Hanimex Holiday II by Royal Camera Company

[Stephen]

A purchase from ebay (UK), a Hanimex Holiday II Japanese made 35mm rangefinder fixed lens camera for the Australian Hannes Company who traded as Hanimex. It dates from 1958/9



The camera was made by Daiou Shashin Kōki (DSK), who used the name "The Royal Camera Company" on a string of 35mm rangefinder cameras in the 1950's. Royal stopped production about 1960.

Usually well finished, with decent engineering and optics, typical Japanese design, with a better than average viewfinder. Hanimex opted for a F3.5 lens, larger apertures were done by Royal under their own name.

I will run a film through to check it out, it seems to function OK.

Stephen.

[Deleted]

Looks like is has some Contax Genes

[Stephen]

It has been commented upon before, Royal, and other cheaper makers in Japan tried to look like Contax or Nikon, who after all were copiest makers themselves. Neoca did it, the Royal models did it, along with even Pal etc., who were renown for trying to be a lookalike rather than a clone. Some makers like Samoca steered clear of being the same, others simply copied the look.
It had started with the Leica clones, but as soon as the Nikon took off, the copies for Contax appeared, I think in the main trying to look German, than directly Zeiss. As far I know, the Japanese had no connection with Zeiss in the war or pre-war years, but with Leica the first copies were made with permission from German Government, although it is believed not Leica themselves, who still considered everything they did fully patented.

The Japanese copiests after the war were safe, as German patents were suspended by the Allies, so copies came thick and fast.

Stephen.

[photax]

A very beautiful camera, Congratulations! I also thought that this would be a Contax clone. Never seen this model before, maybe for the reason that Hanimex cameras had not been sold over here.

MIK

[Stephen]

All tests out OK, bar the rangefinder coupling, which is not working properly, so scale focusing only at present.

The shutter, 500th to 1 sec +B, all works, including the delayed action, and the shutter speeds are correct.

The lens is clean, no fungus or dirt, the lens focus movement is very smooth, it moves the entire shutter and lens assembly. I suspect the rangefinder focus cam connection or lever etc., is jammed at close up. Should be easy to service.

Viewfinder is large and bright with projected white line surround.

Very quiet shutter, no makers name marked, it may be Royal's own design. The wind on is very smooth, and there is a zeroing counter connected to the back door. Interior is pretty standard, well made and finished.

Hannes (Australia), distributed under the Hanimex name quite widely in the UK, in later years they concentrated on projectors, and 110 point and shoot cameras. They did re-badged reflex cameras and a range of M42 lenses, all mid to low priced items.

Royal badged cameras are rarer in the UK, like most Japanese makers they were restricted on import till the mid 1960's , and many of the smaller Japanese makers like Royal, Aires, Samoca and Lord had stopped making cameras in the fallout of camera companies closures in the late 1950's.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

I have now serviced the Hanimex Holiday ll, made in Japan by The Royal Camera Company, it needed attention to the rangefinder, and all is now working. The parts inside are pretty standard design, mainly made from brass, and are well finished.
The focus system to the rangefinder is arranged very much like an interchangeable lensed rangefinder camera, with a roller bearing on a flange on the back of the lens, which is supported on a 24 start multi start helical thread.

Royal made interchangeable lens versions as well, and the design is obviously very much the same. The shutter and iris move as complete unit on a focus screw built into the body like a Contax.

The focus roller bearing operates a pivoting lever block, that the arm from the rangefinder bears against, and the pivot of the block was sticking, a spot of oil freed the pivot. The parts of the rangefinder and the viewfinder are well made and accurate, and fully adjustable in all planes. Royal designers knew how to make a decent design.

The Shutter is another matter, it is accurate on higher speeds, but slow speeds are running slow, no easy answer, as the shutter is clean. It appears that Royal made the shutter themselves, no independent makers name anywhere. The lenses are made by Royal, in this case simple F3.5 standard specified by Hanimex to keep costs down. The shutter is very quiet indeed, only quirk is that further pressure after the shutter is fired is needed to release the double exposure prevention. This makes a slight double click on each press.

The interior is clean, and well laid out, film rollers in chrome etc, and decent pressure plate etc.

Time for a proper test film through the camera I think.....

Stephen.

[georgia00]

Hi, 

Was wondering if anyone could help me out with naming a type film that could be used for this camera? 
Never used a film camera before, so if there are any dire tips they would be welcomed. 

Thanks. 

[John Farrell]

Any 35mm film is usable with this camera. The type you choose depends on what is available where you live. To expose the film, you will need a light meter, or you will have to learn the "sunny 16" rule.

www.slrlounge.com/photography-essentials-the-sunny-16-rule/