Star Semi
The Star Semi (スターセミ) is a series of Japanese 4.5×6 folders, made by Takahashi and distributed by Ueda Shashinki-ten from 1940 to 1943.[1] Some sources attribute the camera to "Star Camera Works"[2] but this name was only used for advertising purposes and it was certainly not the name of any actual company.
Contents
Right-hand release models
Most models of the Star Semi are vertical folders with straight folding struts and a rounded body, not unlike the Semi Kreis. The finder, advance knob and body release are to the right when the camera is held vertically by the photographer, the reverse of the usual arrangement. The body release is actioned by the right hand's finger. The back is hinged to the right. The front leather is embossed Star in fancy letters. All the models have a Star 75/3.5 or 75/4.5 three-element lens made by Takahashi.[3] The shutters are called Star-Alpha or Star-Rapid and were made by Takahashi too.[4]
Early range
The Star Semi I and II appeared at the beginning of 1940, and they were featured in the new products column of the February 1940 issue of Asahi Camera.[5] Both have a Star Anastigmat 75/4.5 lens and a Star Alpha shutter giving T, B, 5–200 speeds.
The Star Semi I has a folding optical finder and red window advance. The Star Semi II has a tubular optical finder and an automatic stop advance device with an exposure counter, located in a small housing extending from the advance knob to the finder. In mid-1940, the model I cost ¥100 and the model II cost ¥120.[6]
Later range
Other models, called Star Semi III, IIIA, IIIB and V,[7] appeared at the end of 1940. They were first advertised in the December 1940 issue of Asahi Camera,[8] where the range was listed as follows:
- Star Semi I: f/4.5 lens, T, B, 5–200 shutter, model described above ¥74;
- Star Semi V: same model with a "special finder" (特殊ファインダー), ¥90;
- Star Semi II: same model with auto-stop advance and exposure counter, ¥100;
- Star Semi III: f/4.5 lens, Star-Rapid shutter (T, B, 1–500), manual advance ¥121;
- Star Semi IIIA: f/3.5 lens, Star-Rapid shutter (T, B, 1–500), manual advance ¥140;
- Star Semi IIIB: f/3.5 lens, Star-Rapid shutter (T, B, 1–500), auto-stop advance and exposure counter, ¥155.[9]
The Star Semi III and IIIA have the same folding optical finder as the Star Semi I.[10] The Star Semi IIIB presumably has the same tubular finder and auto-stop mechanism as the II.
The nature of the "special finder" of the Star Semi V is not described in the advertisements. An example of the Star Semi is pictured in Sugiyama with both a brilliant finder and a direct vision finder grouped together in a small housing.[11] The exact same part has been observed on a Semi Mulber also pictured in Sugiyama.[12] This example of the Star Semi has a Star Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens and a Star-Rapid shutter, and it is presented as a "Star Semi III". It cannot be a Star Semi V because the lens and shutter do not match, but it is probable that the "special finder" corresponds to this combination of brilliant finder and eye level finder.
The Template:Kakaku1940 short, compiled on October 25, 1940 and published in January 1941, listed the Star Semi I, II, III, IIIA and IIIB at similar prices, except for the IIIA and IIIB whose set price was ¥160.[13]
The February 1942 advertisement in Asahi Camera only mentioned the models III, IIIA and IIIB, and the March 1942 advertisement in Hōdō Shashin listed the whole range except for the model I:[14]
- Star Semi V, ¥105;
- Star Semi II, ¥116;
- Star Semi III, ¥140;
- Star Semi IIIA, ¥162;
- Star Semi IIIB, ¥180.
The "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), listing the Japanese camera production as of April 1943, still mentioned four models of the Star Semi, grouped in two body versions:[15]
- first body version, Star 75/3.5 lens, Star-Rapid shutter, B, 1–500 speeds;
- first body version, Star 75/4.5 lens, Star-Rapid shutter, B, 1–500 speeds;
- second body version, Star 75/3.5 lens, Star-Rapid shutter, T, B, 1–300 speeds;
- second body version, Star 75/4.5 lens, Star-Rapid shutter, B, 1–500 speeds.
This feature list has some incoherencies and the document perhaps contains mistakes.
Left-hand release model
A different model of the Star Semi has been observed twice.[16] It has a different body, with more angled edges and a reversed configuration: the folding optical finder, advance knob and body release are to the left as seen by the photographer holding the camera vertically. The folding struts are different too, they are now quite similar to the Ikonta struts. It is not known if this model was made by Takahashi too.
The lens is a Star Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 and the shutter is a Star-Rapid, engraved STAR-RAPID in the speed rim. The shutter speeds are not legible. The lens standard protrudes to the top right (as seen from the front), probably providing an attachment for a removable brilliant finder. The camera has been observed with the name Star embossed in the front leather or with a small Star nameplate attached to the front leather.[17]
Notes
- ↑ Made by Takahashi: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 25–8. Dates: advertisements and articles listed in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, pp. 337.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1246; McKeown, p. 902.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens items Lb26 and Lc5.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), shutter items 18-P-13, 18-Q-1 and 18-R-11.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
- ↑ Advertisements published in the August and November 1940 issues of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 76. The advertisement dated August pictures the Star Semi II and gives the prices, whereas the one dated November pictures the Star Semi I and gives no price.
- ↑ No model IV is known. This is perhaps because the number four is sometimes considered in Japan as bringing ill luck.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 72. The same source, p. 337, says that it was the first advertisement listing the models III, IIIA, IIIB and V. The advertisement pictures the Star Semi II.
- ↑ Shutter speeds: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 337.
- ↑ The III or IIIA is pictured in an advertisement published in the January 1941 issue of Asahi Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 77.
- ↑ Sugiyama item 1246. McKeown, p. 902, also describes this camera.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1207.
- ↑ Template:Kakaku1940 short, type 3, sections 4A, 4B, 6B, 7B.
- ↑ Advertisement published in Asahi Camera February 1942, visible in this page of Xylocopal's photolog, and advertisement published in Hōdō Shashin March 1942, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 76. The model pictured is a III or IIIA.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 25–8.
- ↑ Example pictured in McKeown, p. 902, and example reported and pictured in a post of the ZICG Yahoo Group.
- ↑ Embossing: example pictured in McKeown, p. 902. Nameplate: example reported and pictured in a post of the ZICG Yahoo Group.
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. Item 129. (See also the advertisements for items 108 and 136.)
- "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 25–8.
- 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). P. 902.
- 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 1246.
