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Japanese Six (6×6)
Postwar models (edit)
folding
Aires Viceroy | Angel Six | Aram Six | Astoria Super Six | Atom Six | Balm Six | Baron | Beauty Six (1950) | Beauty Six (1953) | Calm Six | Carl Six | Centre Six | Crown | Crystar Six | Daido Six | Dorima Six | Doris Six | Ehira Six | Elbow Six | First Six | Flora Six | Fodor Six | Frank Six | Fujica Six | Super Fujica Six | Futami Six | Gotex | Grace Six | Kohken Chrome Six | Kyowa Six | Liner Six | Lyra Six | Mamiya Six | Middl Six | Mihama Six | Mine Six | Minon Six | Mizuho Six | Motoka Six | Mount Six | Muse Six | Super Naiku | Ofuna Six | Olympus Six | Olympus Chrome Six | Orion Six | Oscar Six | Pigeon Six | Planet | Please Six | Pluto Six | Poppy Six | Press Van | Proud Chrome Six | Proud Super Six | Renown Six | Ricoh Six | Ruvikon | Ruvinal | Sanon Six | Silver Six | Sisley 1 | Sisley 2 & 3 | Sister Six | Tenar Six | Toho Six | Tomic | Toyoca Six | Ugein Six | Wagen Six | Walcon 6 | Welmy Six | Wester | Windsor Six
rigid or collapsible
Dia Six | Ehira Chrome Six | Enon Six | Flora | Flashline | Fujipet | Harmony | Mikono-6 | Orion | Ponix | Rich-Ray-6 | Shumy | Weha Chrome Six
Japanese 6×6 TLR, pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Japanese Semi (4.5×6) and older 6×9 ->

The Fujica Six, a 6×6 folding viewfinder camera, was the very first camera to be produced by Fuji Photo Film. The first version came out in 1948, the last in 1953.

There were three main styles, of which the first and third came in a number of varieties.

Model I[]

The Fujica Six I, of which there were six acknowledged models, is a very simply designed camera. A single button serves to open both the front and the viewfinder, which consists of two metal-framed lenses. Film is inserted on the right and advanced to the left. Film advance requires use of the red window. There is only one of these: there is no provision for 4.5×6cm exposures.

Thanks to the folding finder, this camera is particularly light and compact.

Within the name, "A" seems to have referred to the f4.5 lens, "B" to f3.5, "C" to export, and "S" to flash synchronization. The three variants of the IIBS were not labeled in any way; our use of "a", "b" and "c" is merely arbitrary and for the reader's convenience.

Fujica Six, model I
model IA IB IC IAS ICS IBS
variant a b c
lens Fuji Rectar
aperture 4.5 3.5 4.5 3.5
shutter Lotus S.R. NKSZ S.R. NKS
max speed 200 500 200 500 200
flash terminal none 2-pin 1-pin 2-pin PC 2-pin
self-timer yes no yes no yes
release April 1948 August 1948 June 1949 August 1949 1949 1950
price in Japan ¥5,250 ¥6,200 [export] ¥5,250 [export] ¥6,200

In the table here, "S.R." stands for Seikosha-Rapid, and "PC" (then regarded as "German") is what is now (2006) the standard flash terminal.

Model IIBS[]

In November 1950, Fuji released the Fujica Six IIBS. Based on what we have called variant "c" of the IBS (see table above), this had the innovation of a small, rigid viewfinder protruding from the otherwise flat top plate of the camera. One of a symmetrical pair of buttons around the finder served as a shutter release, the other to open the front.

Most examples of the IIBS were exported or sold in Japan via US military retail channels (the "PX") to US military personnel. A few were sold to the Japanese public, for around ¥10,000.

Model IIC[]

Fujica Six, model IIC
model IICS IICR
variant a b c
lens Rectar Fujinar
shutter Seikosha-Rapid Rectus
max speed 500 200
flash terminal Kodak PC
self-timer no yes
release April 1952 1953

The Fujica Six IIC, of which two models were acknowledged, was radically redesigned. Most obviously, the diecast body had a smooth top. This curved over an enlarged viewfinder, which was moved slightly to the right (as seen by the photographer), thus making space for an accessory shoe to the left. The front was opened by a button on the front rather than the top.

Optically too the IIC was superior: the Rectar lens (itself soon to be replaced) of the earliest variant of the IICS was improved from its predecessor. The camera was unit-focusing: the entire lens assembly, and not just the frontmost element, moved for focusing.

The camera sold for ¥18,000.

The three variants of the IICS were not labeled in any way; our use of "a", "b" and "c" is merely arbitrary and for the reader's convenience. Meanwhile, "S" seems to have stood for Seikosha and "R" for Rectus. In the table, "PC" is what is now (2006) the standard flash terminal.

Sources / further reading[]

Links[]

In Japanese:

In Chinese:

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