Re: [KOML] KO History

[Clive Warren <Clive.Warren>]

At 8:18 pm -0800 9/1/98, pjcaplow@sprynet.com wrote:

>Clive:
>
>A couple corrections to your latest posting:
>
>You described 4 models:
>
>Koni-Omega Rapid  (knob operated darkslide)  (mine says "Konica" on the back!)
>Koni Rapid-Omega 100  (separate darkslide, non changeable back mid-roll)
>Koni Rapid-Omega 200  (separate darkslide, changeable back mid-roll)
>Koni Rapid-Omega "M"  (separate darkslide, changeable back mid-roll)
>
>Actually, the 100 and 200 were not called Koni but simply Rapid Omega 100 and
>Rapid Omega 200.  To get REALLY nit-picky, the name on the front of the Rapid
>Omega was not hyphenated the way it was on the Koni-Omega.  My evidence of
>this
>is the 12/81 Modern Photography Annual Guide, page 146, which includes a
>picture
>of the Rapid Omega 100 as well as the "Rapid Omega 100 & 200 Owner's Manual
>(available on the web at http://www.skypoint.net/members/jcwatne/omega.html).
>
>You also stated that: "The standard lenses also changed over the years.  The
>earlier lenses are marked "Super Omegon" ... Later lenses are marked
>Koni-Omega
>Hexanon..."
>
>This is backwards.  According to the Modern Photography Guide cited above,
>the
>Rapid Omega 100 (the very last model Omega) came with the Super Omegon. The
>earlier Koni-Omegas made by Konica were equipped with the Hexanon lens.
>Hexanon
>is a Konica trademark.  In fact, I own a Konica Autoreflex T3 that came
>with a
>Hexanon lens.


Thanks for the corrections.

So that gives the folowing 4 models:


Early Konica/Simmons Bros. models:
Koni-Omega Rapid  (knob operated darkslide, non changeable back mid-roll)
Koni-Omega "M"    (separate darkslide, changeable back mid-roll)

Later Mamiya models:
Rapid-Omega 100  (separate darkslide, non changeable back mid-roll)
Rapid-Omega 200  (separate darkslide, changeable back mid-roll)


Regarding the lenses, I have seen two outfits which support the notion that
the earlier lenses are the Super Omegons.

All of the following markings were used on lenses:

(Super, Wide, Tele) Omegon
Koni-Omega Hexanon
Hexanon

It doesn't make a lot of difference as the lenses are essentially the same
apart from the writing on the lens rings. However it may useful to know the
age of the lenses.....

My guess is that the age of the lenses follows the order of the list above
with the Omegons being the oldest.


We had a beautiful sunny day here in Bristol last Saturday, so took the
opportunity of loading the Koni-Omega Rapid with some of the new Konica
Infra Red film to try out a range of exposures - nominally rated at 50ASA.
Used an 87 filter and the 90mm Koni-Omega Hexanon that came with the camera
:-)

Still haven't sorted out the back problem so lose about 10% of the last
frame.  If anyone has a spare back for the earlier body that they would
like to part with, please let me know.







All the best,

              Clive   http://clive.bel-epa.com