Zeitax
The Zeitax (ザイタックス)[1] is a Japanese 4.5×6 folder, made from late 1940 or early 1941 by Motodori and related companies.[2]
(Image rights) |
Contents
First a Baldax copy
Description
Exposure table. (Image rights) |
The original Zeitax is a copy of the large Baldax model. The body is identical to the New Semi Condor, also made by Motodori. It has a body release on the left of the viewfinder, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and contains a single red window at the bottom left, protected by a vertically sliding cover. There is an exposure table on the back, written in Japanese. The name ZEITAX is embossed in the front leather in uppercase letters.
Tubular finder
The presumably early version has a tubular optical finder,[3] and was certainly introduced as a cheaper version of the Condor folders.
The official list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941 mentions a Semi Zeitax for ¥74, with no further detail.[4] The camera is called Zeitax I in an advertisement dated March 1941,[5] inserted by the distributor Matsuzaki Shashinki-ten. It was offered for ¥73 with a Zeitax Anastigmat 7.5cm f/4.5 lens and a Zeitax C shutter giving T, B, 5–200 speeds. The camera pictured in the advertisement is certainly a prototype, with lens no.10001. It has an accessory shoe to the right of the viewfinder, a feature which has not yet been observed on actual examples. The camera is curiously described as taking 17 exposures on 120 film (see an explanation given in an advertisement for the Condor folders that probably applies here as well). The Zeitax 75/4.5 lens has three elements and was made by Yachiyo.[6] The Zeitax shutter was perhaps made by Earth or by Mars;[7] it looks too small for the body, designed for #0 size shutters.
This model has been observed with no accessory shoe and an unmarked shutter (T, B, 5–200), certainly corresponding to the Zeitax C.[8] One example is known with a Shinko shutter (T, B, 5–200) made by Shinkō Seiki.[9] The shutter plate is inscribed SHINKO at the top and SHINKO SEIKI in small letters at the bottom.
Folding finder
Zeitax, dual finder, Zeitax Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens no.13646, Koho shutter (1–200, B, T). Pictures courtesy of Dan Orton. (Image rights) |
Zeitax f/3.5 lens and Koho shutter. (Image rights) |
The presumably late version has a folding optical finder. Only the marking and lens name can distinguish it from the New Semi Condor.
The official price list dated November 1941 has a plain Semi Zeitax and a Semi Zeitax I, II and III, all attributed to Motodori Kōgaku, with no further detail.[10] These probably correspond to the different versions of the Baldax copy, but nothing is known for sure.
An advertisement by the distributor Sanwa Shōkai dated March 1942[11] offers a Semi Zeitax together with the New Semi Condor. The Semi Zeitax is listed with an f/4.5 lens and a Rulex B shutter (T, B, 5–200) by Neumann & Heilemann, for ¥84, but no picture is provided.
Two examples are known with a folding finder, a Zeitax Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens, made by Yachiyo,[12] and a Koho shutter (1–200, B, T, self-timer) made by Takachiho.[13] The variant of the Koho is the same as mounted on the Olympus Six and is adapted for a body release, unlike the Koho shutter observed on an example of the New Semi Condor.
Dual finder
One example of the Zeitax is known with a dual finder unit, grouping an eye-level and a waist-level finder under a small L-shaped housing.[14] This part is perhaps identical to the finder unit of the late BB Semi First, BB Semi Rotte and BB Baby Semi First by Kuribayashi. The camera has a Zeitax Anastigmat f/3.5 lens and a Kokusaku shutter, inscribed KOKUSAKU at the bottom of the shutter plate, perhaps made by the company of the same name.
A similar camera has been observed with the same lens and a Mizuho shutter (T, B, 1–300), certainly related to the shutter of the Mizuho folder by Kuribayashi.[15]
Another example with dual finder has been reported with the Zeitax f/3.5 lens and Koho shutter combination;[16] however it is not known for sure if it corresponds to the Baldax copy or to the Zeitax III covered below.
Then a Nettar copy
Description
The Zeitax II and III have a completely different body, copied on the Nettar, with straight diagonal struts. The position of the controls is about the same, with the body release on the left of the viewfinder, the folding bed release on the right and an advance key at the bottom right. The back is hinged to the left. The name Zeitax is embossed in the front leather in lowercase letters.
Documents
Advertisements dated September 1942 and February 1943[17] have been observed, and others are mentioned until 1944.[18] The Zeitax III is pictured and described with a small housing containing both a direct vision finder and a brilliant finder.
The lens is a four-element Rifax Anastigmat[19] and the shutter is a Convex-Rapid[20] giving T, B, 1–300 speeds, engraved CONVEX–RAPID on the speed rim. The price is ¥150 with an f/3.5 lens. The September 1942 advertisement also mentions a Zeitax II with an f/4.5 lens, priced at ¥132. It seems likely that the description of the Zeitax III also applies to the II but it is not totally clear. The company name given in the two advertisements is Tokiwa Kōgaku Kōgyō. This company has the same address as Motodori Kōgaku; the relationship between the two is unknown.
The government inquiry compiled in April 1943 mentions three versions of the Zeitax;[21] it is not known if they correspond to the Baldax copy or to the Nettar copy. One has the Zeitax shutter (T, B, 5–200) and the Zeitax f/4.5 lens, another has the Koho shutter and Zeitax f/3.5 lens, the third has a Patent Mars shutter (T, B, 1–250) and a Rifax f/3.5 lens.[22] The Patent Mars was made by Mars; the Rifax is attributed to Motodori and said to have three elements, but this is contradictory with the advertisements boasting a four-element lens.
Actual examples
The only surviving example of the Nettar copy observed so far is pictured in Sugiyama.[23] It has a folding optical finder, a Zeitax Anastigmat 7.5cm f/3.5 lens and a Shinko shutter (T, B, 1–300) made by Shinkō Seiki. The shutter plate is inscribed SHINKO at the top, SHINKO SEIKI at the bottom and has a logo on the right. The base of the speed rim is engraved YNK.
Notes
- ↑ Zeitax is written ザイタックス (zaitakkusu) and pronounced "zaitax" (zai as in "xylophone", not "tsai"). The first part is certainly modeled after "Zeiss", while the "-ax" final is common (Contax, Baldax, etc.). Maybe the name is also reminiscent of the German word Zeit (time).
- ↑ The attribution to Motoshima Optical Works in Sugiyama, item 1268, and in McKeown, p.701, certainly originates from a confusion between 本鳥 (Motodori) and 本島 (Motoshima or Motojima), during the translation process. The name "Zeitax Camera Works" (ザイタックスカメラワークス) reported in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.337, and in this page at Japan Family Camera, is certainly a dummy name used for advertising purpose only (see Camera Works).
- ↑ McKeown, p.701, says that it is the early version dated 1939, but the date is too early.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 3, section 4A.
- ↑ Advertisement in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.73.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lc8.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), shutter item 18-U-3. The available reproduction of the document says アース (Earth), but it could be a typo for マース (Mars).
- ↑ Example observed in this page at Japan Family Camera (lens no.10731), example pictured in McKeown, p.701 (lens no.160x1, reported as an f/3.5 by mistake), and examples observed in online auctions (including lens no.11013).
- ↑ Example observed in this page at Japan Family Camera (lens no.12068). The "Chiuko" shutter name reported in this page is a mistake.
- ↑ "Kamera no kōtei kakaku kanpō happyō", November 1941, type 3, sections 4A, 6B, 7B.
- ↑ Advertisement in Hōdō Shashin, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.73.
- ↑ Zeitax f/3.5 lens made by Yachiyo: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb2.
- ↑ Example pictured in this page (lens no.13646), and example pictured in this page at Blog::Andows (lens no.14417).
- ↑ Example pictured in Tanaka, p.79 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.8 (lens no.13064).
- ↑ Example pictured in Fujishima, p.23 of Kurashikku Kamera Senka no.8 (lens no.13928).
- ↑ Example reported in an online auction (no picture observed).
- ↑ September 1942: advertisement published in Asahi Graph (23 September 1942), reproduced in the Gochamaze website. February 1943: advertisement published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.73.
- ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.337.
- ↑ The lens name is written リアックス in the September 1942 advertisement and リフアツクス in the February 1943 advertisement. The first name is assumed to be a typo and the second one probably corresponds to Rifax in Roman writing.
- ↑ The name is written コンベックス・ラピツド in the September 1942 advertisement and コンベツクス・デピット in the February 1943 advertisement. The latter is certainly a typo and the Roman name CONVEX-RAPID is faintly visible in the pictures.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 37–9.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens items Lb2, Lb24 and Lc8, shutter items 18-U-3, 18-U-12 and 24-P-4.
- ↑ Sugiyama, item 1268 (lens no.13485). The camera is called "Zeitax I", perhaps by mistake.
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 117–9.
- Fujishima Kōichi (藤島広一). "Shattā ni yoru nendai shibetsu" (シャッターによる年代識別, Dating a camera from its shutter). 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.8, September 1986. No ISBN number. Supuringu kamera (スプリングカメラ, special issue on spring cameras). Pp.21–4.
- "Kamera no kōtei kakaku kanpō happyō" (カメラの公定価格官報発表, Official announcement of the set prices of the cameras), November 1941. Extract of a table listing Japanese camera production and setting the retail prices, reproduced in "Bebī Semi Fāsuto 'Kore ha bebī wo nanotta semi-ki da'" (ベビーセミファースト"これはベビーを名乗ったセミ機だ", Baby Semi First, 'this is a Semi camera called Baby'), an article by Furukawa Yasuo (古川保男) in Camera Collectors' News no. 277 (July 2000). Nishinomiya: Camera Collectors News-sha. P. 27. Type 3, sections 4A, 6B, 7B.
- "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" (国産写真機ノ現状調査, Inquiry into Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of April 1943. Reproduced in Supuringu kamera de ikou: Zen 69 kishu no shōkai to tsukaikata (スプリングカメラでいこう: 全69機種の紹介と使い方, Let's try spring cameras: Presentation and use of 69 machines). Tokyo: Shashinkogyo Syuppan-sha, 2004. ISBN 4-87956-072-3. Pp.180–7. Items 37–9.
- "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku" (国産写真機の公定価格, Set prices of the Japanese cameras), listing Japanese camera production as of October 25, 1940 and setting the retail prices from December 10, 1940. Published in Asahi Camera January 1941 and reproduced in 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. Pp.108—9. Type 3, section 4A.
- 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.701.
- 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. Item 1268.
- Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Sonota no nihon no supuringu-kamera" (その他の日本のスプリングカメラ, "Other Japanese folding cameras"). 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.8, September 1986. No ISBN number. Supuringu kamera (スプリングカメラ, special issue on spring cameras). Pp.76–80.
Links
In English:
In Japanese:
- Zeitax with Zeitax shutter and with Shinko shutter at Japan Family Camera
- Zeitax with a Koho shutter at Blog::Andows
- Advertisement for the Zeitax II and III published in the 23 September 1942 issue of Asahi Graph, reproduced in the Japanese camera page of the Gochamaze website