The Pearl IV really is a remarkable 645 camera. I bought one about 15 years ago, mint condition with case, cased lens shade and manual (in Japanese, since they were never exported). I paid too much compared to current prices, but it I really wanted one and it was the first I had seen for sale in the US after years of looking (pre-ebay years). The Fuji 645 came along 23 years later, added a meter and is lighter, but is also about 20% larger and not as smooth in operation. For years there was lots of misinformation out there about the Pearl IV, to the point where the problem is mentioned in the Camerapedia article on the camera. The source of all of that misinformation was Jason Schneider, who wrote a camera collecting column in Modern Photography. That was later republished with all of the same errors in his three volume set on collecting. It seems that although he had never seen or held a Pearl IV, he was compelled to write an article describing its features and operation in detail. Once you hold the camera, you see that he was totally winging it, mis-describing the quality of lens mounted, the film transport, and the viewfinder function. What he got right was that it is a folder, uses 120 film, and shoots a 645 format. My source indicated that about 4,000 were made in one batch from December 1958, then the camera was killed because sales of MF folding cameras had completely collapsed, as Zeiss (Super Ikonta) soon discovered.
As with a lot of his columns, Schneider had to rely on other collectors for information, and in the pre-Internet era it wasn't as easy to fact-check as it is now. As I recall, his only real gaffes were in saying that the viewfinder has parallax compensation and field-size correction, which it doesn't, and that the lens has five elements instead of four. He certainly was correcting in noting that it was the last of the Pearl line, that it was the most full-featured 645 folder ever (until the Fuji came along) and that it was beautifully made and produced excellent results. This might have been enough to keep a few Pearl IVs out of the trash bin, so kudos to him for that, at least!
I thoroughly enjoy your teachings about these wonderful cameras and their history, but I also hang on every word of your preamble about Japan and Tokyo. I only wish when I was a younger man and student I had this curiosity and willingness to learn. Thanks from Florida.
I can’t believe I found one of these on eBay and it was in great shape all around. I only shot it once and overexposed the roll because I had the wrong ISO setting on my light meter. Really loved the feel of the camera and hope to shoot another roll soon!
2 года назад+1
I want it! I mean the camera and your jacket! could you provide any model of it? sorry to ask thanks for such a great video on the camera!
Does the pearl IV auto cock the shutter when winding like the Mamiya 6 Automat, or does it have to be manually cocked after each shot? Love your videos, keep up the great content👍
Thank you for this video, this is one of my favourite cameras. I have a Pearl III with a slow shutter. It would be great if you'd do a video on how to repair the Seikosha MXL shutter.
This is a great rundown. I have a Pearl IV with a misaligned rangefinder. It focuses past infinity and the patch is not aligned vertically either. Would you know if this is an easy fix or something that means more trouble than normal?
It is easy to adjust, but on the Pearl cameras you must remove the top cover to find the vertical adjustment screw. You can remove the top cover by taking out the lock screw on the winding knob, then unscrewing the knob. You can then remove the screws on the top cover to lift it off. Make sure not to misplace anything.
Instead of your continuous talk why can't you show some Pics shot with this camera? You think those who are watching doesn't know anything about cameras?
The Pearl IV really is a remarkable 645 camera. I bought one about 15 years ago, mint condition with case, cased lens shade and manual (in Japanese, since they were never exported). I paid too much compared to current prices, but it I really wanted one and it was the first I had seen for sale in the US after years of looking (pre-ebay years). The Fuji 645 came along 23 years later, added a meter and is lighter, but is also about 20% larger and not as smooth in operation. For years there was lots of misinformation out there about the Pearl IV, to the point where the problem is mentioned in the Camerapedia article on the camera. The source of all of that misinformation was Jason Schneider, who wrote a camera collecting column in Modern Photography. That was later republished with all of the same errors in his three volume set on collecting. It seems that although he had never seen or held a Pearl IV, he was compelled to write an article describing its features and operation in detail. Once you hold the camera, you see that he was totally winging it, mis-describing the quality of lens mounted, the film transport, and the viewfinder function. What he got right was that it is a folder, uses 120 film, and shoots a 645 format. My source indicated that about 4,000 were made in one batch from December 1958, then the camera was killed because sales of MF folding cameras had completely collapsed, as Zeiss (Super Ikonta) soon discovered.
As with a lot of his columns, Schneider had to rely on other collectors for information, and in the pre-Internet era it wasn't as easy to fact-check as it is now. As I recall, his only real gaffes were in saying that the viewfinder has parallax compensation and field-size correction, which it doesn't, and that the lens has five elements instead of four. He certainly was correcting in noting that it was the last of the Pearl line, that it was the most full-featured 645 folder ever (until the Fuji came along) and that it was beautifully made and produced excellent results. This might have been enough to keep a few Pearl IVs out of the trash bin, so kudos to him for that, at least!
I thoroughly enjoy your teachings about these wonderful cameras and their history, but I also hang on every word of your preamble about Japan and Tokyo. I only wish when I was a younger man and student I had this curiosity and willingness to learn. Thanks from Florida.
Definitely a camera on my "get list". Konica has made some great cameras over the years, and the Pearl series is rather underrated (in my opinion).
I can’t believe I found one of these on eBay and it was in great shape all around. I only shot it once and overexposed the roll because I had the wrong ISO setting on my light meter. Really loved the feel of the camera and hope to shoot another roll soon!
I want it! I mean the camera and your jacket! could you provide any model of it? sorry to ask thanks for such a great video on the camera!
Does the pearl IV auto cock the shutter when winding like the Mamiya 6 Automat, or does it have to be manually cocked after each shot? Love your videos, keep up the great content👍
You need to wind the shutter manually on the Pearl IV, it uses the same shutter which comes on the III series rangefinder cameras,
What’s the red diamond window on the left on top plate?
Thank you for this video, this is one of my favourite cameras. I have a Pearl III with a slow shutter. It would be great if you'd do a video on how to repair the Seikosha MXL shutter.
Please check out my video on repairing the Konica IIIA, it has the same shutter, and I go over how to clean it up.
This is a great rundown. I have a Pearl IV with a misaligned rangefinder. It focuses past infinity and the patch is not aligned vertically either. Would you know if this is an easy fix or something that means more trouble than normal?
Hello i am looking for a Pearl. About mechanical reliability Better Pearl III or IV ? I see the price of Pearl IV Is much Higher
I have one of these and it is my daily driver. However the range finder image is not quite aligned vertically, it it simple enough to realign/adjust?
It is easy to adjust, but on the Pearl cameras you must remove the top cover to find the vertical adjustment screw. You can remove the top cover by taking out the lock screw on the winding knob, then unscrewing the knob. You can then remove the screws on the top cover to lift it off. Make sure not to misplace anything.
Nice camera, but they can be costly, unfortunately. Some ask a pretty penny for them.
Instead of your continuous talk why can't you show some Pics shot with this camera? You think those who are watching doesn't know anything about cameras?
Why can’t you?
Wow, aren't you a pleasant person.