View source for Venus (Seibidō)

{{Japanese plate folding bed}}
The '''Venus''' (ビーナス)<REF> The Roman spelling "Venus" is unconfirmed but it is extremely probable. </REF> is a Japanese 6.5×9cm folding camera taking film plates. It was distributed and perhaps made by [[Seibidō]] around 1934–6.<REF> Dates: Lewis, p.48, ambiguously mentions the Super as released in 1933 or 1934 (the camera is called "Super Venus", probably because the translator confused the [[Super plate folders|Super]] and the Venus). {{Kokusan}}, p.339, lists advertisements dated 1935 and 1936. </REF>

The Venus is only known from a couple of advertisements for the [[Semi Dymos]], where it is mentioned but not pictured. An advertisement in {{AR}} January 1936 lists two versions.<REF> Advertisement reproduced in {{Kokusan}}, p.78. </REF> Both have a "Heedle" (ヒーデル)<REF> The lens name is ヒーデル in ''katakana'' for both models. {{SUG}}, item 1176, reports a "Heedle" lens on the [[Masnette]] plate folder, whereas Lewis, p.48, mentions a "Heeder" lens — the latter source is less reliable for Roman spellings. </REF> f/4.5 lens and cost the same price of {{yen|34|1936}}: the '''Venus F''' (ビーナスF號) has a [[Rulex]] shutter (made by [[Neumann & Heilemann]]) and the '''Venus FF''' (ビーナスFF號) has a [[Light (shutter)|Light]] shutter. Another advertisement dated May 1936 only lists the Venus F.<REF> [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/daimos.html Advertisement] in ''[[Camera Art]]'', reproduced in [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html Nostalgic Camera] by Toshio Inamura. </REF>

== Notes ==
<references />

== Bibliography ==
* {{Showa10}} Item 186.
* {{Lewis}} P.48 (brief mention only). The camera called "Super Venus" certainly corresponds to two different models: the [[Super plate folders|Super]] and the Venus.
The Venus is not listed in {{SUG}}.

== Links ==
In Japanese:
* [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/daimos.html Advertisement for the Venus and Semi Dymos] published in the May 1936 issue of ''[[Camera Art]],'' reproduced in [http://www.remus.dti.ne.jp/~inasan99/camera/nostalgic_camera.html Nostalgic Camera] by Toshio Inamura.

[[Category: Japanese 6.5x9 folding]]
[[Category: V]]
[[Category: 1934]]