Toyoca 35 (TLR)
The Toyoca 35 (トヨカ35) TLR, sometimes called Toyocaflex 35 (トヨカフレックス35), is a Japanese 35mm TLR made by Tougodo from 1955 to 1957.
Contents
Description
The Toyoca 35 TLR is shaped as a conventional 35mm camera with a mirror box and viewing lens grafted on one side of the taking lens. There is an addtional direct vision finder in the top housing, above the taking lens. The film runs horizontally and is advanced by a knob at the right end of the top plate, as seen by the photographer. The knob has an arrow indicating the turning direction, and its base is surrounded by an exposure counter. Next to it is the shutter release, surrounded by a milled cup. The accessory shoe is to the right of the direct vision finder. The viewing hood for the reflex finder is on the left, and contains a magnifying lens hinged at the front and erected by a small lever on the side. The rewind knob is at the left end of the top plate.
The camera name Toyoca "35", with double quotes, is engraved on a nameplate screwed above the viewing lens. There is a lens-shaped TOYOCA FLEX logo and "35" above the direct vision finder. The body serial number is inscribed in front of the accessory shoe.
The back is hinged to the right; inside the camera the exposure chamber and pressure appear offset to the right because of the mirror box. There are knob-like flanges at both ends of the bottom plate. The one on the advance side contains a tripod thread, there is a smaller knob next to it, with A and R indications, to unlock the sprocket shaft for film rewind. The bottom plate also has the words MADE IN JAPAN engraved in small characters.
The two lenses move together for focusing, and the helical surrounding the taking lens is driven by a focusing tab. The shutter gives B, 1–200 or B, 1–300 speeds and has a self-timer. The shutter plate is black and has the aperture scale at the bottom. There are two PC synch sockets buried in the main body under the viewing lens, with F and X indications corresponding to flash bulbs or electronic flash.
Notes
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 629. (See also the advertisements for items 628 and 630.)
- Awano Mikio (粟野幹男). "Aishō 'yoko-nigan' no 35mm-ki: Toyokafurekkusu 35 [Toyoka 35]" (愛称'横二眼'の35mm機・トヨカフレックス35[トヨカ35], The Toyocaflex 35 [Toyoca 35], a so-called 'horizontal TLR' 35mm camera.) 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.155.
- 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.932.
- 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 3822–3.
- Watakushi no ni-gan-refu kamera-ten (私の二眼レフカメラ展, Exhibition of twin lens reflex cameras). Tokyo: JCII Camera Museum, 1992. (Exhibition catalogue, no ISBN number.) P.31.
Links
In English:
- Marriage, John. "History of the 35mm Twin Lens Reflex".
- 35mm TLR at Massimo Bertacchi's Innovative cameras, also reproduced here at Fotografia e Reflex (these pages are based on the above article by John Marriage)
- Toyoca 35 at Historic Camera
In Japanese:
- Toyoca 35 at the Kamera Tenjiba
