Difference between revisions of "Spiratone"
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− | + | '''Spiratone''' was an American distributor, founded by Fred Spira<REF name="Spira obituary">Dennis Hevesi, [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/arts/14spira.html obituary of Fred Spira], ''New York Times'', 14 September 2007.</REF> around 1940. Originally his company just offered developing services, as "Spiratone Fine Grain Labs"<REF>Advertisement in October, 1942 ''Popular Photography'' magazine (vol. 11, no. 4), page 94.</REF>; but after opening a store in 1946<REF name="Spira obituary" /> on West 27th Street, N.Y., the company quickly expanded<REF>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6071370047/in/pool-camerawiki This February 1947 ad] from ''Popular Photography'' (vol. 6, no. 1; page 172) shows the beginnings of Spira retailing camera accessories.</REF> into distributing cameras, lenses and all sorts of photo and darkroom accessories. | |
− | + | The company had a penchant for locating and importing offbeat photographic items—improbably cheap 400mm lenses, [[Lens#Fish-eye|fish-eye]] adapters that screwed onto other lenses—and then promoting them in typographically overstuffed ads<ref>See a [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/52664336507/in/pool-camerawiki/ typical 2-page spread] from the October, 1968, ''Modern Photography'' (Vol. 32, No.10; pages 126-127).</ref> in the back pages of photo magazines. Lenses from various manufacturers were offered under the Spiratone name, including several ultra-[[Lens#Wide-angle|wide-angle]]s and a chunky 135mm f/1.8. | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | The company had a penchant for locating and importing offbeat photographic items—improbably | ||
Spiratone closed its doors in 1990.<REF name="Spira obituary" /> | Spiratone closed its doors in 1990.<REF name="Spira obituary" /> | ||
− | == Products == | + | ==Products== |
− | === | + | === Camera lenses === |
− | * Spiratone Fish-eye 7mm f/5.6 | + | {{Flickr image |
− | * Spiratone Fish-eye 12mm f/8 | + | | image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/http://www.flickr.com/photos/7371379@N04/8535836972/in/pool-camerawiki |
− | * Spiratone | + | | image= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8386/8535836972_0fa73709f8_n.jpg |
+ | | image_align=right | ||
+ | | image_text=Spiratone Preset, screw mount 135/2.8 | ||
+ | | image_by=Frank Reiser | ||
+ | | image_rights=cc | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | * Spiratone Curvatar Ultra Wideangle accessory lens (series 7 mount) | ||
+ | * Spiratone Fish-eye 7mm f/5.6 accessory lens (proprietary mount with filter adapters) | ||
+ | * Spiratone Fish-eye 12mm f/8 accessory lens (proprietary mount with filter adapters) | ||
+ | * Spiratone Plura-coat Ultra Wideangle 17mm f/3.5 | ||
* Spiratone YS 18mm f/3.2 | * Spiratone YS 18mm f/3.2 | ||
* Spiratone YS 18mm f/3.5 | * Spiratone YS 18mm f/3.5 | ||
− | * Spiratone | + | * Spiratone Plura-coat Wideangle 20mm f/2.8 |
* Spiratone Wideangle YS 28mm f/2.8 | * Spiratone Wideangle YS 28mm f/2.8 | ||
+ | * Spiratone Wide Angle 35mm f/2.8 | ||
* Spiratone Macrotar 35mm f/3.5 (micro head) | * Spiratone Macrotar 35mm f/3.5 (micro head) | ||
− | * Spiratone | + | * Spiratone Plura-coat Minitel 100mm f/2, 58mm filter size |
* Spriatone Tc 105mm f/2.5 | * Spriatone Tc 105mm f/2.5 | ||
* Spiratone YS 135mm f/1.8 | * Spiratone YS 135mm f/1.8 | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spira-tel 135/2.8 auto | ||
* Spiratone Tc 135mm f/2.8 preset | * Spiratone Tc 135mm f/2.8 preset | ||
* Spiratone Macrotel 150mm f/4.5 (bellows head) | * Spiratone Macrotel 150mm f/4.5 (bellows head) | ||
− | * Spiratone Telephoto 400mm f/6.3 | + | * Spiratone Proxitel 200mm f/4 |
+ | * Spiratone Tc 200mm f/4.5 | ||
+ | * Spiratone Minitel 300mm f/5.6 (mirror lens) | ||
+ | * Spiratone Plura-coat Sharpshooter Telephoto 400mm f/6.3<ref>[http://olympuszuiko.wordpress.com/2007/03/27/cheap-super-telephoto-lenses-t-mount-spiratone-vivitar-etc/ Cheap Super Telephoto Lenses Part I – T-mount Spiratone, Vivitar etc]</ref> | ||
* Spiratone Mirror-Ultratel 500mm f/8 (mirror lens) | * Spiratone Mirror-Ultratel 500mm f/8 (mirror lens) | ||
* Spiratone Minitel-M 500mm f/8 (mirror lens) | * Spiratone Minitel-M 500mm f/8 (mirror lens) | ||
+ | * Spiratone Plura-coat Macro Zoom 35-105mm f/3.8 | ||
+ | * Spiratone Plura-coat Zoom 55-220mm f/3.5-4.5, 55m filter size | ||
+ | * Spiratone Plura-coat Zoom 70-300mm f/3.8-5.5 | ||
* Spiratone-Sun Electric Zoom 85-210mm f/4.8, T mount | * Spiratone-Sun Electric Zoom 85-210mm f/4.8, T mount | ||
+ | * Spiratone 2x VarXtender, M42 mount | ||
+ | * Spiratone 3x TelXtender, M42 mount | ||
+ | * Spiratone 2x TelXtender Model II, Minolta SR, Exakta, other mounts | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Darkroom equipment=== | ||
+ | * Spiratone 50mm f/3.5 enlarging lens | ||
+ | * Spiratone 75mm f/3.5 enlarging lens | ||
+ | * Spiratone 75mm f/3.5 flat field macro / enlarging lens | ||
+ | * Spiratone 150mm f/4.5 enlarging lens | ||
+ | * Spiratone Doub Logra M enlarger | ||
+ | * Spiratone Enlarger Focus Scope | ||
+ | * Spiratone Model 200C enlarging computer, paper exposure meter | ||
− | === Slide | + | === Slide duplicators === |
* Spiratone Vario-Dupliscope | * Spiratone Vario-Dupliscope | ||
* Spiratone Vario-Dupliscope II | * Spiratone Vario-Dupliscope II | ||
Line 42: | Line 68: | ||
* Spiratone Bello-Dupliscope | * Spiratone Bello-Dupliscope | ||
* Spiratone Bello-Dupliscope with ECLS Outfit | * Spiratone Bello-Dupliscope with ECLS Outfit | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Filters === | ||
+ | * Spiratone adapter 58mm to Series VII | ||
+ | * Spiratone adapter Series VII to 62mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Contrast-Blue filter, Series VII | ||
+ | * Spiratone Custom Polarizer B50 | ||
+ | * Spiratone Diffuser B50 filter, 50mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Diffuser SD-4 filter, 55mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Flourescent D correction filter, 52mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Mistmaker fog effect filter | ||
+ | * Spiratone ND 30.5 filter | ||
+ | * Spiratone Opticap UV filter, 55mm, 72mm, 77mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Polarizer (linear), Series IX, 55mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Repeater special effects filter, Series VII | ||
+ | * Spiratone Vignetar vignette filter, 52mm, 55mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spiralite 80A color conversion filter, 67mm, 72mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spiralite 85B filter, 67mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spiralite Rayburst Halo filter, 52mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spiralite Skylight filter, Series VII, 52mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spiralite Stellar filter, Series VII, 50mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spiralite Streaker filter, Series VII, 50mm | ||
=== Other === | === Other === | ||
+ | * Spiraflex TTL camera ([[Petri FTX |Petri TTL]]) | ||
+ | * Spiratone metal lens hood, Series VI | ||
+ | * Spiratone metal lens hood, 55mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone metal lens hood, wideangle, 58mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone metal lens hood, 67mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone metal lens hood, 72mm | ||
+ | * Spiratone UltiMatte Box lens hood | ||
+ | * Spiratone extension tube set, T mount | ||
+ | * Spiratone extension tube set, M42 mount | ||
+ | * Spiratone Autowinder N2 for Canon AE-1 | ||
+ | * Spiratone 444 SLR Film Camera Viewfinder Microscope (square - fits Canon, other brands) | ||
+ | * Spiratone 41 NI Eyepiece Maginfier (round - fits Nikon, Nikkormat) | ||
+ | * Spiratone 35mm Stripfilm Bellows attachment | ||
* Spiratone Bellowscope bellows, T mount | * Spiratone Bellowscope bellows, T mount | ||
+ | * Spiratone Macrobel bellows, M42 mount | ||
* Spiratone Proxiscope Sr. focusing rail | * Spiratone Proxiscope Sr. focusing rail | ||
* Spiratone Bi-Rail focusing rail | * Spiratone Bi-Rail focusing rail | ||
* Spiratone Circo-Mirrotach 90-degree lens attachment | * Spiratone Circo-Mirrotach 90-degree lens attachment | ||
+ | * Spiratone DR Electronic Flash Meter | ||
* Spiratone SSS flash meter | * Spiratone SSS flash meter | ||
* Spiratone Ring Flash, 55mm mount | * Spiratone Ring Flash, 55mm mount | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spiralite SR Electronic Flash | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spiralite SR Electronic Flash, Model BB | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spiralite photo light with Minette photo clamp | ||
+ | * Spiratone Eyepiece magnifier | ||
+ | * Spiratone Spotting Scope | ||
+ | * Spiratone Static Neutralizer Gun | ||
+ | * Spiratone Men's Canvas Photographers Vest (part 001201) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Advertisements== | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{Flickr_image | ||
+ | |image_source= https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/52399736873/in/pool-camerawiki/ | ||
+ | |image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52399736873_9e15ec8292.jpg | ||
+ | |image_align= left | ||
+ | |image_text= July 1948, ''Popular Photography''<br>Then still retailing other brands | ||
+ | |image_by= camerawiki | ||
+ | |image_rights= public domain | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{Flickr_image | ||
+ | |image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6110979543/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
+ | |image=http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6193/6110979543_207d4c4532_m.jpg | ||
+ | |image_align=left | ||
+ | |image_text= Feb 1949, ''U.S. Camera'' | ||
+ | |image_by=camerawiki | ||
+ | |image_rights=public domain | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{Flickr_image | ||
+ | |image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/6111028317/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
+ | |image=http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6080/6111028317_823680a390_m.jpg | ||
+ | |image_align=left | ||
+ | |image_text=Apr 1949, ''U.S. Camera'' | ||
+ | |image_by=camerawiki | ||
+ | |image_rights=public domain | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <br style="clear: both;" /> | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Line 57: | Line 156: | ||
In English: | In English: | ||
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/arts/14spira.html Obituary of Fred Spira] by Dennis Hevesi in the New York Times | * [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/arts/14spira.html Obituary of Fred Spira] by Dennis Hevesi in the New York Times | ||
+ | * [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/tags/spiratone An assortment of Spiratone ad pages] from the [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/ Camera-wiki Flickr stream] | ||
* [http://thesybersite.com/general/12mm-fisheye/index.htm Spiratone Fish-eye 12mm f/8] at [http://thesybersite.com/index.htm TheSyberSite] | * [http://thesybersite.com/general/12mm-fisheye/index.htm Spiratone Fish-eye 12mm f/8] at [http://thesybersite.com/index.htm TheSyberSite] | ||
* [http://olympuszuiko.wordpress.com/macro/ Spiratone close-up equipment] at the [http://olympuszuiko.wordpress.com/ Olympus / Zuiko blog] | * [http://olympuszuiko.wordpress.com/macro/ Spiratone close-up equipment] at the [http://olympuszuiko.wordpress.com/ Olympus / Zuiko blog] | ||
− | [[Category: Distributors]] | + | [[Category:Distributors]] |
+ | [[Category:USA]] |
Latest revision as of 13:22, 3 March 2023
Spiratone 20mm f/2.8 "Plura-Coat" lens image by Sasha Vasko (Image rights) |
Spiratone was an American distributor, founded by Fred Spira[1] around 1940. Originally his company just offered developing services, as "Spiratone Fine Grain Labs"[2]; but after opening a store in 1946[1] on West 27th Street, N.Y., the company quickly expanded[3] into distributing cameras, lenses and all sorts of photo and darkroom accessories.
The company had a penchant for locating and importing offbeat photographic items—improbably cheap 400mm lenses, fish-eye adapters that screwed onto other lenses—and then promoting them in typographically overstuffed ads[4] in the back pages of photo magazines. Lenses from various manufacturers were offered under the Spiratone name, including several ultra-wide-angles and a chunky 135mm f/1.8.
Spiratone closed its doors in 1990.[1]
Contents
Products
Camera lenses
Spiratone Preset, screw mount 135/2.8 image by Frank Reiser (Image rights) |
- Spiratone Curvatar Ultra Wideangle accessory lens (series 7 mount)
- Spiratone Fish-eye 7mm f/5.6 accessory lens (proprietary mount with filter adapters)
- Spiratone Fish-eye 12mm f/8 accessory lens (proprietary mount with filter adapters)
- Spiratone Plura-coat Ultra Wideangle 17mm f/3.5
- Spiratone YS 18mm f/3.2
- Spiratone YS 18mm f/3.5
- Spiratone Plura-coat Wideangle 20mm f/2.8
- Spiratone Wideangle YS 28mm f/2.8
- Spiratone Wide Angle 35mm f/2.8
- Spiratone Macrotar 35mm f/3.5 (micro head)
- Spiratone Plura-coat Minitel 100mm f/2, 58mm filter size
- Spriatone Tc 105mm f/2.5
- Spiratone YS 135mm f/1.8
- Spiratone Spira-tel 135/2.8 auto
- Spiratone Tc 135mm f/2.8 preset
- Spiratone Macrotel 150mm f/4.5 (bellows head)
- Spiratone Proxitel 200mm f/4
- Spiratone Tc 200mm f/4.5
- Spiratone Minitel 300mm f/5.6 (mirror lens)
- Spiratone Plura-coat Sharpshooter Telephoto 400mm f/6.3[5]
- Spiratone Mirror-Ultratel 500mm f/8 (mirror lens)
- Spiratone Minitel-M 500mm f/8 (mirror lens)
- Spiratone Plura-coat Macro Zoom 35-105mm f/3.8
- Spiratone Plura-coat Zoom 55-220mm f/3.5-4.5, 55m filter size
- Spiratone Plura-coat Zoom 70-300mm f/3.8-5.5
- Spiratone-Sun Electric Zoom 85-210mm f/4.8, T mount
- Spiratone 2x VarXtender, M42 mount
- Spiratone 3x TelXtender, M42 mount
- Spiratone 2x TelXtender Model II, Minolta SR, Exakta, other mounts
Darkroom equipment
- Spiratone 50mm f/3.5 enlarging lens
- Spiratone 75mm f/3.5 enlarging lens
- Spiratone 75mm f/3.5 flat field macro / enlarging lens
- Spiratone 150mm f/4.5 enlarging lens
- Spiratone Doub Logra M enlarger
- Spiratone Enlarger Focus Scope
- Spiratone Model 200C enlarging computer, paper exposure meter
Slide duplicators
- Spiratone Vario-Dupliscope
- Spiratone Vario-Dupliscope II
- Spiratone Vario-Dupliscope III
- Spiratone Bello-Dupliscope
- Spiratone Bello-Dupliscope with ECLS Outfit
Filters
- Spiratone adapter 58mm to Series VII
- Spiratone adapter Series VII to 62mm
- Spiratone Contrast-Blue filter, Series VII
- Spiratone Custom Polarizer B50
- Spiratone Diffuser B50 filter, 50mm
- Spiratone Diffuser SD-4 filter, 55mm
- Spiratone Flourescent D correction filter, 52mm
- Spiratone Mistmaker fog effect filter
- Spiratone ND 30.5 filter
- Spiratone Opticap UV filter, 55mm, 72mm, 77mm
- Spiratone Polarizer (linear), Series IX, 55mm
- Spiratone Repeater special effects filter, Series VII
- Spiratone Vignetar vignette filter, 52mm, 55mm
- Spiratone Spiralite 80A color conversion filter, 67mm, 72mm
- Spiratone Spiralite 85B filter, 67mm
- Spiratone Spiralite Rayburst Halo filter, 52mm
- Spiratone Spiralite Skylight filter, Series VII, 52mm
- Spiratone Spiralite Stellar filter, Series VII, 50mm
- Spiratone Spiralite Streaker filter, Series VII, 50mm
Other
- Spiraflex TTL camera (Petri TTL)
- Spiratone metal lens hood, Series VI
- Spiratone metal lens hood, 55mm
- Spiratone metal lens hood, wideangle, 58mm
- Spiratone metal lens hood, 67mm
- Spiratone metal lens hood, 72mm
- Spiratone UltiMatte Box lens hood
- Spiratone extension tube set, T mount
- Spiratone extension tube set, M42 mount
- Spiratone Autowinder N2 for Canon AE-1
- Spiratone 444 SLR Film Camera Viewfinder Microscope (square - fits Canon, other brands)
- Spiratone 41 NI Eyepiece Maginfier (round - fits Nikon, Nikkormat)
- Spiratone 35mm Stripfilm Bellows attachment
- Spiratone Bellowscope bellows, T mount
- Spiratone Macrobel bellows, M42 mount
- Spiratone Proxiscope Sr. focusing rail
- Spiratone Bi-Rail focusing rail
- Spiratone Circo-Mirrotach 90-degree lens attachment
- Spiratone DR Electronic Flash Meter
- Spiratone SSS flash meter
- Spiratone Ring Flash, 55mm mount
- Spiratone Spiralite SR Electronic Flash
- Spiratone Spiralite SR Electronic Flash, Model BB
- Spiratone Spiralite photo light with Minette photo clamp
- Spiratone Eyepiece magnifier
- Spiratone Spotting Scope
- Spiratone Static Neutralizer Gun
- Spiratone Men's Canvas Photographers Vest (part 001201)
Advertisements
July 1948, Popular Photography Then still retailing other brands image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
Feb 1949, U.S. Camera image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
Apr 1949, U.S. Camera image by camerawiki (Image rights) |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Dennis Hevesi, obituary of Fred Spira, New York Times, 14 September 2007.
- ↑ Advertisement in October, 1942 Popular Photography magazine (vol. 11, no. 4), page 94.
- ↑ This February 1947 ad from Popular Photography (vol. 6, no. 1; page 172) shows the beginnings of Spira retailing camera accessories.
- ↑ See a typical 2-page spread from the October, 1968, Modern Photography (Vol. 32, No.10; pages 126-127).
- ↑ Cheap Super Telephoto Lenses Part I – T-mount Spiratone, Vivitar etc
Links
In English:
- Obituary of Fred Spira by Dennis Hevesi in the New York Times
- An assortment of Spiratone ad pages from the Camera-wiki Flickr stream
- Spiratone Fish-eye 12mm f/8 at TheSyberSite
- Spiratone close-up equipment at the Olympus / Zuiko blog