Semi Ref

From Camerapedia.org

Japanese pseudo TLR (edit)
Prewar and wartime models
4.5×6	Hansa Rollette Ref | Roll Light Ref | Union Ref
4×4	Pilot Ref (4×4)
3×4	Alma Baby Ref | Baby Ref | Baby Roll Ref | Chukon Ref | Clover Baby Ref | Mario Ref | Pilot Ref | Prince Baby Ref
Postwar models
6×6	Cometflex | Dox New Six | Elliotte | Flex-O-Cord | Honestflex | Koniken | Mikono Flex C | Oplen Junior | Palma Brilliant | Rionflex | Rosko Brilliant | Topflex | Vesterflex
4.5×6	Binox | Semi Ref
4×4	Herlight
Japanese true TLR ->
Japanese 6×6, 4.5×6, 3×4 and 4×4, 4×5 and 4×6.5 ->

The Semi Ref (セミーレフ)^[1] is a Japanese 4.5×6 box camera, released in 1950 and attributed to Marusō Kōgaku.^[2]

Contents 1 Description 2 Usage 3 Notes 4 Bibliography

Description

The Semi Ref is a box shaped camera, and can be described as a box or a pseudo TLR. The body is made of tin.^[3] The advance knob is on the right hand side. The release lever is to the right of the lens and there is a B and I (Bulb and Instant) selector on the left. There is a large brilliant finder at the top, and strap attachments on both sides of the body.

The lens is a fixed-focus meniscus. A close-up attachment exists, said to allow pictures down to 60cm.^[4] The lens plate is written Maruso Refe at the top and MADE IN JAPAN at the bottom.

Usage

It is said that the camera was made on specifications of the Japan Travel Bureau and rented to Japanese inn clients for ¥200 a day.^[5]

Notes

1. ↑ This camera is called "Maruso Refe" in Sugiyama, item 4155, because of the marking around the lens. The name "Semi Ref" is given by Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 354, and probably comes from an original source.
2. ↑ Date: magazine article mentioned in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 354.
3. ↑ Sugiyama, item 4155.
4. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 354.
5. ↑ Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p. 354; Sugiyama, item 4155.

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. Item 578. (Unlike most other cameras covered in this book, no advertisement is reproduced.)
• 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 4155.