Collecting Japanese Folding Cameras Part Two
- Kamera Ostalgie
- Nov 6, 2025
- 4 min read
It seems my recent post on collecting Japanese Folding Cameras was found very interesting my many of you, so I will expand on the subject and the cameras a little here whilst the subject is in my head. Lets look at some of the cameras you might be able to find. Thankyou to the regular readers of the blog who have taken the time and trouble to send me pictures and information of their own Japanese folding cameras, without whose help this post would not have been possible.
The Crystar Six / Crystar 15
The Crystar Six and the Crystar 15 are one of the more 'common' Japanese folding cameras available in the U.K. at the moment. They were made by Crystar Koki / Crystar Optical Company / Crystal, the name seemed to change a little, from 1954 to 1957 or thereabouts. As far as I can make out, they were both imported here directly when new rather than got here by chance like many of the other brands that occasionally appear over here. Currently there are three on eBay all Crystar 15 versions with the band of Leatherette running across the top of the camera top plate. So as Japanese folding cameras go, that is quite common. There are no Six versions currently on eBay and they seem to crop up far less often than the 15 versions here in the U.K.
It looks like the ones with the leatherette covering are the Crystar 15 and the ones with the plain top plate are the Crystar Six. At least that is how it looks with the ones imported into the U.K. The 15 seems a lot more common than the Six for some reason.
As you can see there are mainly cosmetic differences to the lens / shutter set up between the 15 and the Six. The naming has also been changed, from Crystar Optl. Co to just Crystar on the Six version. All the versions I have seen have the 75mm f3.5 C-Master Anastigmat lens.
The Crystars are dual format, meaning you can take images in either the classic 6x6 square format, or the more economical 4.5x6cm format. You have the top red wibdow to follow if using 4.6x6 and the bottom if using 6x6cm. Inside the camera are two masks to change the format with.
If you are thinking of buying a Crystar Camera, try and find one with an original case which are really well made in top quality leather with the typical short strap found on many Japanese cases. Much better than the long European case straps I think.
So look for one with a case, check that the lens focus still actually moves and the grease has not dried out and you won't go far wrong, it's a nicely made good looking camera and at the moment average ones seem to be fetching £ 20 to £30. Don't forget to budget for a shutter service and lens clean in order to get the results the camera is capable of. You should not expect a folding camera made in 1951 to perform 71 years later in 2025 without a professional service!
The Frank Six Camera
The Frank Six were a series of folding cameras, made roughly between 1950 and 1954. There are several versions, the early ones like the one above have the viewfinder perched on top of the top plate, while later versions have a totally different enclosed viewfinder as pictured below and also incorporate a waist level finder!
You do not see many of this version in the UK, the early versions being more numerous, but even they are few and far between. This version is from 1953, it has the Tosei Anastigmat f3.5 lens of 80mm. The owner of this beautiful camera tells me that there is in fact a further version of it, with a 80mm Tomioka Tri-Lausar lens also f3.5.
Once again as we often see on this quality Japanese folders the camera is of dual format just like the Crystar, taking both 6x6 and 4.5x6cm formats.
Again just like the Crystar it has the captive flip over masks for the 4.5x6cm format option. These are a great idea as they can't get lost like separate masks.
Wester S 2 Nishida Kogaku N.K.K.
If you are wanting a good quality folder with a coupled range finder, how about the Wester S-2?
Made by Nishida Kogaku Kogyo K.K. who were based in Tokyo from about 1936 until they folded in 1958. they do crop up for sale from time to time, a nice looking one was sold for £31.88 in August on eBay which has to be good value, even if you had to pay out for the shutter servicing and the glass cleaning, you have a lot of capability for your cash with a rangefinder and a good quality Japanese lens.
Nishida produced the similar Autorol, which also must be worth considering and also produced a nice looking Chrome Six in around 1951 which was without a rangefinder. Also in the 1940's a nice looking Model II was also produced. So look out for Wester cameras they look well made and useable.
Whatever your preference in folding cameras, 6x6, 4.5x6, with or without a rangefinder 120 or even 127, there are Japanese folding cameras for most tastes and most pockets, from the humble Welmy 6 to the sophisticated and expensive Mamiya Six with its coupled rangefinder and unique focusing system.
They are all out there to find, service and try out ! Let me know how you get on if you take the plunge and purchase one.
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