Picked this camera in Japan. Any info?

[tmorales]

I bought this camera at a small photography store in Tokyo. I can seem to find any information on it though. Can anyone lead me to information on it? I haven't performed and light leak tests on it or tried to use it. I don't have the time or resources to use it so I am also wondering how much something like this would sell for. Thanks for any input.

Here is a link with photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmorales/sets/72157625838006335/

[Caivman]

Nice find whatever it is, hope the price was right.

[Jiri Vasina]

tmorales, it's quite similar to the Vageeswari 10x12" camera I have somewhere waiting repair... The design is of a type similar for Indian cameras. What's the size of yours? You can measure the groundglass dimensions... From the lens attached, one would assume it's a 4x5" (150mm being a kind of standard lens for this size).

The holders you have are for glass plates, but they could be adapted (with a spacer) to accept film, too... The camera back will not accept standard 4x5" holders, though...

Hope this helps

Jiri

[Steven Tribe]

Looks like a typical well-made japanese camera which has been used quite a long time!
The original base - for three tripod legs - has had an adaptor fitted for modern tripod screws (3/8 or 1/4"). Originally made for glass plates. I think I can see a film sheath with Fuji Photo - who made these conversion film sheaths. The size is often printed on the back - in cm. or plate size or??
There are a number of owners of similar cameras (Japan and India) here who may be able to put a name on it - if there isn't one already, well concealed.
No valuation from me. These cameras do appear on e**y. Prices have been quite close to the European/American equivalent. They are quite readily available in Japan so there is no special demand from there.

[tmorales]

I just stumbled upon Asanuma Shokai field cameras. Any relation to the Vageeswari cameras?

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Asanuma_Sh%C5%8Dkai

[Scott --]

Has a lot of similarities to the Asanuma half plate I'm fixing up (http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=70131)...

[Steven Tribe]

This indeed looks like Scott's Asanuma (under renovation!).
So probably 1/2 plate. The lens will date when it was last taken into use.
Could provide value data for Scott? Bottom piece of the original back size and profile and design of the book holders?

[tmorales]

some dimensions on this camera:

entire ground glass: 7 1/8" x 8 1/2"

ground glass corner markers: 4 3/4" x 7 1/2"

entire camera closed up: 10 1/4" x 2 3/4" x 10 1/4"

[Steven Tribe]

A full plate camera. There has been some discussion earlier as to whether the Japanese "yatsugiri" = eighth(-cut) or octavo (6x8, our 6.5x8.5) is exactly the same as the US/UK plate size. Is there no marking on the back of the film sheath in one (or more) of the plate holders?
The lens is a very well known single coated version with a seiko shutter. Coverage is 80 degrees but with fall off.

[r_a_feldman]

There are a number of different "brands" Japanese half-plate and full-plate folding field cameras. Many that I have seen pictured do not have brand labels, but some are branded, such as Anasuma, Chartan, Tachihara, Tanakaichi and Okuhara. I have an Okuhara 1/2 plate; if you search for "Okuhara" in this site, you will find the pictures I have posted. The Chartan is pictured in an Eastman House book (Century of Cameras, IIRC).

These cameras are all fairly similar and use book-form holders. My theory (unproven) is that there were a number of small shops, more carpenters than anything, who were able to purchase the metal hardware from a central suplier and who fabricated the cameras using their own wood and these metal parts. Some made enough to also buy metal label plates (such as Okuhara), which are in English.

Bob

[Steven Tribe]

This sounds like a reasonable explantion. A similar scenario took place in the UK and Europe. Many of the well-known English cameras of the 1880's 1890's bear an uncanny resemblance to each other - including some that are known not to have made their wood cameras. The German/French tailboards are also very similar - with lots of no-name or shop seller names amongst them.

I haven't seen any very early lister of metal parts - but I have one from 1927. This shows parts available for the typical European Tailback (for sizes 13x18 and 18x24cm). There was a considerable reduction for complete sets.

These parts are no longer available from the supplier

[tmorales]

camera is for sale on e**y

[Cor]

I have a very similair camera, whole plate. I also have the film sheaths which go into the book form glass plate holders. I use it for wet plate work, works great.

I was wondering about the placement of the film sheaths. If I measure correctly the ground glass and the glass surface of a glass plate in a holder are at the same distance (from the lens), confirmed by sharp WPC images.

But if one would load a film in a film sheath, the "fold" around the three edges offsets the film plane a bit away from the lens, so I guess some kind of spacer is needed between the ground glass and the camera?

Best,

Cor

[Steven Tribe]

Perhaps not - depending on the design of the holder. Most plate holders have a single or double spring which pushes the sheath forward to approximately the front glass surface position (emulsion). The sheath edge folds may exclude a complete match of positions and "packing pieces" will not work. Adjustment is possible at the ground glass mounting, though. This means spacers as you mention.

[Jim Jones]

Probably not. The 1951 ASA film slot diminsions in film holders was a minimum of .012 inches, while typical film is maybe .007 inches, leaving at least .005" free play. It seems all to easy for this idiot to insert two sheets of fim into those slots. The metal in my Kodak 5x7 film sheaths measure less than .009" thick. A shift of .009" with a point image focused through a lens at f/22 means the circle of confusion increases to .0004". Film, lens, and focusing limitations mask such an error in much photography. We live with about half of that error in ordinary film holders.

[Tin Can]

Another 1/2 Plate Camera from Japan Any idea on age or year built? This thread explains there were many makers using the same hardware. No badges.

Sale price and shipping now is almost the same

Holders are on the way. This one has a welded 1/4-20 tripod spider.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48531567252_3b3b62e379_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gWyY8w)4 (https://flic.kr/p/2gWyY8w) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48531408411_748305c5de_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gWy9UT)2 (https://flic.kr/p/2gWy9UT) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48531408246_2eb0867bf8_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gWy9S3)3 (https://flic.kr/p/2gWy9S3) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48531408606_22eb75f7a5_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2gWy9Yf)1 (https://flic.kr/p/2gWy9Yf) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

[rgeorge911]

I have a similar looking 4x5 Japanese camera. I like the theory of carpentry shops buying standard metal parts; mine look just like the one pictured. The closest I have come to a brand for mine is a Hasemi camera photo online, totally similar. Mine is super light and simple. No front swing or shift. I replaced the bellows (required gluing), and really like it for hiking.

[Greg]

A full plate camera. There has been some discussion earlier as to whether the Japanese "yatsugiri" = eighth(-cut) or octavo (6x8, our 6.5x8.5) is exactly the same as the US/UK plate size. Is there no marking on the back of the film sheath in one (or more) of the plate holders?
The lens is a very well known single coated version with a seiko shutter. Coverage is 80 degrees but with fall off.

While back purchased a camera very similar to the OP. Was described as a whole plate camera. No holders included. When it arrived, the back measured 6x8" so obviously smaller that the standard whole plate size. Best I could tell was that it as made in India, but that was an educated guess. Fortunately was able to return the camera.

[Tedium]

I also have a Hasemi 4x5 and it looks very similar. The woods look the same (Japanese cherry) and the hardware is very close. They are great cameras and not a lot of information around about them.
Very underrated.

[rgeorge911]

I also have a Hasemi 4x5 and it looks very similar. The woods look the same (Japanese cherry) and the hardware is very close. They are great cameras and not a lot of information around about them.
Very underrated.

I use a Fujinon 150mm f/5.6 on mine. I think the lens board is non-standard, which has kept me to a single lens, probably a good thing.

What lens(es) do you use?

Reed

[Jahanzeb]

I have a whole plate camera, one closer to that of the OP than the one Tin Can posted. It was made locally in Pakistan and uses the book form holders of which I have two. I took a shot in the dark and used a 2mm glass cut to size as a spacer in the holders for use with x-ray film. I not noticed an image shift even wide open, but then I also have nothing to compare it with or any experience with any other LF camera.

Was using it with a Carl Zeiss Jena 21cm/5.6 barrel lens and have just started to use a Fujinon 150/5.6 on it. The lens board measures 101mm x 114mm (4 x 4.5 inches roughly)

[Tin Can]

Plate size definition vary. Consider these experts.

https://cwfp.biz/platesizes.php

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Plate_sizes

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Japanese_formats

https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Plate_Sizes

http://licm.org.uk/livingImage/Plate-Camera.html

However Plate Camera makers used to make their Plate Holders to match.

Some still do.

But a common problem even recently.

4X10 does not fit 4X10

https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?12016-4x10-Canham-Holders-do-NOT-fit-my-Lotus-Camera&p=93416&viewfull=1#post93416

[Tedium]

Hi Reed,

I also use the Fujinon 150 as well as the Fujinon 135 and a Schneider 90mm f5.6. Mine takes the Linhof boards which is great because I have a Linhof.
I got the Hasemi because it weighs 1.5kg and is very good for hiking. I searched around for any info on the camera or company and I have narrowed the camera manufacturing to sometime in the 50's.
The company from what I gathered was somewhere in Tokyo and I have also seen an 8x10 model.

Cheers

Michael