Shinkoflex
The Shinkoflex is a Japanese 6×6 SLR. It is said that it was distributed by Yamashita Shōten (some sources say "Yamashita Shōkai" but this is certainly a mistake).[1] It is not known if it was actually made by this company.
It is commonly said that the Shinkoflex was the first Japanese 6×6 SLR, the first Japanese rollfilm SLR with a focal plane shutter and the first Japanese camera to have an advance lever.[2]
Description of the body
The Shinkoflex is strongly influenced by the Reflex-Korelle, with a focal plane shutter and a cube-like mirror box protruding from the body. The left half of the top plate has an advance lever and perhaps an exposure counter. The right half has the speed setting knob, with B, 10–500 speed settings.[3] It seems that the release button is on the right-hand side of the mirror box. The nameplate Shinkoflex is above the lens, in front of the viewing hood.
Lens equipment
It is said that the lens is interchangeable.[4] It is not known if it used the same mount as the Reflex-Korelle.
Two actual examples have been observed. One is pictured in Sugiyama and has a Radionar 7.5cm f/3.5 lens by Schneider, a lens that was perhaps originally made for the Reflex-Korelle. The other is pictured in this page of the JCII collection and has a different lens and a larger lens mount part, almost covering all the front plate.
Notes
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 2027, and McKeown, p. 1020, attribute the camera to "Yamashita Trading Co." This page of the JCII collection says "Yamashita Shōkai", but an advertisement for the Shinko Super reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 74, gives the name Yamashita Shōten.
- ↑ See for example Sugiyama, item 2027, and McKeown, p. 1020.
- ↑ Speed range: Sugiyama, item 2027, McKeown, p. 1020.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 2027, McKeown, p. 1020.
Bibliography
- 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). P. 1020.
- 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. Item 2027.
This camera is not listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
