Difference between revisions of "Sun"

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m (a bit more on Goyo Optical, removed non-functional links)
(made the Orinox binocular camera)
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The company appeared soon after World War II as '''Sun Kōki K.K.''' (サン光機{{kabu}}, ''San Kōki'').<REF name="Inoue 132"> Inoue, p.132. </REF> It was a successor of the company [[Kajiro Kōgaku|Gojō Kōki Seisakusho]], maker of the K.O.L. lenses, which ceased its activity in 1945.<REF name="Inoue 132" /> Early Sun lenses had the brand names Xebec and Sola, inherited from the K.O.L. period. In the 1950s or 1960s, the company was using the English name '''Sun Optical Co., Ltd.''' and was based in the city of Ichikawa (in the Chiba Prefecture, at the East of Tokyo).<REF> The exact address was Chiba-ken Ichikawa-shi Yawata 3–1814 (千葉県市川市八幡3ノ1814). Source: advertisements in {{ACA}} October 1953, p.220, and in the 1960 {{ACA}} annual. </REF> Its logo was an elongated "S" crossed by two brackets.
 
The company appeared soon after World War II as '''Sun Kōki K.K.''' (サン光機{{kabu}}, ''San Kōki'').<REF name="Inoue 132"> Inoue, p.132. </REF> It was a successor of the company [[Kajiro Kōgaku|Gojō Kōki Seisakusho]], maker of the K.O.L. lenses, which ceased its activity in 1945.<REF name="Inoue 132" /> Early Sun lenses had the brand names Xebec and Sola, inherited from the K.O.L. period. In the 1950s or 1960s, the company was using the English name '''Sun Optical Co., Ltd.''' and was based in the city of Ichikawa (in the Chiba Prefecture, at the East of Tokyo).<REF> The exact address was Chiba-ken Ichikawa-shi Yawata 3–1814 (千葉県市川市八幡3ノ1814). Source: advertisements in {{ACA}} October 1953, p.220, and in the 1960 {{ACA}} annual. </REF> Its logo was an elongated "S" crossed by two brackets.
  
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Sun made interchangeable lenses in various mounts, for still and cine cameras. It changed its name to '''Gotō Sun''' (ゴトー・サン) at some time, and was already known under that name in 1981.<REF> Nihon Camera Show 1981 catalogue, already showing the name "Gotō Sun". </REF> It was still in existence in 1983, and disappeared in the 1980s.<REF> Nihon Camera Show 1981 catalogue, still showing Gotō Sun lenses. </REF> There is significant evidence<REF> Polarizer filter bearing both Goyo and Sun branding [http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss302/nowinaminute/Sun/B-u5gEWkKGrHqFhEEw5g95lwiBMPzu06Jl_12.jpg] </REF> to suggest that Sun was absorbed into '''Goyō Kōgaku Shōji Y.K.''' (五洋光学商事有限会社), also known as '''Goyo Optical Inc.''', some time in the late 1980s. Goyo Optical was founded in 1976<REF> [http://www.goyooptical.com/corporate.html Corporate information] in the Goyo Optical official website. </REF> and produces mainly CCTV and industrial lenses; however its 50mm f/0.95 lens has recently (2010) been sold under the Noktor brand in [[Micro Four Thirds]] mount.
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Sun made interchangeable lenses in various mounts, for still and cine cameras. It changed its name to '''Gotō Sun''' (ゴトー・サン) at some time, perhaps in the 1970s, and no later than 1981.<REF> Nihon Camera Show 1981 catalogue, already showing the name "Gotō Sun". </REF> At that period, it manufactured the [[Orinox]] binocular camera, also sold as the Tasco Bino/Cam.<REF> [http://yumarin7.sakura.ne.jp/vixen/kr268.html Orinox] at the Old Telescope website. </REF>
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 +
The company was still in existence in 1983,<REF> Nihon Camera Show 1983 catalogue, still showing Gotō Sun lenses. </REF> and disappeared in the 1980s. There is significant evidence<REF> Polarizer filter bearing both Goyo and Sun branding [http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss302/nowinaminute/Sun/B-u5gEWkKGrHqFhEEw5g95lwiBMPzu06Jl_12.jpg] </REF> to suggest that Sun was absorbed into '''Goyō Kōgaku Shōji Y.K.''' (五洋光学商事有限会社, also known as '''Goyo Optical Inc.'''), some time in the late 1980s. Goyo Optical was founded in 1976<REF> [http://www.goyooptical.com/corporate.html Corporate information] in the Goyo Optical official website. </REF> and produces mainly CCTV and industrial lenses; however its 50mm f/0.95 lens has recently (2010) been sold under the Noktor brand in [[Micro Four Thirds]] mount.
  
 
== Lenses ==
 
== Lenses ==
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* [http://www.goyooptical.com/corporate.html Corporate information] in the [http://www.goyooptical.com/ Goyo Optical official website]
 
* [http://www.goyooptical.com/corporate.html Corporate information] in the [http://www.goyooptical.com/ Goyo Optical official website]
 
In Japanese:
 
In Japanese:
 +
* [http://yumarin7.sakura.ne.jp/vixen/kr268.html Orinox] at the [http://yumarin7.sakura.ne.jp/ Old Telescope website]
 
* [http://homepage2.nifty.com/himai/log34.htm Page of Imai's BBS] discussing Gotō Sun lenses
 
* [http://homepage2.nifty.com/himai/log34.htm Page of Imai's BBS] discussing Gotō Sun lenses
  
 
[[Category: Japanese lens makers]]
 
[[Category: Japanese lens makers]]

Revision as of 21:57, 11 September 2010

Sun (サン, San)[1] was a Japanese lens maker.

History

The company appeared soon after World War II as Sun Kōki K.K. (サン光機㈱, San Kōki).[2] It was a successor of the company Gojō Kōki Seisakusho, maker of the K.O.L. lenses, which ceased its activity in 1945.[2] Early Sun lenses had the brand names Xebec and Sola, inherited from the K.O.L. period. In the 1950s or 1960s, the company was using the English name Sun Optical Co., Ltd. and was based in the city of Ichikawa (in the Chiba Prefecture, at the East of Tokyo).[3] Its logo was an elongated "S" crossed by two brackets.

Sun made interchangeable lenses in various mounts, for still and cine cameras. It changed its name to Gotō Sun (ゴトー・サン) at some time, perhaps in the 1970s, and no later than 1981.[4] At that period, it manufactured the Orinox binocular camera, also sold as the Tasco Bino/Cam.[5]

The company was still in existence in 1983,[6] and disappeared in the 1980s. There is significant evidence[7] to suggest that Sun was absorbed into Goyō Kōgaku Shōji Y.K. (五洋光学商事有限会社, also known as Goyo Optical Inc.), some time in the late 1980s. Goyo Optical was founded in 1976[8] and produces mainly CCTV and industrial lenses; however its 50mm f/0.95 lens has recently (2010) been sold under the Noktor brand in Micro Four Thirds mount.

Lenses

3562527589_56865b7f03_m_d.jpg
Advertisement for Sun lenses in Asahi Camera October 1953. (Image rights).

For 35mm cameras

  • Sun lenses in Leica screw mount:
    • Sun Xebec 5cm f/2
    • Sun Sophia 5cm f/2
    • Prominar 7.3cm f/3.5 and 7.5cm f/3.5
    • Sun Sola 7.3cm f/3.5 and 7.5cm f/3.5
    • Sun Sola 9cm f/4
    • Sun Xebec Telephoto 9cm f/4
    • Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.8
    • Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.5
  • Lenses in Exakta mount:
    • Sun Sola 9cm f/4
    • Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.8
    • Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.5
  • Lenses in 42mm screw mount:
    • Sun Sola 9cm f/4
    • Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.8
    • Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.5
    • many others
  • and many other lenses from the 1960s onwards

For 4×4cm cameras

  • sets of auxiliary lenses for 4×4cm TLR cameras:
    • Sun Xebec Telephoto Model 44
    • Sun aux. Telephoto Model 44
    • Sun aux. Wideangle Model 44

For subminiature cameras

  • Sun-Tele 40mm f/5.6 for Steky

Other

  • Stereo-Sun stereo attachment
  • many cine lenses
3563161925_ef3e01027e_d.jpg
Advertisement for Sun lenses in Asahi Camera February 1955. (Image rights).

Notes

  1. ↑ The company name is written San (サン) in katakana but "Sun" in Roman script.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Inoue, p.132.
  3. ↑ The exact address was Chiba-ken Ichikawa-shi Yawata 3–1814 (千葉県市川市八幡3ノ1814). Source: advertisements in Asahi Camera October 1953, p.220, and in the 1960 Asahi Camera annual.
  4. ↑ Nihon Camera Show 1981 catalogue, already showing the name "Gotō Sun".
  5. ↑ Orinox at the Old Telescope website.
  6. ↑ Nihon Camera Show 1983 catalogue, still showing Gotō Sun lenses.
  7. ↑ Polarizer filter bearing both Goyo and Sun branding [1]
  8. ↑ Corporate information in the Goyo Optical official website.

Bibliography

  • Asahi Camera. Advertisement by Sun Kōki:
    • October 1953, p.220;
    • February 1955, p.201;
    • April 1955, p.174.
  • Hagiya Takeshi (萩谷剛). "Raika to sekai no raika-yō renzu" (ライカと世界のライカ用レンズ, Leica and other Leica-mount lenses). In Sekai no Raika renzu (世界のライカレンズ, Leica lenses of the world) Part 1. Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2003. ISBN 4-87956-061-8. Pp.178–88.
  • Inoue, Mitsuo (井上光朗). "Shashin renzu no yoake. Renzu-ya Funsenki" (写真レンズの夜明け・レンズ屋奮戦記, Dawn of the photographic lens – Fierce war tales between lens shops). 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.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp.128–132. (On the relation with Gojō.)

Links

In English:

In Japanese:

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