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Japanese Field Cameras

Japanese kabine-format field cameras were the mainstay of photographers at the nation's Shinto shrines providing portraits of visitors attending ceremonial events ¶¶¶. The collapsible single- and double extension cameras, based on British designs, were produced by a range of manufacturers, chiefly Asanuma Shōten (浅沼商店), but also Konishi Honten (小西本店), Funahashi, Oriental Shashin (オリエンタル写真) and others.

Lenses

The design of the cameras remained stable from the turn of the nineteenth century until World War II. Initially a range of lenses was utilised, subject to the penchant of the individual photographer, coupled with the range of offerings by the camera maker or distributor. Documented are, inter alia, ¶¶¶

In the 1930s, the primary lenses were 21cm barrel lenses fitted with a slip on Thornton-Pickard-type rouleau shutter. In addition to imported German lenses, esp. Zeiss, a number of Japanese lens manufacturers carried 21cm to service the demand:

• Rokuoh-Sha Hexar 21cm f/4.5
• T.Y.O.W. Taiyo Anastigmat 21cm f/4.5 and f/6.3
• Tōkyō_Kōgaku Simlar 21cm f/4.5
• WIPA Yamat-Anastigmat 21cm f/4.5
• Yamasaki Congo 21cm f/4.5

Distinguishing Characteristics

Table 1 Distinguishing Characteristics of Japanese Field Cameras

GENERAL
FRONT STANDARD
	Konishi Honten, Osaka & Tokyo	TYPE B CAMERA	TYPE C CAMERA	TYPE D CAMERA	TYPE E CAMERA
	TYPE F CAMERA	TYPE G CAMERA	TYPE H CAMERA	TYPE I CAMERA	TYPE K CAMERA
Criterion
	Konishi Honten, Osaka & Tokyo	TYPE B CAMERA	TYPE C CAMERA	TYPE D CAMERA	TYPE E CAMERA
	TYPE F CAMERA	TYPE G CAMERA	TYPE H CAMERA	TYPE I CAMERA	TYPE K CAMERA
FOCUSSING SCREEN
	Konishi Honten, Osaka & Tokyo	TYPE B CAMERA	TYPE C CAMERA	TYPE D CAMERA	TYPE E CAMERA
	TYPE F CAMERA	TYPE G CAMERA	TYPE H CAMERA	TYPE I CAMERA	TYPE K CAMERA
TRIPOD PLATE
	Konishi Honten, Osaka & Tokyo	TYPE B CAMERA	TYPE C CAMERA	TYPE D CAMERA	TYPE E CAMERA
	TYPE F CAMERA	TYPE G CAMERA	TYPE H CAMERA	TYPE I CAMERA	TYPE K CAMERA
images by Dirk HR Spennemann (Image rights)