Obscure Archives - Facts, notes and thoughts about vintage cameras and other trifle matters

October 11, 2022

Petri Fotochrome

Petri Fotochrome User manual Current value Describing a product as a ‘class of its own’ means exalting it, not in this case. The Fotochrome camera is in a class of its own; in the worst possible way. I am looking at this camera in search of anything positive, minor as could be, in vain. It exemplifies a miserable idea, bad...

Japan/Obscure/Petri Comments: 0

August 4, 2022

Motoshima Zeitax

Motoshima Zeitax Zeitax current value: Folding viewer Tube viewer Optical viewer Just a handful of sources are available on the Zeitax camera. Camera-wiki page mentions some references, but most end with a dead link. It mentions that the Zeitax is related to the Condor Semi cameras, which judging by the image it is. A step further down the heritage line...

120/Japan/Klapp/Obscure Comments: 0

June 29, 2022

Oehler Infra

Oehler Infra Oehler Infra current value In post-war Japan, about half a million allied troops stayed for nearly a decade. The economy was in tatters, so the allied poured much effort and money to rebuild it, not the least of which was the soldiers’ buying power supplementing it. There were few outlets for that cash, as GIs would only buy...

Karat/Obscure/Viewfinder/West Germany Comments: 0

June 20, 2022

Vredeborch Nordetta 3D

Vredeborch Nordetta 3D Vredeborch Nordetta 3D current value For camera collectors, vintage cameras come in several interest levels. It ranges from the nobility, such as the Leitz and Rollei, to the plebeians. Somewhere by the bottom sits the short-lived, low-tech Vredeborch brand. Vredeborch produced about 90 models, perhaps even less, discounting name variants. Today, their cameras hardly show up for...

127/Obscure/Stereo/West Germany Comments: 0

September 12, 2021

Rich-Ray Richlet

Rich-Ray Richlet Current Richlet value An online search for a camera returns loads upon loads of entries. It is rare that only a few entries are found. Such is the case with the Richlet, made by Rich-Ray. I saw this camera while searching on Buyee, which is the online equivalent of a slot machine. The camera was odd, unlike any...

Bolta/Japan/Mini camera/Obscure Comments: 0

June 25, 2019

Nasco Galaxy

Nasco Galaxy Nasco Galaxy current value This little camera caught my attention at an online auction. Always looking for odd cameras, I looked it up and found little information about it, where writers relate its pedigree to different dynasties, None seem to have any basis. McKeown’s relates it to Taron PR, a camera as obscure, admittingly a look alike. It...

Compact/Japan/Obscure/Rangefinder Comments: 0