Zenobia 35

From Camera-wiki.org
Revision as of 15:56, 1 March 2008 by Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (link fix)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Zenobia 35 is a Japanese 35mm rangefinder camera made by Zenobia Kōgaku (former Daiichi Kōgaku) in 1957–8. It has a fixed lens and a trigger around the base of the lens barrel to advance the film and cock the shutter.

The original model is advertised in 1957 and 1958. In an advertisement dated September 1957[1], it is offered with an O-Hesper 45/2.8 lens and a Zenobia-MX shutter (B, 1–500), for ¥17,000. Some changes are visible in a later advertisement dated January 1958[2]: for example a self-timer is added, the shutter cocking lever has a different shape and the focal length of the lens is now stated to be 46mm.

The Zenobia 35 F2 is advertised in 1957[3] and 1958[4] with an O-Hesper 44/2 lens (6 elements in 4 groups) and a Rectus MXV shutter (B, 1–500). Small differences are visible on the body, like a rewind crank and a nameplate marked Zenobia F2 in place of the self-timer.

The Zenobia 35 F2.8, advertised in 1958[5], looks the same as the 35 F2 with an O-Hesper 46/2.8 lens.

Notes

  1. Advertisement for the Zenobia 35 and Zenobiaflex Automat, published in the September 1957 issue of Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 1326 and item 1327.
  2. Advertisement for the Zenobia 35, published in the January 1958 issue of Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 1327.
  3. Advertisement for the Zenobia 35 F2, published in the November 1957 issue of Sankei Camera, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, item 1328.
  4. Advertisements mentioned by Kokusan kamera no rekishi.
  5. Kokusan kamera no rekishi mentions only one advertisement, in the July 1958 issue of Sankei Camera. It does not reproduce it but shows a small picture of the camera.

Bibliography

<-Okada Daiichi and Zenobia timeline (edit)
Type 1950s
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
                                                                     
4.5×6 folder viewfinder Zenobia P Zenobia M
Zenobia C
rebadged versions: Union Semi Walcon Semi
Zenobia H
uncoupled rangefinder Zenobia R
coupled rangefinder Super Zenobia SR-I Super Zenobia SR
6×6 TLR knob advance Zenobiaflex Zenobiaflex II Zenobiaflex F-II
crank advance Zenobiaflex
Automat
35mm rangefinder f/2.8 Zenobia 35 Zenobia 35
F2.8
f/2 Zenobia 35 F2
Leica copy Ichicon-35
Company: Daiichi Kōgaku ... Zenobia Kōgaku
Cameras whose actual existence is dubious are in a lighter shade.
Cameras in yellow are variants sold and maybe assembled by other companies.