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Suzuki Optical Co. Echo 8 Model B |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Japan from 1951 to (After) 1956.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 14309
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Suzuki Optical Co.
Suzuki Optical Co. was founded in 1950 in Tokyo. It is known for creating camera in the shape of a Zippo lighter that use 8 mm film.
The first camera was the Echo 8. Its sales remained modest until the release of the film "Roman Holiday" directed by William Wyler in 1953. This romantic story features a young princess played by Audrey Hepburn who spends a weekend incognito in Rome. She falls in love with a reporter (Gregory Peck) whose paparazzo friend discreetly takes her photo on a café terrace using an Echo 8 camera. The reporter ultimately decides not to publish the article, and the paparazzo returns the photos. The reporter, realizing he and the princess are from different worlds, chooses to distance himself from her. The film won three Oscars in Hollywood.
Following the success of this film, the demand for the Echo 8 surged, leading to its quick unavailability. Suzuki then introduced the Camera Lite to meet this demand. The Camera Lite was simplified compared to the Echo 8, lacking a B setting or aperture adjustments, and replacing the angled viewfinder with a simple hole on the lid acting as a sports viewfinder. However, it came with pre-loaded Minori film cassettes, eliminating the need for the film cutter (16 mm to 8 mm conversion) that came with the Echo 8 and was less convenient for amateur use.
The lineup was further extended with an Echo 8 model , which was identical to the Echo 8 but featured a removable filter or lens hood system. Similarly, the Camera-Lite was followed by the Camera Lite model B, which added the B setting and had a more refined appearance due to its guilloché pattern.
The Echo 8 model B is rarely found in good condition, as its metal parts are made of zamak, an alloy of zinc, aluminum, magnesium, and copper, which tends to oxidize over time, becoming powdery and brittle.
It seems that the Echo 8 (original model) and the Camera Lite are not affected by this issue.
L'Echo 8 model B est une amélioration de l'Echo 8 par l'ajout de filtres ou bonnette se vissant devant l'objectif.
Son obturateur ne propose que le 1/50 et la pose B. L'ouverture de l'objectif de 15 mm est réglable. Il y a le choix entre trois valeurs 3,5 5,6 et 11.
Il est possible de prendre 20 vues de 6 x 6 mm. Le film est du 8 mm obtenu par découpage d'un film 16 mm grâce au petit instrument fourni avec l'appareil.
La roulette permettant l'avancement du film, se bloque automatiquement après la vingtième prise de vue.
L'exemplaire présenté ne possède plus sa partie briquet qui a été dégradée par la maladie du zamak.
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