The little and cute Samoca Super 35 is a real vintage rangefinder camera produced around 1956 by the Japanese company Samoca. It was designed to be a cheap, straightforward and compact 35mm film camera, featuring a rangefinder focusing system that helped photographers achieve accurate focus by aligning two superimposed images. It was a playful response to the strong competition with European cameras. And to be honest, it’s precisely that playful and busy design that stands out in a positive way.
Key features of the sturdy metal Samoca Super 35 rangefinder included a coupled rangefinder system that allows for more precise focusing by aligning images in the viewfinder, which was particularly useful for photographers aiming for sharp images. The camera typically came equipped with a fixed lens, mostly the 50 mm F 3.5. Ezumar lens, although later also a 45mm f/2.8-f/22 lens was produced. The technical details were not that impressive with ‘only’ shutter speeds from 1/10 to 1/200 second, and a bulb (B) setting for long exposures. The camera has a combined viewfinder and rangefinder, which is very pleasant to focus within the same viewer using the center circle. The viewer itself is bright and large enough to make good compositions. The RF circle, in turn, is bright enough to accurately perceive contrast and focus. On top of the body, we find the ASA memory dial with very small numbers that are hardly usable by someone with thick fingers, but well, the dial doesn’t serve any mechanical function. Next to it on the right is the rewind lock, which allows you to safely rewind the 35mm roll back into the holder after the last photo. In the middle is the cold shoe for various accessories, such as a flash. To the right is the large, prominent rewind knob with an automated counter for the film roll (up to 36 exposures) underneath it. Finally, the large protruding button is the shutter, which makes very little noise because it is a leaf shutter in the lens.
The front of the camera is by far the most interesting part. It distinguishes the camera from many others. An attractive and busy design housed on a square metal block with the rangefinder at the top, which also provides references for aperture values, indicating which aperture can be chosen based on the selected distance for the highest light value. This rangefinder is coupled to both the lens and the rangefinder in the viewer. This is very convenient because the distance does not need to be estimated or transferred to the lens. The system is reminiscent of the German Super Ikontas. The lens also has a handy thumb rest for focusing. The front wheel of the lens is used to set the aperture. The smallest wheel, located at the bottom left, is for the shutter speeds. This is curiously placed considering the importance of that function. On the right is a PC connection for two types of flash, selectable with a slider: a flashbulb or an automatic flash. On both sides, “Super” and “Rangefinder” are engraved in a beautiful graphic font. At the bottom of the body, there is a button to open the bottom, giving access to the film compartment and the tripod mount.
In the roughly 10 years of its existence, Samoca produced various 35mm cameras. They released almost one per year, with the main difference being a rangefinder or a regular viewer. The company also produced rangefinders and flash units. However, it never gained much fame. This is actually a shame because the cameras stand out in a positive way due to their unique, unconventional design, attractive pricing, and good quality. Unfortunately, competing against brands like Nikon, Pentax, and Minolta was not feasible.
