Tsubasa Semi
The Tsubasa Semi is a Japanese 4.5×6 folder made by Kigawa Kōgaku between 1950 and 1952. The body is copied on the Ikonta A, but the viewfinder is contained within a top housing (on the left when the camera is standing vertically). The advance left is at the left end of the top housing, with a red arrow engraved in red. There is also an accessory shoe, a body release, a folding bed opening button. Above the viewfinder, there is a KKK logo engraved in red and the words KIGAWA KōGAKU in black. There is also a KIKO TSUBASA logo engraved in the folding struts.
The Tsubasa Semi
The first versions can be recognized by the hexagonal trim around the finder window, and the Tsubasa lowercase markings in front of the top housing and in the front leather.
In 1950[1] and 1951[2], the Tsubasa Semi is first advertised in two variants, both with a Tsubasa 75/3.5 coated lens and a synchronized shutter: the Tsubasa Semi I with B, 25–200 speeds and the Tsubasa Semi II with B, 1–250 speeds.
Later in 1951[3], other variants are advertised, all with a synchronized shutter and a coated f:3.5 lens whose name is not precised: Tsubasa Semi I with T, B, 25–100 speeds, Tsubasa Semi II with B, 10–200 speeds and Tsubasa Semi III with B, 1–200 speeds and self-timer.
The same year 1951[4], the variant names changed again: Tsubasa Semi I with B, 10–200 speeds and Tsubasa Semi III with B, 1–250 speeds and self-timer. This time the lens was a coated Bessel[5] 75/3.5.
The Tsubasa Semi F
Notes
- ↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I and II, published in the December 1950 issue of Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 607.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I and II and Tsubasaflex, published in the March 1951 issue of Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 608.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I, II and III and Tubasaflex I, II and III, published in the May 1951 issue of Photo Art, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 608. — Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I, II and III and Tubasaflex I, II and III, published in the June 1951 issue of Photo Art, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 607.
- ↑ Advertisement for the Tsubasa Semi I and II and Tubasaflex I and II, published in the November 1951 issue of Ars Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 607–8.
- ↑ Roman version inferred from the katakana ベツセル.
Printed 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. Items 503, 606–8.
- 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). Page 464–5.
