debugnus
New Rangefinder User 2012
Hi all,
After showing off some photos at work I took with my Nikon S2, one of my co-workers came at me with his dad's old 50s camera. To my surprise it was a rangefinder
...He asked if I was collecting and if i'd want it? I asked if he was going to sell it, but he said it's not worth anything to him.
Link to Hiyoca gallery: http://smu.gs/xdtMMW
So my question/s is:
1 - is this camera worth anything much?
2 - would it be worth more if it had an overhaul?
Important Notes about camera are:
- It is quite dirty!
- Shutter Speeds are stuffed - 2 or 5 down to B, acts as Bulb and 25 also acts as Bulb
- The focus mechanism is stiff as anything - really hard to move and feels as thought it may strain something if I play with it anymore.
- The Rangefinder does look out of wack and does not even move with the focus mechanism
- The Frame Counter does not advance.
- As seen, the film advance leaver is without its top - so easily falls off when handled the wrong way.
- the button underneath the camera "I assume" this is for multi exposures??? if so - does not stop the film rollers.
- Lastly the black Viewfinder support at the back is swinging on 1 lonely screw.
Thanks,
Dave.
After showing off some photos at work I took with my Nikon S2, one of my co-workers came at me with his dad's old 50s camera. To my surprise it was a rangefinder
...He asked if I was collecting and if i'd want it? I asked if he was going to sell it, but he said it's not worth anything to him.Link to Hiyoca gallery: http://smu.gs/xdtMMW
So my question/s is:
1 - is this camera worth anything much?
2 - would it be worth more if it had an overhaul?
Important Notes about camera are:
- It is quite dirty!
- Shutter Speeds are stuffed - 2 or 5 down to B, acts as Bulb and 25 also acts as Bulb
- The focus mechanism is stiff as anything - really hard to move and feels as thought it may strain something if I play with it anymore.
- The Rangefinder does look out of wack and does not even move with the focus mechanism
- The Frame Counter does not advance.
- As seen, the film advance leaver is without its top - so easily falls off when handled the wrong way.
- the button underneath the camera "I assume" this is for multi exposures??? if so - does not stop the film rollers.
- Lastly the black Viewfinder support at the back is swinging on 1 lonely screw.
Thanks,
Dave.
btgc
Veteran
Seems to be solid camera from around 60ies, built more substantially than later cameras like Yashica Electro un similar. It's rather decent picture taking machine but lens is rather common and thus isn't going to be highly sought after. Value? Nowadays you will be lucky to sell it for something, I don't think it's a market mover.
konicaman
konicaman
Probably not much monetary value. Could be a nice shooter though, if working properly. The 10-blade aperture should give a nice bokeh.
debugnus
New Rangefinder User 2012
Yeh I was also thinking about keeping to shoot with if i can get it fixed.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Seems to fall into the same class as e.g. Beauty, Taron or Aires - generally not worth much, these lesser brand FLRF sell for anything between one and fifty €/$, depending on condition, beauty, lens speed and phase of the moon. Certainly not worth a repair unless for personal use - you will never recoup the repair bill in a sale...
JasonH
Newbie
Hiyoca and Royal Camera
Hiyoca and Royal Camera
Your Hiyoca is a rebadged 1957-59 Royal 35P, made by Royal Camera (DSK) and distributed by I.S. Photo. It is similar to Hanimex's C35 rebadge. Hiyoca distribution was maybe as low as in the 20-30,000 unit range. The markets for Royals and its rebadges fluctuates, going from below $40USD for common ones to inflated over $250USD for rarer ones (like the first Royal 'no name', or a rarer Ogikon). Most of these pieces just get tossed when they're in that 'haven't been used in years and been lost in the closet' state this one's in, and that makes the left-overs artificially rarer. For this one, the case is as valuable as the camera.
The camera itself is basic but solid, and easy to fix. The shutter is frozen from lack of exercise, lens helical is just gummed up from old grease, rf easy to realign. And that bottom button is the rewind release button. Yours still has good chrome (Royals have fragile chrome), black trim brassed a bit, advance lever screw-cap is a simple part to salvage from any Royal: would guess offers would be in $25-50USD range at an auction site.
1950's off-brand orphaned Japanese cameras seem to be cultish. For Royal Camera, the mystery remains how this company developed its wide distribution network, then vanished after 4-5 years in business. If you want to see what Royal made, visit Colin J Clarke's Royal Gallery pBase pages. You might want to ask Colin if he's interested, if only for the case.
Hiyoca and Royal Camera
Your Hiyoca is a rebadged 1957-59 Royal 35P, made by Royal Camera (DSK) and distributed by I.S. Photo. It is similar to Hanimex's C35 rebadge. Hiyoca distribution was maybe as low as in the 20-30,000 unit range. The markets for Royals and its rebadges fluctuates, going from below $40USD for common ones to inflated over $250USD for rarer ones (like the first Royal 'no name', or a rarer Ogikon). Most of these pieces just get tossed when they're in that 'haven't been used in years and been lost in the closet' state this one's in, and that makes the left-overs artificially rarer. For this one, the case is as valuable as the camera.
The camera itself is basic but solid, and easy to fix. The shutter is frozen from lack of exercise, lens helical is just gummed up from old grease, rf easy to realign. And that bottom button is the rewind release button. Yours still has good chrome (Royals have fragile chrome), black trim brassed a bit, advance lever screw-cap is a simple part to salvage from any Royal: would guess offers would be in $25-50USD range at an auction site.
1950's off-brand orphaned Japanese cameras seem to be cultish. For Royal Camera, the mystery remains how this company developed its wide distribution network, then vanished after 4-5 years in business. If you want to see what Royal made, visit Colin J Clarke's Royal Gallery pBase pages. You might want to ask Colin if he's interested, if only for the case.