|
Asahi Pentax
The Asahi Pentax series, by the , was a pivotal development in modern photography. They were the earliest Pentax cameras. Background In 1957, the Asahi Optical Company (later "Pentax") introduced the Pentax, a 135 film, 35 mm Single-lens reflex camera (SLR) camera which was so well received that it influenced the design of 35 mm SLRs worldwide for years to come. The Pentax and its later development and likewise classic 1964 Pentax Spotmatic allowed Asahi Optical Company to develop into a photographic multinational company, eventually leading the company to rename itself "Pentax" after its seminal product. Features and market impact The Asahi Pentax of 1957 featured: * Rapid-wind film advance lever. Earlier 35 mm SLRs, with the sole exception of Exakta's left-handed lever, had knob winders; * Film rewind crank, likewise a first for 35 mm SLRs; * Instant mirror return, unique to the Pentax and its immediate predecessor, the Asahiflex IIb; * Microprism focu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asahi Pentax Logo
Asahi (朝日, 旭, or あさひ) means "morning sun" in Japanese and may refer to: Cities * Asahi, Chiba (旭市; ''Asahi-shi'') Wards * Asahi-ku, Osaka (旭区; ''Asahi-ku'') * Asahi-ku, Yokohama (旭; ''Asahi-ku'') Towns * Asahi, Aichi (旭町; ''Asahi-chō'') * Asahi, Fukui (朝日町; ''Asahi-chō'') * Asahi, Hokkaido (朝日町; ''Asahi-chō'') * Asahi, Mie (朝日町; ''Asahi-chō'') * Asahi, Okayama (旭町; ''Asahi-chō'') * Asahi, Shimane (旭町; ''Asahi-chō'') * Asahi, Toyama (朝日町; ''Asahi-machi'') * Asahi, Yamagata (Nishimurayama) (朝日町; ''Asahi-machi'') Villages * Asahi, Gifu (朝日村; ''Asahi-mura'') * Asahi, Ibaraki (旭村; ''Asahi-mura'') * Asahi, Nagano (朝日村; ''Asahi-mura'') * Asahi, Niigata (朝日村; ''Asahi-mura'') * Asahi, Yamagata (Tagawa) (朝日村; ''Asahi-mura'') * Asahi, Yamaguchi (旭村; ''Asahi-son'') Companies * Asahi Breweries, a Japanese beverage company * ''Asahi Shimbun'', a Japanese newspaper * Asahi Production, a Japanes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
M42 Lens Mount
The M42 lens mount is a screw thread mounting standard for attaching lenses to 35 mm cameras, primarily single-lens reflex models. It is more accurately known as the M42 × 1 mm standard, which means that it is a metric screw thread of 42 mm diameter and 1 mm thread pitch. (The M42 lens mount should not be confused with the T-mount, which shares the 42mm throat diameter, but differs by having a 0.75mm thread pitch.) It was first used by the East German brands VEB Zeiss Ikon in the Contax S of 1949, and KW in the Praktica of the same year. VEB Zeiss Ikon and KW were merged into the Pentacon brand in 1959, along with several other East German camera makers. M42 thread mount cameras first became well known under the Praktica brand, and thus the M42 mount is known as the Praktica thread mount.The M42 mount is sometimes referred to as a "P" thread. See, e.g., Since there were no proprietary elements to the M42 mount, many other manufacturers used it; this ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asahiflex
The Asahiflex was a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera built by the Asahi Optical Corporation (later to become Pentax). It was regarded as the first SLR camera built in Japan. Asahi Optical introduced its first 35 mm camera in 1952. Unlike the majority of Japanese camera manufacturers of the time, Asahi made a conscious decision not to produce a mere German rangefinder copy, a relatively simple task. Instead, Asahi decided to copy the Praktiflex, a 1939 design, made in the German Democratic Republic. Asahi's designers (Nobuyuki Yoshida and Ryohei Suzuki) were convinced of the inherent superiority of the SLR and so proceeded along these lines. This effort resulted in the Asahiflex I, which was also the first Japanese 35 mm SLR. Asahiflex I The Asahiflex I had a non-interchangeable waist-level viewfinder, with a direct optical viewfinder for eye-level use. Like the Praktiflex the Asahiflex I do not have a returning mirror (which means the mirror will only be back to its initial ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pentax K Mount
The Pentax K-mount, sometimes referred to as the "PK-mount", is a bayonet lens mount standard for mounting interchangeable photographic lenses to 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. It was created by Pentax in 1975, and has since been used by all Pentax 35 mm and digital SLRs and also the MILC Pentax K-01. A number of other manufacturers have also produced many K-mount lenses and K-mount cameras. Mounts The Pentax K-mount has undergone a number of evolutions over the years as new functionality has been added. In general, the term K-mount may refer to the original K-mount, or to all its variations. Originally designed by Zeiss for an alliance with Pentax, it was intended to be a common lens mount for a proposed series of cameras and lenses. However, the plan failed to work out and the two firms parted company amicably, but Pentax retained the lens mount and at least one Zeiss lens design for its own use. K-mount The original K-mount is a simple bayonet con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Autofocus
An autofocus (or AF) optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus on an automatically or manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication. Autofocus methods are distinguished as active, passive or hybrid types. Autofocus systems rely on one or more sensors to determine correct focus. Some AF systems rely on a single sensor, while others use an array of sensors. Most modern SLR cameras use through-the-lens optical sensors, with a separate sensor array providing light metering, although the latter can be programmed to prioritize its metering to the same area as one or more of the AF sensors. Through-the-lens optical autofocusing is usually speedier and more precise than manual focus with an ordinary viewfinder, although more precise manual focus can be achieved with special accessories such as focusing magnifiers. Autofocus accuracy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shutter Priority
Shutter priority (usually denoted as S on the mode dial), also called time value (abbreviated as Tv), refers to a setting on cameras that allows the user to choose a specific shutter speed while the camera adjusts the aperture to ensure correct exposure. This is different from manual mode, where the user must decide both values, aperture priority where the user picks an aperture with the camera selecting the shutter speed to match, or program mode where the camera selects both. Background Shutter priority with longer exposures is chosen to create an impression of motion. For example, a waterfall will appear blurred and fuzzy. If the camera is panned with a moving subject, the background will appear blurred. When photographing sports or high-speed phenomena, shutter priority with short exposures can ensure that the motion is effectively ''frozen'' in the resulting image. Like aperture priority, this mode allows for partial automation thus decreasing the need for total concentrat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takumar
Takumar is the name that Asahi Optical gave to its lenses, notably but not exclusively those for its own SLR cameras. Named after the Japanese-American portrait painter, , whose brother Kumao Kajiwara founded Asahi Optical. The name adorned its lenses until 1975, when Asahi switched from the M42 screw mount to the bayonet K-mount. K-mount lenses were simply named "SMC Pentax". Some Takumar lenses were also made for the K-mount. Details The Takumar designation was used on lenses designed for Asahi's 35 mm cameras, 6×7 cameras, and for other purposes too. * ''Takumar'' lenses were made in M37 screwmount for the original Asahiflex cameras and continued into the M42 period. * ''Auto-Takumar'' lenses were a type of preset lens. The user selected an aperture then engaged a lever to energise the stopping-down mechanism. The camera would then trip this mechanism when the shutter was fired. * ''Super-Takumar'' lenses featured an improved form of lens coating (to reduce fl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinon Industries
was a Japanese camera manufacturer. Kodak took a majority stake in the company in 1997, and made it a fully owned subsidiary of Kodak Japan, , in 2004 . As a subsidiary, it continues to develop digital camera models. They manufactured several cameras, such as the CG-5, which was one of the first cameras ever to use an Auto Focus lens, which had to be bought separately. The lenses are now rare. They were cumbersome and had two infrared "eyes" on the top. They would connect by a bayonet fitting similar to the Pentax K fitting, except they also had electrical contacts which would power the motor at the press of the shutter release button. Another popular camera was the CM-1, a basic, fully manual 35 mm SLR camera favored by student amateur photographers because it was cheaper than the rival Pentax K-1000, but could use the same lenses and accessories. The CM-1 featured a battery-powered through-the-lens light metering system that utilized a red-above, green-middle, and red- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sigma Corporation
is a Japanese company, manufacturing cameras, lenses, flashes and other photographic accessories. All Sigma products are produced in the company's own Aizu factory in Bandai, Fukushima, Japan. Although Sigma produces several camera models, the company is best known for producing high-quality lenses and other accessories that are compatible with the cameras produced by other companies. The company was founded in 1961 by Michihiro Yamaki, who was Sigma's CEO until his death at age 78 in 2012. Sigma products work with cameras from Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Olympus and Panasonic, as well as their own cameras. Sigma has also made lenses under the Quantaray name, which have been sold exclusively by Ritz Camera. Similarly, Sigma lenses were sold exclusively by the former Wolf Camera, but following the merger of Wolf and Ritz, both brands can be purchased. Sigma's digital SLRs, the SD9, SD10, SD14 and SD15, plus the latest SD1 are unusual in their use of the Foveon X3 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Topcon
is a Japanese manufacturer of optical equipment for ophthalmology and surveying. History September 1932—TOPCON was established based on the surveying instruments division of K. Hattori & Co., Ltd. (currently SEIKO HOLDINGS CORPORATION) in order to manufacture the optical instruments for the Japanese Army, which are surveying instruments, binoculars and cameras. Corporate Name: Tokyo Kogaku Kikai Kabushikikaisha (Tokyo Optical Co., Ltd.) Head Office: 2, Ginza 4-chome, Kyobashi-ku, Tokyo Factories: Toshima-ku and Takinogawa-ku, Tokyo April 1933—Built head office and main factory at 180, Shimura-motohasunuma-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo (current address) and moved head office functions there. August 1945—Temporarily closed factories after the end of World War II. Received authorization from Tokyo governor to convert the factory for production of civil products and reopened factory to manufacture binoculars and surveying instruments. December 1946—Established Yamagata kikai k ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vivitar
Vivitar Corporation is a manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of photographic and optical equipment originally based in Santa Monica, California. Since 2008, the Vivitar name serves as Sakar International's house brand for digital imaging, optics, mobile accessories, and audio products. Products The company's product line has included 35 mm SLR cameras, zoom lenses, flashes, film enlargers, binoculars, digital cameras, night vision products, point-and-shoot cameras, tripods, underwater cameras, smart home technology, health and wellness accessories, and other audio/video equipment. Point and shoot cameras *ViviCam 55 *ViviCam 7122 History The company was founded in 1938 as Ponder and Best by Max Ponder and John Best. Max Ponder headed the sales department, while John Best ran the operations side of the company. Ponder and Best first imported German-made photo equipment. After World War II, the partnership began to import cameras and photographic equipment from Japan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Soligor
Soligor was originally the trade mark for the American Allied Impex Corporation, used from 1956 for lenses and later cameras imported from Japan. It imported cameras from Japan and also took control of companies in Japan. Among the first products was Miranda T (camera), Miranda T camera and Soligor lenses. Soligor GmbH is a German manufacturer of photographic equipment, optics, video surveillance equipment, and personal electronics. Founded in Stuttgart in 1968 as A.I.C. Phototechnik GmbH by Allied Impex Corporation (USA), the company changed its official name in 1993 to match the brand name used on its optical products. Most commonly encountered products were manufactured in Japan (to quite a reasonable standard-many by Tokina) under the Soligor brand, as well as Miranda Camera Company, Miranda (which was acquired by Allied Impex in the 1960s). The company also seems to have had an association with Vivitar (the T4 interchangeable mount, for instance). The company is currently ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
