Venus (Seibidō)
From Camerapedia.org
The Venus (ビーナス)[1] is a Japanese 6.5×9cm folding camera taking film plates. It was distributed and perhaps made by Seibidō around 1934–6.[2]
The Venus is only known from a couple of advertisements for the Semi Dymos, where it is mentioned but not pictured. An advertisement in Ars Camera January 1936[3] lists two versions, both having a "Heedle" (ヒーデル)[4] f/4.5 lens and costing ¥34. 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 (perhaps made by Ōhashi Kōki Seisakusho). Another advertisement dated May 1936 only lists the Venus F.[5]
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Notes
- ↑ The Roman spelling "Venus" is unconfirmed but it is extremely probable.
- ↑ 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 and the Venus). Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.339, lists advertisements dated 1935 and 1936.
- ↑ Advertisement reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.79.
- ↑ The lens name is ヒーデル in katakana for both models. Sugiyama, item 1176, gives the Roman spelling "Heedle" on the Masnette plate folder, whereas Lewis, p.46, gives "Heeder".
- ↑ Advertisement published in Camera Art, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
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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 186.
- Lewis, Gordon, ed. The History of the Japanese Camera. Rochester, N.Y.: George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography & Film, 1991. ISBN 0-935398-17-1 (paper), ISBN 0-935398-16-3 (hard). P.48 (brief mention only). The camera called "Super Venus" certainly corresponds to two different models: the Super and the Venus.
The Venus is not listed in Sugiyama.
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Links
In Japanese:
- Advertisement for the Venus and Semi Dymos published in the May 1936 issue of Camera Art, reproduced in Nostalgic Camera by Toshio Inamura.
