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Model Nikon Camera (Nikon I)
| Release date in Japan |
1948-03 |
|---|---|
| Discontinuation date |
1949-08 |
| Price in Japan | 1948-03 57,960 yen (with 5cm f/2) |
| Camera type | Focal-plane Coupled rangefinder 35mm camera |
| Film format | 135 |
| Picture size | 24 x 32mm |
| Dimensions (W x H x D)(approx.) | 136 x 78 x 42.5mm |
| Weight (approx.) | 765 g (with 5cm F2) |
| Finder construction | Inverted Galilean type |
| Finder magnification (approx.) | 0.6 x |
| Finder frame | Entire field of view for 5cm lens |
| Frame coverage (approx.) | 85 % |
| Focusing | Coupled rangefinder |
| Range finder base length | 60 mm |
| Effective base length (approx.) | 36 mm |
| Shutter type | Horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter |
| Shutter curtain | Rubberized silk cloth |
| Shutter speed setting | Rotary dial High speed / low speed co-axial |
| Shutter speeds | T, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/20, 1/30, 1/40, 1/60, 1/100, 1/200, 1/500 |
| Flash sync. contact | None |
| Self-timer | None |
| Film advance | Knob |
| Film rewind | A-R lever and knob |
| Frame counter | Manual reset |
| Note | |
| Accessories |
| Special mention item |
|---|
| The first mass production camera for consumers' use planned by Nippon Kogaku K.K. (present Nikon Corporation). 35mm (135 format) rangefinder camera with focal-plane shutter. Irregular feed of 7 perforations per frame and the width of the frame was 32 mm, shorter than "Leica" format (36 mm). This was intended to improve the conventional vertical / horizontal ratio (=2 : 3) which seemed too long sideways, to more natural ratio (=3 : 4), but it didn't cope with the DPE laboratory equipment and was modified in the next model "Nikon M" (1949). Horizontal-travel, cloth-curtain, single-axis type focal-plane shutter incorporated a ball-bearing unit in the section of common axis for front and rear curtain and worked very smoothly. Fast (B, 1/20 ~ 1/500 sec.) and slow (T, ~ 1/20 sec.) shutter speed settings were arranged co-axial. Regarding the lens mount, the shape of bayonet and flange back were made same as "Contax", but the relation between the moving amount of double-image of rangefinder and subject distance was designed for the normal lens of 51.6 mm focal length same as "Leica". Viewfinder type was inverted Galilean, magnification 0.6 x. Single-eye coincidence type rangefinder was incorporated. Film exchange was made by removing the rear cover (solid with bottom cover).
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