What is this for $12K
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jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
Mamiya Pistol Camera. Very rare, very funky, very sought-after by collectors of subminis and anyone else who would enjoy getting into a LOT of trouble at airports. As the follow-up text says, a few hundred were made for the use of the Tokyo police; one book I've read says they were intended for low-cost, low-noise target practice, another (like the text) says they were primarily for photographing demonstrations and such.
The theory was that police officers already are trained to aim and fire a gun accurately, so designing a camera that could be aimed and fired the same way would let them get good results with minimal additional training. I'd guess nobody thought in advance the likely public reaction to seeing a police officer point a "weapon" at you and pull the trigger; would likely scare the whee out of the citizenry, which may be one reason so few were made.
The theory was that police officers already are trained to aim and fire a gun accurately, so designing a camera that could be aimed and fired the same way would let them get good results with minimal additional training. I'd guess nobody thought in advance the likely public reaction to seeing a police officer point a "weapon" at you and pull the trigger; would likely scare the whee out of the citizenry, which may be one reason so few were made.
parks5920
Well-known
Not a camera I would take out in a crowded place!
captainslack
Five Goats Hunter
Hmmm..... $12,000 for a guaranteed a$$ whipping. Not a good deal, IMHO.
Heath
Classic Camera Collector
Reminds me of the Zenit Foto-Snaiper SLR's made by KMZ. I hope to be getting a FS-12 with a second Zenit 12 very soon, to go with my other FSU cameras. I can asure you I WILL be using the FS-12 when (or if) I get it. The looks on people faces will be prieless.
Heath
Heath
