Samoca 35 Model LD

[Berndt]

Found a nice supplement to my little Samoca collection this week

A Samoca 35 "Model LD" ... but ... I couldn't find anything about this specific model in the internet There is a model LE, which seems to be very common, but it is different in several details. Any ideas ?

Very interesting oddity BTW, the film advance lever needs to be actuated twice for taking the next picture. I never saw something like that on any of my other cameras yet. Also a nice gimmick - an integrated lens hood on this one. It can be moved out and in from the front of the lens.

I am not sure if the light meter is still working. The needle is moving and showing something, but frankly speaking, I am not 100% sure, how those light meters need to be read. The is a flap with a slit, which can be opened and closed ... but in which situations does that need to be done ?


Samoca 35 Model LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr


Samoca 35 Model LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr


Samoca 35 Model LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr

[Stephen]

It's a simple two range meter, closed for sunlight, open for dull light, and the there are two appropriate marks on the rotary meter rim, one to line up when flap is open and one to line up when closed.
For daylight just leave closed and the meter should agree with the F16 rule, say 125 ASA would indicate 1/125 at F16 in bright sunlight.( or just check against another camera or meter of course).
Late model Samoca Cameras are not common in the UK.
Stephen.

[Deleted]

If you have never heard of a dual stroke film advance you have never been around a Leica M3. That's a very good looking camera.

W.

[Berndt]

Thanks everybody for the feedback so far. Still a mysterious model though. Couldn't find the tiniest hint in the internet, that this camera even existed. From the timeline, I guess, that it is manufactured close and most likely after the LE, because it is similar constructed even the shutter is more advanced on the LD ( shutter speeds up to 1/500 sec here ). Also the japanese speaking internet covered in silence on this camera.

[Berndt]

A friend looked into the "McKeown Bible" for me and this model is not even there
However, it obviously exists and is still capable of taking pictures. I took it for a first test on a trip to Mt. Takao, a mountain, close to Tokyo. The famous japanese maple trees are getting red there already.

So here are a few shots from today ... if somebody is interested

Incredible colors everywhere:


Mt. Takao Autumn Samoca 35 LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr


Mt. Takao Autumn Samoca 35 LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr

A few statues at the temple:


Mt. Takao Autumn Samoca 35 LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr


Mt. Takao Autumn Samoca 35 LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr


Mt. Takao Autumn Samoca 35 LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr

And maple trees again. Especially beautiful, if some of leafs are already red and some still green, I think:


Mt. Takao Autumn Samoca 35 LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr

I just missed the focus here a little bit The rangefinder is quite dark and "thin" ... not easy to focus in some light situations.


Mt. Takao Autumn Samoca 35 LD by bokuwanihongasuki, on Flickr

I took many more, but that should give an impression of how the results out of this camera look like. It seems, that the light meter is not working properly anymore, but everything else still functions well.

Cheers from Tokyo,

Berndt

[camerastoomany]

Excellent results Berndt.

Few cameras fail to perform when in the right hands.

[SuperDeluxe]

Nov 16, 2012 9:58:14 GMT -5 camerastoomany said:

Few cameras fail to perform when in the right hands.

Cute little camera and the photo samples you've posted are saying that it still delivers! I've set my eyes on a Samoca 35 V that's available locally, and this images are kinda pushing me in the direction of buying.

[Berndt]

I could finally find something in the archives of a library belonging to a camera museum here in Tokyo. This camera was released in October 1958. Just to complete this thread.

[Stephen]

A Camera Museum in Tokyo?.. now that sounds very interesting!!

Stephen.

[Stephen]

I was offered a Samoca III the other week, but the price was just too much, they are getting real collectors items in good order. Ebay offerings tend to be for spares or repairs. Intriguing little 35mm cameras, usually a decent lens.
Stephen

[Berndt]

A Camera Museum in Tokyo?.. now that sounds very interesting!!

Oh yes. www.jcii-cameramuseum.jp/top_e.html The museum is not soooo interesting BUT the library. You can find all available information about all japanese cameras there, I would say ... as long as you can read Japanese of course

Very impressive a digital database, where every camera is listed and where its advertisement has appeared in a magazine. So, I could finally also date my Hoker-Flex, which seems to be released in 1954 by Shoei Seiki. The library is truly a place, where you can get lost for weeks

[Stephen]

There you are, just sit down and write the definitive English language History of Japanese Cameras......!! Glad you finally found the Hoker-Flex details.
Stephen.