Tanack V3 and VP
The Tanack V3 (タナックV3) and Tanack VP (タナックVP) are Japanese 35mm rangefinder cameras, made from 1959 by Tanaka Kōgaku. They are often described as a Leica copy, though their design and features were actually inspired from Canon models such as the L1. These cameras succeeded to the Tanack IV-S, a successful Leica copy with hinged back. They came after the more ambitious Tanack SD, released in 1957 and inspired from the Nikon S2, that was a commercial failure.
Contents
The Tanack V3
Description
The die-cast body of the Tanack V3 seems to be the same as on the Tanack IV-S, presumably to spare the cost of making new dies for the camera. The top cover is all new, and its design was somewhat inspired by that of the Canon L1. It contains a viewfinder and rangefinder combined in a single round eyepiece, offset to the left as seen by the photographer. The viewfinder has 1.0× magnification and contains a bright frame for 50mm focal length only, with fixed parallax indications[1][2] — unlike the Tanack SD which has automatic parallax correction. The rangefinder has 50mm effective base,[1] and its round second-image window gives a round patch at the centre of the viewing field.
The film is advanced by a lever, containing an exposure counter visible through a crescent-shaped window. It is rewound by a folding crank at the opposite end. The sprocket shaft is disengaged for rewind by turning a collar around the release button, with A and R indications.
The focal plane shutter is operated by two separate dials, and is certainly the same as that of the Tanack IV-S. The top dial is black and normally has B, 25–1 (in red), 50, 75, 100, 200, 500 positions, though very late examples have a different range of speeds (see below). An additional X indication is provided in green, pointing to the same position as 25–1. The front dial is black and chrome, and normally has the positions T, 1, 2, 4, 8, 25 (in red).
The camera has a PC flash socket at the left end of the top cover. There is a sliding button switching from F to X, placed next to the socket at the rear left of the camera. The accessory shoe is at its usual location between the viewfinder and speed dial. There are strap lugs on both sides of the body.
The lens mount is a three-lug bayonet, inspired by the Leica M3 but specific to the Tanack V3. The lens release button is on the side of the mount, as on the Leica M. No lens was ever introduced for that bayonet mount, and all the Tanack V3 were sold with Tanar lenses in Leica screw mount, mounted via an adapter ring smoothly preserving rangefinder coupling.[3] It seems that the bayonet was only introduced to make lens change easier and quicker — maybe specific lenses would have been manufactured later if the camera had met notable success.
The back is hinged to the right; it is similar to that of the Tanack IV-S but has a round film reminder in the middle, combined with an exposure calculator for flash bulbs. The locking latch of the IV-S was replaced by a round folding key under the camera, with O and C indications. This new configuration maybe allows to take refillable film cassettes. The word Japan is inscribed in small characters under the camera, next to the locking key, and the tripod thread is on the opposite side.
The name Tanack and model name TYPE–V3 are engraved above the viewfinder, together with a red film plane indicator. The serial number is engraved in front of the accessory shoe: N°xxxxxx. The company name Tanaka Optical Co., Ltd. is engraved at the rear of the top cover.
Commercial life
The Tanack V3 was announced and advertised in Japanese magazines from January 1959.[4] The January advertisement in Camera Mainichi lists the camera for ¥36,000 with a Tanar 5 cm f/1.9.[5] (This was ¥2,500 less than the Tanack IV-S with f/2 lens, an indication that rangefinder cameras were becoming harder to sell.) The February issue of Shashin Kōgyō contains a detailed article on the camera by Saitō Tomosaburō (齋藤友三郎) of the Tanaka company, perhaps the main designer.[6] The last advertisement was published in September of the same year.[7]
Variations and total production
Serial numbers for the Tanack V3 are known in the 102xxx and 103xxx range, from 102446 to 103798.[8] The total production can be estimated at less than 1,500 units.
Almost all the examples have the range of speeds described above, up to body no.103736.[9] The last known camera, with no.103798, has a newer range going to 1/1000. Its main dial has the following positions: B, 30–1 (in red) and X (in green), 60, 125, 250, 500, 1000. Its front dial has T, 1, 2, 4, 8 and presumably 30 (in red). The newer progression would be kept on the later Tanack VP, but not 1/1000 speed, that the older shutter design could perhaps not reliably sustain.
The Tanack VP
Description
The Tanack VP is an evolution of the V3, mainly differing by the viewfinder and lens mount. The bayonet mount of the V3 was abandoned, and the VP has an ordinary Leica screw mount. The finder has a larger window for illumination of the bright frame, as in the Leica M3, including the square second image window for the rangefinder. There is a slot at the rear of the top cover, next to the viewfinder eyepiece, apparently for a lever magnification or bright frame switch that was planned but never installed.[10]
Production and surviving examples
The Tanack VP was never announced or advertised in the press,[4] and is only known from surviving examples; it was perhaps never sold before Tanaka's failure.
Pictures of only two cameras are available. One reportedly has body no.8084 and appears in various books, paired with lens no.82426.[11] The other lacks the rangefinder adjustment screw at the front and is paired with lens no.82325.[12] From this scarce data, it seems that only very few examples were made — surely less than a hundred and perhaps only a handful prototypes.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Saitō, p.249 of Shashin Kōgyō March 1959.
- ↑ Awano, p.54 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.37.
- ↑ Awano, p.55 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.37.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.389.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.253.
- ↑ Saitō, pp.248–9 of Shashin Kōgyō March 1959.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.389.
- ↑ Example no.102446 sold as lot no.142 of the October 15, 1998 auction by Christies; example no.103798, sold as lot no.259 of Westlicht auction no.10.
- ↑ Example no.103736 pictured in HPR, p.301.
- ↑ Teranishi, p.26 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.45.
- ↑ Example pictured in Awano, p.54 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.37, in Sugiyama, item 3770, in HPR, p.303. The body number is reported in the latter.
- ↑ Example pictured in Teranishi, pp.26–7 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.45, and in this page of Nagoya's Camera Club.
Bibliography
Original documents
- Saitō Tomosaburō (齋藤友三郎), of the Tanaka Kōgaku company. "Tanakku V3 no kikō to tokuchō" (タナックV3の機構と特徴, Mechanism and characteristics of the Tanack V3). In Shashin Kōgyō no.83, March 1959. Pp.248–9.
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. Items 1338–9.
- Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Kokusan Barunakku-gata kamera: Tanakku" (国産バルナック型カメラ・タナック, Japanese Leica-type cameras: Tanack). In 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.37, March 1996. No ISBN number. Leica Book '96 (ライカブック'96). Pp.52–5.
- Christies auction catalogue: Leica, Nikon and Canon Cameras and Leica copies, June 9, 1994, lot no.28.
- HPR. Leica Copies. London: Classic Collection Publications, 1994. ISBN 1-874485-05-4. Pp.301–3.
- 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.914.
- Pont, P.-H., and Princelle, J.-L. 300 Leica Copies. Neuilly: Fotosaga, 1990. ISBN 2-906840-03-3. P.248.
- 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. Items 3769–70.
- Teranishi Jirō (寺西二郎). "Tanakku VP" (タナックVP, Tanack VP). In 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.45, March 1998. ISBN 4-257-13014-8. Sekai no Raika-gata kamera (世界のライカ型カメラ, Leica-like cameras of the world). Pp.26–7.
Links
In English:
- Tanack V3 and Tanack family at Ian Norris' Prime Lens
- Tanack V3 among copies of the Leica III at Massimo Bertacchi's Innovative Cameras
- Tanack V3 (1/1000 top speed) with Tanar 5cm f/2: lot no.259 of auction no.10 (November 18, 2006) by Westlicht
- Tanack V3 with Tanar 5cm f/2.8: lot no.142 of the October 15, 1998 auction by Christies
- Tanack V3: lot no.786 of the May 20, 2006 auction by Auction Team Breker
In Japanese:
- Tanack V3 with Tanar 5cm f/1.9 at Koujiya's blog
- Tanack V3 with Tanar 5cm f/1.9 and with Tanar 5cm f/1.8 at Fukagawa Seimitsu Kōbō
- Tanack VP at Nagoya's Camera Club
