Japanese Semi and Six models
Japanese Semi and Six models
The 120 format was popular worldwide from the 1930s onwards. A size that is small enough for compact, portable cameras, and large enough for contact printing. Came the war, which had ended with a large GI contingent in Japan. Buying power was there, but little to apply it for. To fill the need, a whole cottage industry was established in Japan, offering cameras of this format. Bodies were fairly similar, and glass and shutters were taken from established manufacturers (to a varying degree). The other mas produced format was the Hit type camera, not much of a camera, more of a novelty.
Making cameras takes only talent, know-how, manufacturing ability, and an enterprising spirit. Problems came with naming. Here, as well as at the Hit models, manufacturers brewed what looks as a random combination taken from an alphabet soup. Here is a list of these models.
Model | Brand | Year | More |
---|---|---|---|
Chrome Six I | Olympus | 1948 | More |
Chrome Six II | Olympus | 1948 | More |
Chrome Six III | Olympus | 1950 | More |
Chrome Six IV | Olympus | 1954 | More |
Chrome Six RI | Olympus | 1954 | More |
Chrome Six RII | Olympus | 1955 | More |
Chrome Six Va | Olympus | 1955 | More |
Semi I | Olympus | 1936 | More |
Semi II | Olympus | 1938 | More |
Six | Olympus | 1940 | More |
Chrome Six Vb | Olympus | 1955 | More |
Six I BS | Fuji | 1948 | More |
Six II BS | Fuji | 1940 | More |
Six II CR | Fuji | 1962 | More |
Six II CS | Fuji | 1952 | More |
Super Six M | Fuji | 1956 | More |
Six I A | Fuji | More | |
Six K 2 | Mamiya | 1956 | More |
Six I | Mamiya | 1940 | More |
Six Ia | Mamiya | 1941 | More |
Six II | Mamiya | 1943 | More |
Six III | Mamiya | 1942 | More |
Six Automat | Mamiya | 1955 | More |
Six Automat II | Mamiya | 1958 | More |
Six IV | Mamiya | 1947 | More |
Six IV b | Mamiya | 1955 | More |
Six IV s | Mamiya | 1957 | More |
Six K | Mamiya | 1954 | More |
Six III a | Mamiya | 1943 | More |
Six VI | Mamiya | 1947 | More |
Six V | Mamiya | 1953 | More |
Six P | Mamiya | 1957 | More |
Six NS | Mamiya | 1950 | More |
Adler Semi | Ricoh | 1938 | More |
Six | Ricoh | 1952 | More |
Semi Heil | Ricoh | 1941 | More |
Kinsi Semi | Ricoh | 1941 | More |
Semi Ace | Ako Shokai | More | |
Semi Ako | Ako Shokai | More | |
Semi Metax | Ako Shokai | More | |
Aram Six | Aram | 1953 | More |
Atom Six I | Atom | 1951 | More |
Atom Six II | Atom | 1952 | More |
Atom Six Iib | Atom | 1951 | More |
Baron-Six | Baron | 1954 | More |
Six | Beauty | 1953 | More |
Semi Condor | Condor Camera | 1939 | More |
Condor Six | Condor Camera | More | |
Semi Condor II | Condor Camera | More | |
New Semi Condor III | Condor Camera | More | |
Elbow Six | Cosmo | More | |
Semi Crystar | Crystar | 1953 | More |
Semi Crystar U | Crystar | More | |
Sister Six | Crystar | 1954 | More |
Six | Crystar | 1954 | More |
Six IIIA | Crystar | 1956 | More |
Grace Six | Daitoh | 1950 | More |
Centre Six | Doris | More | |
Doris Six II | Doris | 1954 | More |
Doris Six | Doris | More | |
Doris Semi P | Doris | 1952 | More |
Semi Lester | Doris | 1937 | More |
Semi Rocket | Doris | More | |
Semi Victor | Doris | More | |
Victor Six | Doris | More | |
Ehira Chrome Six | Ehira | 1941 | More |
Astoria Super Six IIIB | Ehira | 1950 | More |
Ehira Six | Ehira | 1948 | More |
Enon Six III | Ehira | More | |
Weha Chrome Six I | Ehira | 1937 | More |
Weha Chrome Six II | Ehira | 1938 | More |
Weha Chrome Six III | Ehira | 1940 | More |
National Semi | Eikodo | 1940 | More |
National Six | Eikodo | 1940 | More |
Rocky Semi | Endo | More | |
Semi Frank | Endo | 1954 | More |
Semi Blond | Endo | More | |
Lyra Six | Fuji Kogaku | 1937 | More |
Lyra Six F | Fuji Kogaku | 1939 | More |
Lyra Six II | Fuji Kogaku | 1937 | More |
Lyra Six III | Fuji Kogaku | 1938 | More |
Lyra Six J | Fuji Kogaku | 1939 | More |
Semi Lyra I | Fuji Kogaku | 1936 | More |
Semi Lyra II | Fuji Kogaku | 1937 | More |
Semi Lyra F | Fuji Kogaku | 1940 | More |
Semi Golder II | Fuji Kogaku | 1950 | More |
Semi Lyra SR | Fuji Kogaku | More | |
Lyra Six L | Fuji Kogaku | More | |
Semi Golder | Fuji Kogaku | More | |
Semi Prince II | Fujimoto | 1935 | More |
Semi Sport I | Fujimoto | 1941 | More |
Semi Luck | Fujimoto | 1950 | More |
Semi Prince | Fujimoto | 1935 | More |
Oscar Six Ia | Fujiwara | 1953 | More |
Oscar Six | Fujiwara | 1953 | More |
Renown Six | Fujiwara | 1953 | More |
Renown Six Iia | Fujiwara | 1954 | More |
Renown Six Ia | Fujiwara | 1953 | More |
Futami Six | Futami Koki | More | |
Futami Semi | Futami Koki | More | |
Seves Semi | Ginrei Kogi | 1935 | More |
Vesta Six | Ginrei Kogi | 1937 | More |
Semi Clover | Ginrei Kogi | More | |
Clover Six | Ginrei Kogi | 1937 | More |
Vester Six | Ginrei Kogi | 1940 | More |
Semi Clover | Hagi | 1941 | More |
Clover-Six | Hagi | 1940 | More |
Clover-Six B | Hagi | 1940 | More |
Hasemiflex | Hasegawa | 1931 | More |
Hasemi Field | Hasegawa | More | |
Kiko Semi | Kigawa | 1940 | More |
Poppy Six II | Kigawa | 1948 | More |
Semi Sixteenth | Kigawa | 1939 | More |
Tsubasa Semi | Kigawa | 1952 | More |
Tsubasa Semi Chrome Model B | Kigawa | 1939 | More |
Tsubasa Super Semi | Kigawa | 1938 | More |
Carl Six I | Kigawa | 1952 | More |
Carl Six II | Kigawa | 1952 | More |
New Carl Six | Kigawa | 1952 | More |
Tsubasa Semi F | Kigawa | More | |
Poppy Six | Kigawa | 1990 | More |
Semi Keef | Kokusaku | More | |
Pearl Semi | Konica | 1938 | More |
Pearl Semi II | Konica | More | |
Kowa Six | Kowa | 1972 | More |
Kowa Six II | Kowa | 1972 | More |
Kowa Six MM | Kowa | 1972 | More |
Semi-Tex | Kyokuto | 1937 | More |
Flex Six | Kyoto Seiki | 1940 | More |
Flora Six II | Kyowa | 1953 | More |
Flora Six R III | Kyowa | 1953 | More |
Kyowa Six R II | Kyowa | More | |
Semi Leotax DL | Leotax | 1951 | More |
Semi Leotax I | Leotax | 1941 | More |
Semi Leotax J | Leotax | More | |
Semi Leotax R | Leotax | 1952 | More |
Semi Leotax VI | Leotax | More | |
Semi Leotax 645 | Leotax | More | |
First Six I | Tokiwa Seiki | 1952 | More |
First Six III | Tokiwa Seiki | 1952 | More |
First Six IV | Tokiwa Seiki | 1954 | More |
First Six New | Tokiwa Seiki | 1954 | More |
Dorima Six | Tokyo Koken | More | |
Semi Renky | Rengo | 1938 | More |
New Semi Renky | Rengo | 1940 | More |
Semi Germa | Tokyo Shashin Kogaku | More | |
Six | Minolta | 1935 | More |
Semi Auto | Minolta | 1937 | More |
Semi I | Minolta | 1932 | More |
Semi II | Minolta | 1940 | More |
Semi IIIA | Minolta | 1946 | More |
Semi IIIB | Minolta | 1947 | More |
Semi IIIC | Minolta | 1950 | More |
Semi P | Minolta | 1951 | More |
Semi Proud | Miyoshi | More | |
Super Semi Proud | Miyoshi | More | |
Semi Prux | Miyoshi | 1938 | More |
Semi National | Miyoshi | More | |
Flex Six | Miyoshi | More | |
National Six | Miyoshi | More | |
Mizuho Six | Mizuho Koki | 1951 | More |
Mizuho Six II B | Mizuho Koki | 1952 | More |
Mizuho Six Super N | Mizuho Koki | 1954 | More |
Mizuho Six V a | Mizuho Koki | 1952 | More |
Mizuho Six V b | Mizuho Koki | 1952 | More |
Mizuho Six V c | Mizuho Koki | 1952 | More |
Semi Dymos | Mori | More | |
Hansa Semi Rollette | Mori | 1936 | More |
Semi Rosen | Mori | 1937 | More |
Semi Konter | Mori | More | |
Konter Six | Mori | 1940 | More |
Miyako Six | Nakamura Pate Shokai | More | |
Calm Six | Nippon Koki | 1955 | More |
Calm Six Deluxe II | Nippon Koki | 1956 | More |
Calm Six S | Nippon Koki | 1955 | More |
Silver Super Six | Nippon Koki | 1953 | More |
Super Calm Six | Nippon Koki | 1955 | More |
Atlasix | Nishida | 1954 | More |
Fodorsix | Nishida | 1955 | More |
Semi Wester | Nishida | 1951 | More |
Wester Six | Nishida | 1955 | More |
Wester Six R | Nishida | 1953 | More |
Wester Six S-2 | Nishida | 1955 | More |
Apollo Semi II | Nishida | 1951 | More |
Apollo Six L | Nishida | More | |
Center Six | Nissan Kogaku | 1951 | More |
Victor Six | Nissan Kogaku | More | |
Semi Victor | Nissan Kogaku | More | |
Semi Condor | Nissan Kogaku | 1940 | More |
Ofuna Six Coupled RF | Ofuna | 1956 | More |
Ofuna Six Uncoupled RF | Ofuna | 1953 | More |
Oko Six I 6×6 | Oki | More | |
Oko Six II 6×6 | Oki | More | |
Oko Semi 4.5×6 | Oki | 1940 | More |
Bonny Six I 6×6 | Omiya | 1941 | More |
Hansa Semi Rollette 4.5×6 | Omiya | 1936 | More |
Bonny Six II | Omiya | 1941 | More |
Super Semi Plum | Omori | More | |
Auto Semi First | Petri | 1940 | More |
Baby Semi First | Petri | 1937 | More |
Semi First Model U | Petri | More | |
Semi First Model V | Petri | More | |
First Six | Petri | 1936 | More |
Semi I | Petri | 1948 | More |
Semi II | Petri | 1948 | More |
Semi III | Petri | 1948 | More |
Semi First | Petri | 1935 | More |
Semi First A | Petri | More | |
Semi First B | Petri | More | |
Semi First BB | Petri | 1940 | More |
Semi First BB Deluxe | Petri | 1940 | More |
Semi Rotte | Petri | More | |
First Six V | Petri | More | |
Semi Proud III | Proud | 1938 | More |
Semi Proud II | Proud | 1938 | More |
Semi Prux | Proud | 1938 | More |
Rosen Semi | Proud | 1936 | More |
Semi Proud | Proud | 1935 | More |
Rosen Semi U | Proud | More | |
Super Semi Proud II | Proud | 1935 | More |
Super Semi Proud | Proud | 1937 | More |
Semi Lucky | Proud | 1937 | More |
Aram Six | Rokuwa | 1956 | More |
Semi Miss | Sanwa | More | |
Semi Rody | Shibayama | 1940 | More |
Mihama Six Model IIIa | Suruga | 1954 | More |
Mihama Six Model II | Suruga | 1953 | More |
Mihama Six Model I | Suruga | 1953 | More |
Mihama Semi | Suruga | 1952 | More |
Mihama Semi II | Suruga | More | |
Mihama Semi III | Suruga | More | |
Mihama Six R | Suruga | More | |
Mihama Six D | Suruga | More | |
Mihama Six S2 | Suruga | More | |
Mihama Six S | Suruga | 1955 | More |
Mihama Six X | Suruga | 1952 | More |
Mihama Rhyme Six | Suruga | More | |
Pilott Six | Tachibana | More | |
Mine Six | Takane | 1954 | More |
Mine Six IIF | Takane | 1955 | More |
Mine Six IIIS | Takane | 1955 | More |
Mine Six Super 66 | Takane | 1957 | More |
Windsor Six | Takane | More | |
Balm Six | Takane | 1954 | More |
Sanon Six I | Takasago | 1950 | More |
Sanon Six II | Takasago | 1950 | More |
Sanon Six III | Takasago | 1950 | More |
Semi Frank | Tosei | More | |
Liner Six | Tosei | 1953 | More |
Frank Six J | Tosei | 1953 | More |
Frank Six IV | Tosei | 1953 | More |
Frank Six | Tosei | 1951 | More |
Frank Six I | Tosei | 1951 | More |
Frank Six I BS | Tosei | 1948 | More |
Semi Hobix | Tougodo | 1953 | More |
Semi Hobix SH II | Tougodo | More | |
Toyoca Six | Tougodo | More | |
Super Makinet Six | Umemoto | 1936 | More |
Semi Makinet | Umemoto | 1941 | More |
Rocky Semi | Umemoto | 1953 | More |
Neure Six | Umemoto | 1936 | More |
Union Semi | Union Kogaku | More | |
Union Semi C II | Union Kogaku | 1953 | More |
Walcon Semi 4.5×6 | Walz | More | |
Walcon Six I | Walz | More | |
Walcon Six II | Walz | More | |
Semi Oscon | Yamagata | 1955 | More |
Semi Kinka | Yamamoto Shashinki Kosakusho | 1938 | More |
Bonny Six | Yamato | More | |
Minon Six II | Yamato | 1950 | More |
Minon Six III | Yamato | 1952 | More |
Minon Six I | Yamato | 1950 | More |
Semi Primo | Zenobia | 1941 | More |
Semi Primo II | Zenobia | 1941 | More |
Gelto Semi I | Toa | 1939 | More |
Gelto Semi II | Toa | 1940 | More |
Welmy Six | Taisai Koki | More | |
Welmy Six E | Taisai Koki | 1952 | More |
Welmy Six ES | Taisai Koki | More | |
Welmy Six L | Taisai Koki | 1953 | More |
Mount Six | Taisai Koki | 1953 | More |
Welmy Six W | Taisai Koki | More | |
Daido Six Model I | Daido Seici | 1953 | More |
Daido Six Model II | Daido Seici | 1954 | More |
Semi Mulber | Mulber | 1939 | More |
Semi Mulber II | Mulber | 1940 | More |
Rittreck Six | Musashino Koki | More | |
Semi Elega 4.5×6 | Nitto Seiko | More | |
Semi Olympic | Olympic Camera | 1937 | More |
Pluto Six | Shichiyo Kogaku | 1954 | More |
Pluto Six F | Shichiyo Kogaku | More | |
Pluto Six L | Shichiyo Kogaku | 1954 | More |
Pluto Six L DX | Shichiyo Kogaku | 1954 | More |
Pluto Six P | Shichiyo Kogaku | 1954 | More |
Apollo Semi | Sumida | 1951 | More |
Mikado Semi | Sumida | More | |
Proud Chrome Six II | Sumida | 1951 | More |
Proud Chrome Six III | Sumida | 1951 | More |
Semi Proud 50 | Sumida | More | |
Proud Chrome Six I | Sumida | More | |
Proud Chrome Six IIIa | Sumida | More | |
Proud Super Six | Sumida | More | |
Semi Masmy I | Takagawa Optic | More | |
Semi Masmy III | Takagawa Optic | More | |
Rubina Sixteen Model II | Tokyo Koki | 1951 | More |
Star Semi III | Uyeda Camera | 1941 | More |
Star Semi II | Uyeda Camera | 1941 | More |
Star Semi I | Uyeda Camera | 1941 | More |
Semi Osamo | Yama-Ko Optical | 1940 | More |
Unknown | Angel Six Model-1 | More | |
Unknown | Arti-Six Model XIX | 1950 | More |
Unknown | Please Six | More | |
Unknown | Toho Six | More |