcor-S 5cm f/2. Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. (Image rights) |
Leotax, not a Leica copy but an advanced Leica style camera - better than Leica: with uncoupled rangefinder.
- Leotax ( the only prewar model, 50 pieces made )
- Leotax Spezial
- Leotax Spezial A
- Leotax Spezial B
- Leotax Spezial DIII (switch to coupled rangefinder in 1947 since German pre-war patents were declared invalid by the USA)
- Leotax D IV
- Leotax F
- Leotax S
- Leotax SV
- Leotax K
- Leotax TV 2
- Leotax G
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| Leotax D IV, image by Walkingpastel. (Image rights) | Leotax D IV, image by inkyfingerz. (Image rights) |
4.5×6 folding
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| Semi Leotax (auto-stop) | Semi Leotax (postwar) | Semi Leotax DL |
- Semi Leotax (original)
- Semi Leotax (auto-stop)
- Semi Leotax (postwar)
- Semi Leotax New / DL
- Semi Leotax DL II / R
3×4 folding
14×14mm TLR
Catalogue
   
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| Leaflet by Shōwa Kōgaku, showing the Leotax and Semi Leotax (DL), c.1953. (Image rights) |
 
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| Detachable insert found inside the above leaflet, showing the Leotax S and Semi Leotax R. (Image rights) |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sugiyama, p.47.
- ↑ The name appears in advertisements dated August 1949 to March 1956, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.210–2 and 324.
- ↑ The name appears in advertisements dated October 1957 to February 1960, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp.324 and 326.
Bibliography
- Shōwa Kōgaku Seiki. Leotax to Semi Leotax, anata no go-aiyō ni fusawashii kamera (LeotaxとSemi Leotax あなたの御愛用にふさわしいカメラ, Leotax and Semi Leotax, convenient cameras for you). Leaflet published c.1953, date not indicated. Presents the Leotax and Semi Leotax (DL), and has an additional insert on the Leotax S and Semi Leotax R. Document reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.
- 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.
Links
In Japanese:
- Leotax page at Nekosan's website
- Leonon-S 5cm f/2 lens at Koujiya's blog
- Some Leotax on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand
In German
