An Abridged History of Topcon Cameras

Happy New Year fellow forum members,

This one has been a long time in the making, and I'm delighted to finally share the first part in my video documentation of Topcon cameras.


Chapter one begins with the pre-war development and production of medium format cameras and lenses.

The creation of this video and series came about from research when putting together my review of the Topcon 58mm F1.4 lens.

Notably, I discovered a tremendous number of inaccuracies and gaps in historical information.

With what few publications there are on Topcon cameras now long out of print, and with many of the once relevant internet links now defunct, I took it upon myself to fill in the pieces and present to all for posterity.

Seemed like a good idea at the time, yet turned into an epic undertaking with a script now so long that it could warrant publication in its own right. Countless hours of research that I fear likely to be of interest only to the most discerning camera aficionados.

Most grateful for any feedback or words of encouragement to continue in this endeavour and upload the next chapter.

Extending best wishes to all and good health and happiness for 2024.

Thanks very much -- I look forward to watching the video, and look forward to all and any that come in the future. I've got Topcon RF and SLR gear -- it's top notch, so I'm glad to learn more about the history of the company and their products. Much appreciated!

Thank you for the thorough research and clear presentation. I really enjoyed the few Topcon cameras I use, Topcon RE Super with the 50/1.8 lens, Topcon Primo Jr TLR. I understood the storied history of Tokyo Kogaku is comparable to Nippon Kogaku (Nikon), and your video showed just that.

Please keep up with the good work, and I look forward to your next installment!

I don't envy you researching a company that far back, especially where source material may be in several languages.

I thought I'd found a deep rabbit hole with the Mamiya C TLRs, and that was just one small set of cameras and a great deal of English source material. I didn't have to contend with Japanese and my poor language skills, thankfully!

Trask said:

Thanks very much -- I look forward to watching the video, and look forward to all and any that come in the future. I've got Topcon RF and SLR gear -- it's top notch, so I'm glad to learn more about the history of the company and their products. Much appreciated!

Click to expand...

Many thanks Trask and apologies for the delayed response - greatly appreciate your feedback. The information in the upcoming chapters (post war) starts to get really interesting, the first two videos (I'm currently finalising the section on war time production - a research headache) really just set the scene. Couldn't agree more with you on Topcon being top notch.

Very nicely done, and the subject (Topcon) doesn't seem to get nearly as much coverage as say, Nikon, Canon - or Leica.

4season said:

Very nicely done, and the subject (Topcon) doesn't seem to get nearly as much coverage as say, Nikon, Canon - or Leica.

Click to expand...

Feedback very much appreciated and very true, Topcon is somewhat of an obscure branding these days. In the 60's Canon didn't even get a mention when it came to the professional market.

Among my research I read a quote from Mr. Yoshiyuki Takishima which translated as "When the Canon EF came out, Pentax and Minolta dominated the consumer camera market at that time. Nikon has a monopoly of over 90% of the market share, and there was no chance for Canon to take advantage of it."

Who was Mr. Yoshiyuki Takishima? He was the former Director of Canon, Former Head of Camera Business Headquarters, Former Head of Software - Head of Development Headquarters!

Durlacher said:

Feedback very much appreciated and very true, Topcon is somewhat of an obscure branding these days. In the 60's Canon didn't even get a mention when it came to the professional market.

Among my research I read a quote from Mr. Yoshiyuki Takishima which translated as "When the Canon EF came out, Pentax and Minolta dominated the consumer camera market at that time. Nikon has a monopoly of over 90% of the market share, and there was no chance for Canon to take advantage of it."

Who was Mr. Yoshiyuki Takishima? He was the former Director of Canon, Former Head of Camera Business Headquarters, Former Head of Software - Head of Development Headquarters!

Click to expand...

To this day, I don't think I've ever seen a Topcon camera in person, though even as a kid, I was aware of cameras like the Super-D from magazines, but I doubt it's price would have been remotely within my reach.

I once read a claim that, in the time immediately following WWII, Japan had something like 800 camera manufacturers! Does this seem remotely possible to you? I realize that many could have been producing cheap novelties like "Hit"-type cameras, but the figure still boggles my mind. At some point, I'd like to check out a book issued by Asahi Camera a number of years ago, chronicling camera advertisments from 1936-66:

4season said:

To this day, I don't think I've ever seen a Topcon camera in person, though even as a kid, I was aware of cameras like the Super-D from magazines, but I doubt it's price would have been remotely within my reach.

Click to expand...

In the US, the Topcon Super D with 58mm f/1.4 lens was priced at $425 in 1964...at a time that gas was $0.30 per US gallon....the camera cost the equivalent of 3.3 weeks of gross income (US median in 1964 was $6600) or 1417 gallons of gas. Indeed, for most it was made of Unobtainium. Over 50 years later, I obtained one in excellent condition and fully operational, for $25 ! At the time I purchased it without hesitation, not aware if it even worked at all...decades of teen lust for the Super D had to be satisfield.

wiltw said:

In the US, the Topcon Super D with 58mm f/1.4 lens was priced at $425 in 1964...at a time that gas was $0.30 per US gallon....the camera cost the equivalent of 3.3 weeks of gross income (US median in 1964 was $6600) or 1417 gallons of gas. Indeed, for most it was made of Unobtainium. Over 50 years later, I obtained one in excellent condition and fully operational, for $25 ! At the time I purchased it without hesitation, not aware if it even worked at all...decades of teen lush for the Super D had to be satisfield.

Click to expand...

Very nice! A couple of years ago, I happened upon an auction for an RE Super + 35 mm lens, both with US Navy engravings. I was sorely tempted, but the combo was well-worn, and closer to $300, and I was already feeling that I had too many film cameras! What do you think of the placement of the shutter release button, and have you tried using it with Exakta lenses?

4season said:

Very nice! A couple of years ago, I happened upon an auction for an RE Super + 35 mm lens, both with US Navy engravings. I was sorely tempted, but the combo was well-worn, and closer to $300, and I was already feeling that I had too many film cameras! What do you think of the placement of the shutter release button, and have you tried using it with Exakta lenses?

Click to expand...

I do not find the front placement of the shutter button at all an issue, and the fact that you depress it into the body means that grip and shutter depressing make for great ergonomics, better than the classic placement on SLRs IMHO. I have not acquired and tried any Exakta lenses..although the mount itself is compatible, shutter and aperture linkage mechanisms are not compatible, and I doubt use of TTL meter is as transparent to the user.