Canon Demi
The Canon Demi is a 35mm compact half-frame camera introduced by Canon in February, 1963. The Demi was Canon's first half-frame camera, introduced to the market after 12 competing models had already been released by other manufacturers, such as the Olympus Pen.[1] The half-frame form factor offered consumers quality performance in a much smaller package than rangefinder or SLR cameras of the time, and provided a more casual and affordable option to the growing entry-level market. [2]
In reference to its format, the name "Demi" translates to "half" from French.
Markets
Japan
In Japan, half-frame cameras such as the Demi quickly gained popularity as more manufacturers began to produce them at increasingly affordable prices.[2] Upon release, the Demi sold for ¥10,800 (1963) Template:FXConvert/Equivalent[3], while the case and wrist strap were an additional ¥1,000 and ¥300 respectively.[1]
United States
In the United States, the Demi carried both Canon and Bell & Howell nameplates. The camera was designed and manufactured entirely by Canon, but a distribution deal with Bell & Howell that lasted from 1961 to 1976 placed the latter's name on Canon's cameras to help them gain the trust of American consumers while trying to break into the market.[4]
Features
Lorem Ipsum
Variations
Following the initial Demi released in February, 1963, Canon produced numerous variations of the camera:
Color Demi
October, 1963 - The color Demi featured a colored wrap that covered the front and back of the camera, available in black, blue, red, or white. Functionally, it was identical to the original.[5]
Demi S
September, 1964 - Introduced as a higher-end model, the Demi S featured a higher quality lens (30mm f/1.7), a faster shutter (1/8s - 1/500s), a metering range of EV 8 - 17, a film speed range of ISO 25 - 400, and an aluminum alloy body.[6]
Demi C
April, 1965 - The Demi C moved the shutter behind the lens, allowing interchangeable lenses to be used. Two lenses came with the unit: The SD 28mm and the SD 50 mm telephoto lens. Functionally, the Demi C was identical to the original.[7]
Demi Rapid
June, 1965 - Based on the Demi S, The Demi Rapid utilized the Rapid System made by Agfa, which automatically set film speed when a cartridge was loaded. As a cartridge was used, it would spool into another cartridge, eliminating the need to rewind before removal. Additionally, the selenium exposure meter from the original was replaced with a CdS meter, and the camera featured a built-in self-timer.[8]
Demi EE17
May 1966 - Introduced as an improvement of the Demi S, with features from the Demi Rapid. Introduced a reversed Galilean type viewfinder, an exposure meter needle and exposure window in the viewfinder, focus assist visuals for subject distances, a focus-match needle, and shutter-speed priority.[9]
Demi EE28
April 1967 - The final camera in the Demi lineup, the EE28 featured the same lens as the first Demi on an interchangeable mount, a selenium photocell, and a pan focus mark when set to 3-meters. Decreasing film prices diminished the advantages of half-frame cameras, leading to a decline in popularity.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Demi - Canon Camera Museum". global.canon. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wahl, Paul (December 1965). Popular Science. Bonnier Corporation. pp. 114–117.CS1 maint: Date and year (link) Search this book on
- ↑ Japanese Historical Consumer Price Index numbers based on data available from the Japanese Statistics Bureau. Japan Historical Consumer Price Index (CPI) – 1970 to 2014 Retrieved 30 July 2014. For between 1946 and 1970, from "昭和戦後史". Retrieved 2015-01-24.
- ↑ "CAMERA NOTES; Canon Line Distributed By Bell & Howell". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ "Color Demi - Canon Camera Museum". global.canon. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ "Demi S - Canon Camera Museum". global.canon. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ "Demi C - Canon Camera Museum". global.canon. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ "Demi Rapid - Canon Camera Museum". global.canon. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ "Demi EE17 - Canon Camera Museum". global.canon. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ↑ "Demi EE28 - Canon Camera Museum". global.canon. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
This article "Canon Demi" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Canon Demi. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
