Petal
SAKURA SEIKI - 1948 - JAPAN (TOKYO)
- Spy Camera
- Custom film
- Very Rare
The Petal is an incredible device. It was the smallest subminiature camera in the world, produced by Sakura Seiki in Japan in 1948.
It has a round (or octagonal) main body the size of a coin and was intended for inconspicuous photography as it can easily fit in a pocket.
The Petal takes 6 mm round pictures on a round film disc contained in a special circular cassette that can be inserted in daylight. Once the film is loaded, a very steady hand is needed to shoot a picture as the camera is extremely small and has a fixed shutter speed. Like many other spy cameras of the times that were designed for discreet usage, the size and and technical limitations of the Petal forced a cumbersome usage if you wanted to actually aim it correctly.
Nonetheless, the Petal became a hot item for Private Investigators in the United States in the late 1940s and the 1950s. Having a Petal, raised your profile as a successful investigator It was quite an expensive camera as it costed about a week's pay.
Today, the Petal Camera is a very sought-after collectible, especially the early ones made in occupied Japan.
Associated project shares
- 1 Share of the 99 Cameras Club project
Discover the club's camera collection.
99 Cameras Club for updates.
Read the term and conditions.
Note : This Collectible is not an official product from the represented camera manufacturer. It is a replica of an individual camera from the club's collection and holds no rights or relationships with its manufacturer. It should be regarded only as a token of patronage to the 99 Cameras Club.
SAKURA SEIKI - 1948 - JAPAN (TOKYO)
- Spy Camera
- Custom film
- Very Rare
The Petal is an incredible device. It was the smallest subminiature camera in the world, produced by Sakura Seiki in Japan in 1948.
It has a round (or octagonal) main body the size of a coin and was intended for inconspicuous photography as it can easily fit in a pocket.
The Petal takes 6 mm round pictures on a round film disc contained in a special circular cassette that can be inserted in daylight. Once the film is loaded, a very steady hand is needed to shoot a picture as the camera is extremely small and has a fixed shutter speed. Like many other spy cameras of the times that were designed for discreet usage, the size and and technical limitations of the Petal forced a cumbersome usage if you wanted to actually aim it correctly.
Nonetheless, the Petal became a hot item for Private Investigators in the United States in the late 1940s and the 1950s. Having a Petal, raised your profile as a successful investigator It was quite an expensive camera as it costed about a week's pay.
Today, the Petal Camera is a very sought-after collectible, especially the early ones made in occupied Japan.
Associated project shares
- 1 Share of the 99 Cameras Club project
Discover the club's camera collection.
99 Cameras Club for updates.
Read the term and conditions.
Note : This Collectible is not an official product from the represented camera manufacturer. It is a replica of an individual camera from the club's collection and holds no rights or relationships with its manufacturer. It should be regarded only as a token of patronage to the 99 Cameras Club.
