Names of cameras in other contexts

[Someonenameddavid]

Most of us would recognize the fact that Olympus was the Greek mountain where the mythical Greek Gods dwelt: a few (sad) people would recognize that Nikon was a Russian archbishop who reformed the Orthodox church in Russia during the 1600s.... How many of you know that Miranda was a Shakespearian character, or that Minolta marketed a range of APS cameras called Vectis, which was the Ancient Roman name for the Isle of Wight (That's off the South coast of England for those elsewhere)... Can any of you come up with other camera names that mean something else... Other languages even....

David

 

[ntenny]

I'm not sure: is the origin of Canon as a goddess's name fairly well known? (The Japanese name is, I think, normally rendered as Kannon; she's probably better known to the West in her Chinese version as Kuan Yin.)

Nikon was also a fairly prominent graffiti artist in Budapest a few years ago; no idea if the name comes from the camera (probably not from the archbishop).

-NT

 

[MattKing]

Well, Retina clearly has an important roll in sight.

And Medalist is an award winner.

And a Cine Kodak Special is, well, special .

All from a company whose very name is a purely made up word.

 

[zsas]

Mt Fuji

 

[tomalophicon]

Walker Titan is one I suppose.
Using a Canon Rebel made you feel sooooo baaad!!!

 

[benjiboy]

I'm not sure: is the origin of Canon as a goddess's name fairly well known? (The Japanese name is, I think, normally rendered as Kannon; she's probably better known to the West in her Chinese version as Kuan Yin.)

Nikon was also a fairly prominent graffiti artist in Budapest a few years ago; no idea if the name comes from the camera (probably not from the archbishop).

-NT

The name was originally Kwanon the Buddhist goddess of enlightenment, and Nikon is a contraction of Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha , Japan Optical Industries Corporation in English.

 

[Vaughn]

Diana Camera -- probably not after Princess Di...

 

[Steve Smith]

or that Minolta marketed a range of APS cameras called Vectis, which was the Ancient Roman name for the Isle of Wight

I knew that!

Our local bus company has Vectis in its name although I don't think it was running chariot based public transport when the Romans were in occupation..


Steve.

 

[Francis in VT]

EOS I was told is the Greek goddess of dawn.

 

[guitstik]

EOS I was told is the Greek goddess of dawn.

Dish washing detergent has a patron?

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Nikon is Japanese Intelligence Agencies name from ww2.

 

[CGW]

Nikon is Japanese Intelligence Agencies name from ww2.

Guess again, please:

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/index.htm

 

[CGW]

Kyocera Samurai

Fujipet

Canon ELPH

 

[AgX]

Penelope from Aaton


Penelope was the wife of Odysseus and her fidelity when seperated all those years from her husband has been described.

 

[AgX]

Agfa Karat


Agfa Billy


Indra (a german box camera and a name from Hindu mythology)

 

[Jeff L]

IKON = image (Greek "eikon)

 

[AgX]

Swinger from Polaroid

 

[2F/2F]

Ma-Mamiya!

 

[AgX]

Sport by GOMZ

(though this may not count as it is seemingly linked to its function)

 

[AgX]

Centurion from Olympus


Mercury from ERAC


Mercury from Universal


Narziss from KMZ


Vega from Arsenal



Rabbit from Tougodo

Adler from Asahi (Adler means eagle in German)

Kreis from Takahashi (Kreis means circle in German)

Lyra from Fuji Kōgaku

there are a lot of those names at early japenese cameras so I better stop...

 

[SimonD]

Not sure which came first, Fuji's Nexia APS film and cameras or the Daewoo version of the GM Astra car.

 

[jakyamuni]

I've heard that Bronica was a Japanese adaptation of the term "Brownie," referring to the film size (120 film being "brownie film"); incidentally, Brownie cameras were named after characters popularized by Palmer Cox in the late 19th-early 20th century.

 

[michaelbsc]

The "M" sync setting is for GE's Mazda base bulbs (not related to the Japanese car company). Obviously the "X" setting was for xenon.

Mazda was an ancient Persian name for God that means light. How GE found that as a product brand name is anybody's guess.

 

[AgX]

The "M" sync setting is for GE's Mazda base bulbs.

I doubt this.

M seems to stand for medium response time
F for fast response
FP for focal plane (-shutter usability)


This all seems to be about light emittance characteristics.

 

[Steve Smith]

Mazda was an ancient Persian name for God that means light. How GE found that as a product brand name is anybody's guess.

Light bulbs?

http://www.adclassix.com/images/18mazdalightbulbs.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1186/803237902_fd12d5c863.jpg

EDIT: I see your point now. How, not why!


Steve.