Difference between revisions of "Zessan"
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | The Zessan has a metal body with a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The advance knob is at the top right. The tubular optical finder is offset to the left and | + | The Zessan has a metal body with a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The advance knob is at the top right, as seen by the photographer. The tubular optical finder is offset to the left, and extends further to the left to support the accessory shoe. The top plate is removable for film loading (as on the [[Picny]] and [[Gelto]] cameras, to which the Zessan is directly comparable). It is locked by a small knob between the finder and advance knob, with ''O'' and ''L'' indications. |
| − | The shutter is an everset [[Licht]] by [[Hattori|Seikōsha]] and | + | The back has two red windows to control the film advance, protected by horizontally sliding individual covers. There are two round film flanges at the bottom; the serial number is engraved on that on the left. The tripod thread is offset to the right. |
| + | |||
| + | The shutter is an everset [[Licht]] by [[Hattori|Seikōsha]], with a [[thread and pin release]] (a simple replacement for a self-timer). The lens is front-cell focusing, and is normally a 50mm f/4.5. | ||
== Advertisements and other documents == | == Advertisements and other documents == | ||
| − | The Zessan | + | The Zessan appears in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in 1941, in two versions called "Zessan I" (¥60) and "Zessan II" (¥77) with no further detail.<REF> {{Kakaku0141_short}}, type 1, sections 5 and 7. </REF> The camera is also pictured in an advertisement dated February 1941 but again no detail was given.<REF> [http://syasinsyuu.cool.ne.jp/camera/Ri2.jpg Advertisement] in ''[[Gakusei no Kagaku]]'', reproduced in the [http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/syasinsyuu/index.htm Gochamaze website]. </REF> |
| + | |||
| + | The Zessan again appears in the April 1943 government inquiry on Japanese camera production, again in two versions.<REF> {{Inquiry1943_short}}, items 158–9. </REF> Both are called "Zessan I" in a recent reproduction of the document, but the original document presumably has "Zessan I" and "Zessan II".<REF> ''Supuringu kamera de ikou,'' p.187, says that the original document is hardly legible at some places. </REF> Both have the [[Licht]] shutter and a 50/4.5 three-element lens made by [[Ricoh|Riken]]. The lens is called Roico on one model and "Seiko" (セイコ) on the other, but the latter is surely a typo for "Seica" (セイカ). | ||
| − | + | == Actual examples == | |
| + | Very few examples of the Zessan have been observed. One has body no.2971 and a Roico Anastigmat 50mm f/4.5 lens (no.3412).<REF> Example observed in an online auction. </REF> Another has body no.3997 and a Seica Anastigmat 50mm f/4.5 lens (no.50025).<REF> Example observed in an online auction. </REF> | ||
== Name == | == Name == | ||
Revision as of 19:01, 31 January 2009
The Zessan is a Japanese camera taking 3×4cm pictures on 127 film, made by Mori and sold by Riken Kōgaku Kōgyō (the predecessor of Ricoh) from about 1941.[1]
Contents
Description
The Zessan has a metal body with a telescopic tube supporting the lens and shutter assembly. The advance knob is at the top right, as seen by the photographer. The tubular optical finder is offset to the left, and extends further to the left to support the accessory shoe. The top plate is removable for film loading (as on the Picny and Gelto cameras, to which the Zessan is directly comparable). It is locked by a small knob between the finder and advance knob, with O and L indications.
The back has two red windows to control the film advance, protected by horizontally sliding individual covers. There are two round film flanges at the bottom; the serial number is engraved on that on the left. The tripod thread is offset to the right.
The shutter is an everset Licht by Seikōsha, with a thread and pin release (a simple replacement for a self-timer). The lens is front-cell focusing, and is normally a 50mm f/4.5.
Advertisements and other documents
The Zessan appears in the list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in 1941, in two versions called "Zessan I" (¥60) and "Zessan II" (¥77) with no further detail.[2] The camera is also pictured in an advertisement dated February 1941 but again no detail was given.[3]
The Zessan again appears in the April 1943 government inquiry on Japanese camera production, again in two versions.[4] Both are called "Zessan I" in a recent reproduction of the document, but the original document presumably has "Zessan I" and "Zessan II".[5] Both have the Licht shutter and a 50/4.5 three-element lens made by Riken. The lens is called Roico on one model and "Seiko" (セイコ) on the other, but the latter is surely a typo for "Seica" (セイカ).
Actual examples
Very few examples of the Zessan have been observed. One has body no.2971 and a Roico Anastigmat 50mm f/4.5 lens (no.3412).[6] Another has body no.3997 and a Seica Anastigmat 50mm f/4.5 lens (no.50025).[7]
Name
The Japanese word zessan means "praise" when written 絶賛 or 絶讃. Riken used many such names in the prewar and wartime period. The name has not yet been observed on any original document and the actual writing used by the company is not known.
Notes
- ↑ Made by Mori: "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 158–9.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 1, sections 5 and 7.
- ↑ Advertisement in Gakusei no Kagaku, reproduced in the Gochamaze website.
- ↑ "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), items 158–9.
- ↑ Supuringu kamera de ikou, p.187, says that the original document is hardly legible at some places.
- ↑ Example observed in an online auction.
- ↑ Example observed in an online auction.
Bibliography
- "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 158–9.
- "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 1, sections 5 and 7.
- Tanaka Masao (田中政雄). "Rikō kamera no nagare" (リコーカメラの流れ, Evolution of the Ricoh 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.14, October 1989. No ISBN number. Rikō kamera no subete (リコーカメラのすべて, special issue on Ricoh). Pp.8–11. (The Zessan is only mentioned on pp.8–9 of this magazine issue, otherwise displaying most of the cameras made by Riken and Ricoh. It is not present in the camera list of the Ricoh official website, mostly based on this source.)
The Zessan is not mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi nor in Sugiyama.
Links
In Japanese:
- Japanese prewar 127 film cameras, including the Zessan, at Nekosan's website
- Advertisement for the Riken cameras picturing the Zessan (first camera from the top), published in the February 1941 issue of Gakusei no Kagaku, reproduced in the camera company page of the Gochamaze website
| Asahi Bussan and Riken prewar and wartime cameras () | ||
|---|---|---|
| rigid or collapsible | ||
| Vest Adler | Gokoku | Semi Kinsi | Letix | Olympic | New Olympic | Regal Olympic | Semi Olympic | Super Olympic | Vest Olympic | Riken No.1 | Ricohl | Roico | Seica | Zessan | ||
| folders | pseudo TLR | TLR |
| Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Adler Four | Adler Six | Gaica | Heil | Kinsi | Chukon Ref | Ricohflex | Ricohflex B |
