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Japanese Semi (4.5×6)
Prewar and wartime models (edit)
folding
Semi Ace | Semi Adler | Adler III | Adler A | Adler B | Adler C | Semi Ako | Ami | Bakyna | Semi Chrome | Semi Clover | Collex | Semi Condor | Semi Dymos | Semi Elega | Semi First | Auto Semi First | Baby Semi First | Gaica | Semi Gelto | Semi Germa | Hansa Semi Rollette | Heil | Hokoku | Hope | Kadera | Kankyu | Kelly | Kiko Semi | Semi Kinka | Semi Konter | Semi Kreis | Semi Kulax | Semi Lead | Semi Leotax | Semi Lester | Loyal | Semi Lucky | Semi Lyra | Semi Makinet | Semi Metax | Semi Minolta (I) and II | Auto Semi Minolta | Semi Miss | Mizuho | Semi Mulber | Semi National | New Gold | Okaco | Oko Semi | Semi Olympus | Semi Olympus II | Semi Osamo | Semi Pearl | Primo | Semi Prince | Semi Proud | Semi Prux | Roavic | Semi Rody | Rondex | Semi Rosen | Semi Rotte | Seica | Seves | Semi Shiks | Sintax | Semi Sixteenth | Semi Solon | Semi Sport | Star Semi | Semi-Tex | Tsubasa Kiko Three | Tsubasa Nettar | Tsubasa Super Semi | Ugein | Vester-Lette | Victor | Waltax | Wester | Zeitax
collapsible
Semi Kinsi | Lord | Lyrax | Nippon | New Olympic | Semi Olympic | Semi Renky | Auto Victor | Well Super
stereo
Sun Stereo
unknown
Semi Elka | Semi Keef | Napoleon
Postwar models ->
Japanese SLR, TLR, pseudo TLR and stereo ->
Japanese 3×4, 4×4, 4×5, 4×6.5, 6×6 and 6×9 ->

The Semi Konter (セミ・コンター) is a Japanese 4.5×6 folding camera made in 1940–1 and attributed to Mori, which also made the Rollekonter.[1] The name was obviously forged after "Ikonta" (イコンター, ikontā).

Original model[]

The original Semi Konter is said to be a Nettar copy, with a body release and a folding optical finder.[2] The lens is reported as a U Hitonar 75/4.5 lens and the shutter is said to give T, B, 5–200 speeds.[3] This equipment is nearly the same as on the Rollekonter B. The U Hitonar lens was certainly made by Kajiro Kōgaku (later Gojō then Kokusaku).[4]

Semi Konter II[]

The Semi Konter II is a copy of the Ikonta. There is a folding optical finder in the middle of the top plate and a body release to the left, as seen by the photographer holding the camera horizontally. The back is hinged to the left and the advance key is at the bottom right.

An advertisement dated March 1941, perhaps inserted by the distributor Hakkōdō,[5] shamelessly stated that the camera was an Ikonta copy: "The Semi Konter II [is] made the same as the Zeiss Ikon Semi Ikonta both in shape and construction ..." ("セミコンターⅡ型はツアイスセミイコンターと形並に機構共に同一にして..."). The f/4.5 lens was described as identical to the lens mounted on the Rollekonter, it is thus a Hitonar or U Hitonar. The shutter gives T, B, 5–250 speeds.

The list of set prices compiled in October 1940 and published in January 1941, mentions a "Semi Konter I" for ¥74 and a "Semi Konter II" for ¥160.[6] This price difference seems excessive given the features of the two models.

Notes[]

  1. Dates and attribution to Mori Seisakusho: Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.336.
  2. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.336.
  3. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.336.
  4. The "Kokusan shashinki no genjōchōsa" ("Inquiry into Japanese cameras"), lens item Lb32, attributes the U Hitonar 75/3.5 lens to Kokusaku.
  5. Advertisement published in Shashin Bunka, reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.72. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.336, says that it was inserted by Hakkōdō, written 白光同, surely a typo for 白光堂.
  6. "Kokusan shashinki no kōtei kakaku", type 3, sections 4A and 7B.

Bibliography[]

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