Melcon

35mm MF film rangefinder camera • Discontinued • Collectible

  • Announced:
  • · October 1955
  • Production type:
  • · Small-batch production
  • Availability:
  • ● Sold out
  • Country of design:
  • · Japan

Specification

Format:
35mm full frame
Film type:
135 cartridge-loaded film
Leica screw mount [28.8mm]
Shutter:
Type:
Focal-plane
Model:
Mechanical
Speeds:
1 - 1/500 + B, T
Exposure:
Exposure metering:
None
Exposure modes:
Manual
Rangefinder and Viewfinder:
Rangefinder:
Built-in
Viewfinder:
Built-in
Finder magnification:
1.5x
Actual rangefinder base:
40mm
Effective rangefinder base:
60mm
Bright-line frames:
-
Parallax compensation:
-
Physical characteristics:
Weight:
530g
Dimensions:
143x72x34mm

From the editor

A Japanese Leica copy sold from 1955 to 1957 by Meguro Kogaku Kogyo via the distributor Hinomaruya. The camera has a light alloy die-cast body with a matte chrome finish and an integral top plate, as on the Leica IIIc and later. The back is hinged for easy film loading (another Leica copy with a hinged back was the Tanack 35C / 35F). The camera has a single PC socket (F & S type) at the front. Rough estimates suggest that no more than 2,000 bodies were produced in total.

The camera came with a rigid Nikkor 50/2 lens made by Nippon Kogaku (Nikon), which also provided extensive technical assistance during the development of the camera and participated in its quality testing. Another standard lens was the Hexar 50/3.5 made by Konishiroku (Konica).

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