Snappy
The Snappy is a subminiature camera made from 1949 by Konishiroku (predecessor of Konica).
Contents
Description
The Snappy takes ten 14×14mm exposures on 17.5mm paper backed rollfilm. From a distance, it looks quite similar to the Hit-type cameras, but it was made by a reputable company and it has a much better finish and better features.
The body has a trapezoidal shape, as viewed from above. The film is advanced by a knob on the left, as seen by the photographer. The back door is hinged to the right, and is opened by raising the advance knob. The spool holders are attached to its inner face, and it also contains an uncovered red window in a diamond-shaped frame.
The horizontally running[1] guillotine[2] shutter is placed inside the body, behind the lens. It is cocked by a sliding lever at the rear, on the right of the finder eyepiece, and it is tripped by a body release on the top cover. The speeds (B, 25, 50, 100) are selected by turning a ring at the base of the lens barrel. The lens is interchangeable via a screw mount. The standard lens is a three-element Optor 25mm f/3.5.[3] Its aperture is adjustable from 3.5 to 16, by turning the front bezel. It has a fixed focus, set around 3m.[4]
The camera is identified by the name Snappy engraved above the viewfinder. Some examples, but not all, have the word PATENTS inscribed below, in small characters. Some examples have MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN engraved on the bottom plate, and others have the same mention embossed in the back leatherette.
Commercial life
The Snappy was first announced in the September 1949 issue of Kohga Gekkan.[5] It was advertised in Japanese magazines from April 1950 to March 1951, and was episodically mentioned until July 1952.[6] In Japanese department stores, the Snappy was sold at the real camera counter, not at the toy counter as most other Hit-type cameras.[7]
Accessories
Telephoto lens
Other than the standard Optor 25mm f/3.5, the only interchangeable lens made for the Snappy is the Cherry Tele 40mm f/5.6. It focuses down to 3.5ft, and its aperture is adjustable from 5.6 to 16. The barrel is all chrome and the bezel is black. It comes in an auxiliary frame, which snaps in front of the finder window. The lens and finder frame both fit in a cylindrical carrying case.
Close-up lens
It is said that a close-up lens was available for the standard Optor 25mm f/3.5, allowing to take pictures at 1m.[8]
Hoods and filters
A small hood with UV filter and a large hood with a set of colour filters are pictured here and here at Submin.com. Both have a metal finish and a round shape. The smaller hood and the filter set are contained in small leather cases. The smaller hood is also found in the Snappy Camera Set (see below) and is certainly specific to the camera. It is not known for sure if the larger hood is original too.
Tripod adapter
A tripod adapter was made for the Snappy, and was included in the Snappy Camera Set (see below). That pictured in this page at Submin.com is said to be a modification of a Mycro tripod adapter, and it is not clear if it is original to the Snappy.
Case and box
The ever-ready case is brown coloured, with the name Snappy embossed at the front. For the US market, the original box has a pentagonal shape, following the body's outline, and has white, black and red colours.
Snappy Camera Set
Some examples of the Snappy were sold as a set in a red and black cardboard presentation box including the camera with case, the telephoto lens with case, the small hood, the close-up lens, the yellow filter, the tripod adapter and two packs of six film rolls.[9]
Notes
- ↑ Shima, p.153 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.35.
- ↑ McKeown, p.545, Shima, p.153 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.35, Mizukawa, p.37 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.53.
- ↑ Three elements: Shima, p.153 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.35, Mizukawa, pp.36–7 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.53.
- ↑ Around 3m: Mizukawa, p.37 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.53.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.353.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.353.
- ↑ Shima, p.153 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.35.
- ↑ Mizukawa, p.37 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.53.
- ↑ McKeown, p.545.
Bibliography
Original documents
- Photo Art December 1949. "Ōru kokusan kamera" (オール国産カメラ, All of Japanese cameras). P.35.
- Photo Art May 1950. "Kokusan kamera" (国産カメラ, Japanese cameras). P.47.
- Photo Art 12-gatsu-gō furoku Saishin Kokusan Shashinki Sō-katarogu (フォトアート12月號附録最新国産写真機総カタログ, General catalogue of the latest Japanese cameras, supplement to the December issue). December 1951. P.37.
Recent sources
- 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. Item 559 (see also the picture on p.432).
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.68.
- 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.545.
- Mizukawa Shigeo (水川繁雄). "Gucchī to Sunappī" (グッチーとスナッピー, Guzzi and Snappy). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.53, December 1999. ISBN 4-257-13026-1. Tokushū: 50-nin no korekutā ni kiku watakushi no ichi-dai (特集:50人のコレクターに聞く私の1題, 50 stories told by camera collectors). Pp.36–7.
- Pritchard, Michael and St. Denny, Douglas. Spy Cameras — A century of detective and subminiature cameras. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1993. ISBN 1-874485-00-3. Pp.70–1.
- Shima Kazuya (島和也). "Renzu kōkan-shiki mame-kamera — Sunappī" (レンズ交換式豆カメラ・スナッピー, The Snappy, a subminiature camera with interchangeable lenses). Kamera Rebyū: Kurashikku Kamera Senka (カメラレビュー クラシックカメラ専科) / Camera Review: All about Historical Cameras no.35, November 1995. Nihon no kamera 50nen (日本のカメラ50年, special issue on 50 years of Japanese cameras). P.153.
- 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 5136.
Links
In English:
- Snappy at Submin.com, with a reproduction of the English user manual
- Snappy, lot no.591 of auction no.10 (November 18, 2006) by Westlicht Photographica Auction
- Snappy, lot no.217 of sale no.4913 (February 14, 2006) by Christies
- Snappy in Nigel Richards' website
- Snappy among other subminiature cameras at the Subminiature site of Gary Sivertsen
In German:
- Snappy among miniature cameras at www.oldcameras.at
