The Camera Site

Sanei Manufacturing Co. , Japan ( Samoca Camera Co. , LTD. )

Samoca MR

Samoca MR (1961)

Samoca MR 35mm camera is one of the latest cameras made by Sanei. Its features are similar to other contemporary compact leaf shutter range finders.

The lens is Samocar 1:2,8 f/45mm and the shutter speeds are B, 1 - 1/300sec. It is an exemplar of the cameras made before the "Plastic Age" it weights approximate. 560g and it´s measures are 128x53x84mm.

Samoca is a robust and well made camera that has much common with for example Zeiss Contina not only in design but also in the impression of sturdiness. Quite obviously it is capable of years of trouble-free service in the hands of the photographer.

There are some recent companies in Japan with the name Sanei Manufacturing. Obviously they have no connection to the camera manufacturing. According to my inquiries (in internet) the name was later changed to Samoca Camera Co. In addition to this, Samoca Camera Co.,Ltd has also manufactured the 35mm-format TLR camera. Top
Samoca-35

Samoca M-35(1958)

Somehow M-35 feels and looks more modern than MR, although it is three years older. Like model MR it is robust, heavy and well made. (I didn't care for a tartar beef) The shutter is on the quiet side of an average for a leaf shutter.This is a double-stroke rangefinder with flash sync and bulb or electronic flash

Specifications

  • Type: Rangefinder camera
  • Manufacturer:Samoca Camera Co., Japan
  • Film: 35mm
  • Lens: Ezumar 1:3,5/50mm
  • Shutter:Synchro leaf shutter , 1 sec. to 1/300 sec.
  • Viewfinder: Optical finder with superimposed coupled rangefinder.


This came to my mind while I tapped information about the vanished brand, Samoca

As a young boy one of my most precious treasures was an illustrated 1938 catalog of the cars of the western world. At that time ~1950 a car was quite a rare "phenomenon" in Finland. One of my favorites was a Pontiac Saloon the Indian Head on the hood was exiting. And of course a DKW Wandeder which was the first car bought by my father. I clearly remember the lines of La Salle and Studebaker. Where are those vanished demigods?

In the Car Museum, is the right answer. Their names and spirits are in our minds. Part of the "nomenclature" might also kept a weary eye on as a trademarks of the recent car manufacturers. Every now and then the names pop up as a new models. Maybach and Bugatti as good examples.

All this because of the necessary development of technology and industry in the competitive society. Trustifying, integration and globalization has enabled that hundreds of billions of people are capable to own a car, an outboard engine, a microwave owen or an electric champagne mixer or whatever.
©2008 Reijo Lauro