When shooting motion picture film, cost is always a concern, as film flies through the camera. Not surprising, the 17.5mm format started out as an inexpensive alternative to 35mm motion picture film -- 35mm film was just split in two. The 17.5mm motion picture format was known in France well before World War II and was called Pathe Rural. Pathe Rural was intented for rural areas, with no permanent theater, and was more economical than regular 35 mm. It was not long before still cameras were designed to use the readily available 35mm and 17.5mm motion picture films.
The best known 17.5mm still camera is the HIT, from Japan. The term "HIT" has come to mean any camera with features similar to this original model -- even if made by another manufacturer. The definition of a HIT camera is generally a camera with:
But there are many cameras that come close to this definition, so what is and isn't a HIT varies from person to person. Would a camera that meets all of these criteria, but uses 16mm film qualitfy as a HIT? Or how about a camera with two shutter speeds? Or one with a variable aperture?
HIT cameras were definitely a hit when they appeared on the Japanese market just after the end of World War II. The reason they were designed, and the reason for their popularity, was that cameras, film and processing -- in short, photography -- were horribly expensive in Japan after the Second World War -- in a country that LOVED phtography. Most of their cities had been largely destroyed during the War, and just getting enough food was an enormous challenge and expense. The features and quality of these cameras was not great -- the U.S. market considered them toys -- but they sold well in Japan since they were inexpensive (like denim bean bag chairs did in the 70's in the USA).
Most 17.5mm cameras use paper-backed, split, unperforated, 35mm film, keeping costs down. Most are also very simple mechanically and, today, are mainly collected, as opposed to used for their picture quality. While most of these cameras were poor performers, a few produced excellent results with good optics and adjustable features!
Just to muddy the photographic waters, these 17.5mm cameras are also sometimes called Mycro (or Micro) or Midget cameras after other common nameplates. The film and format are sometimes called Mycro, as well. Keep in mind that, not all 17.5mm cameras are HIT-type cameras, and not all HIT-type cameras are 17.5mm. Some additional "HIT" cameras that used 16mm film are listed under the 16mm camera section.
Hit-type cameras may still be manufactured today in Hong Kong, Singapore and other locations. If you have additional information about new models or more accurate information about those listed here, please contact us. Much like their security cameras counterpart. Even though this list is long, it is inaccurate and incomplete. Much of the information about any particular camera, especially rare cameras, is virtually impossible to find. Sometimes all that is available is very limited information or a photograph of the camera. As a result, details about the camera may be incorrect. To complicate matters, many cameras were available in different styles with different features and different covering & colors.
If you are able to provide more accurate information than is listed here, please contact us.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Two speeds, I (1/50) and B.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- an early "HIT"-type camera. We know it's early because it is often marked "Made in Occupied Japan".
-- It's just a basic "HIT"-type camera, but often listed as "Arcoflex" or "Arco-flex".
-- a "HIT"-type camera -- and a very common one at that!
-- a "HIT"-type camera. This one is not the same as the Arrow although it is very similar. It says "ARROW-CAMERA" on the front plate.
-- a "HIT"-type camera, not to be confused with Astropic or Astron.
-- a "HIT"-type camera, not to be confused with Astra or Astron.
-- a post-war "HIT"-type camera often marked "Made in Occupied Japan". Sports a 20mm lens.
-- (1950) This is a tiny twin lens reflex camera with a pop-up viewfinder. Speeds of B, 1/25 - 1/150. 20mm (f3.5) lens. Several versions were made. Not a quality shooter. Similar to, but not the same as, the Peace Baby Flex.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- (1960) The Baby-Max qualifies as a "HIT"-type camera with a non-focusing, somewhat long 30mm (fixed f11.0) lens and a single shutter speed. However, it has a different body style from the traditional Hit camera, and is noticeably wider.
-- a "HIT"-type camera with a fixed-focus lens. Single speed.
-- a "HIT"-type camera in most respects. It has a fixed-focus lens and a single speed, but it has an unusual shape for a Hit-type camera.
-- Despite it's name, it's just a typical "HIT"-type camera
-- (1960) The features were similar to "Hit"-type cameras, but the appearance was more like a tiny rangefinder camera. Fixed-focus lens with a fixed aperture. Single shutter speed. Attractive leatherette covering. Not to be confused with the other Bell cameras that used 16mm film.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera. It's a common model, and was made by Tougodo, the originator of the real Hit camera. Like many other Hit-type cameras, it was produced with several colored leatherettes -- blue, red, green, yellow, brown, turquoise, and black. Collect them all.
-- (1960) Fixed-focus 30mm (fixed f11.0) lens. Single speed of 1/30. A "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- sometimes listed, but it's probably just a incorrect spelling of CMC -- like the Konica EYE being incorrectly listed as the Konica CYC because the E's look like C's.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Very common, and not to be confused with the CMC CAMERA -- below -- even though it was probably made by the same manufacturer. It is marked "CMC" on the top of the lens, but is marked "MADE IN JAPAN" on the bottom. Two speeds, I (1/50) and B. It came in a variety of body and leatherette colors.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Very common, and not to be confused with the CMC camera -- above -- even though it was probably made by the same manufacturer. It is marked "CMC" on the top of the lens, and marked "CAMERA" on the bottom. Two speeds, I (1/50) and B. It came in a variety of body and leatherette colors.
-- (1960) Fixed-focus 30mm (fixed f11.0) lens. Single speed of 1/30. A "HIT"-type camera
-- (1950) A vertically-styled camera with a fixed-focus f7.0 lens. Viewfinder on top. Speeds of B and I. Film winding lever on the side.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a better than average Hit-type camera withe a dual viewing system -- eye-level and waist-level.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
See Laurie Import -- below.
-- a "HIT"-type camera from the late 1960s with a 28mm fixed-focus (f/11) lens and shutter speed of 1/50.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera, and seen with slightly different face-plates, and slightly different film knobs.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Not very common and appeared in at least one color other than black.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. If you can decode the meaning of the name, you win a prize! Here's a clue -- "TC" is short for "Tiny Camera".
-- The first of four cameras from the Taiyo-do Optical Works in 1948 -- followed by the similarly-styled Beauty 14, Vestkam, and Meteor cameras in 1949. Although these four camera were very simple, and used 17.5mm, paper-backed roll film, many do not consider them true "HIT" cameras because of their body styling and features. The Epochs has a 20mm f3.5, fixed-focus, fixed aperture lens, and shutter speeds of B, 1/25 and 1/50.
-- see Hit Foreign, Minetta Foreign & Marvel Foreign
-- a typical "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Not made by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (now Fujifilm), but by Fuji Kogaku Seiki Company. There were two cameras with the same name, or more appropriately, the Fuji camera appeared in two versions. Both models had the same features, and an inscribed silhouette of Mt. Fuji on the top of the camera. The first model was similar to many Hit-style cameras and came in a chrome body with black leatherette.
The later, easier-to-find, model only came in a gold finish with a body style a little closer to the Comex (above) and the Nikkobaby (below) cameras that they also produced..
-- one of the earliest 17.5mm cameras -- late 1940's -- the Gamma is shaped more like a tiny 35mm rangefinder than a typical "HIT"-type camera. It is larger than the typical HIT, but not by much. The shutter release is on the camera top, not the lens -- which is a rather long, focusing, Angel 20mm f4.5 optic with f-stops to f9. Three speeds of 1/50, 1/25, and B. The accessories include the usual camera case, lens shade, and HUGE flash bulb holder that clamps onto the lens -- very similar in appearance to the flash for the Mamiya 16 series of cameras. It is marked "MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN".
see Morita Gem 16
-- (1950) Fixed-focus lens. Single speed. A "HIT"-type camera
-- (1962) Fixed-focus lens. A lighter-type camera, not a Hit-type camera. Speeds of B and I. May have used 8mm film instead of 17.5mm.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Not to be confused with the GLOBE or GLOBE CAMERA (below), although it's understandable why this would happen. Although they have the same features and look very similar, a close examination will reveal "fine" differences, such as the film advance knob.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Not to be confused with the GLOBAL (above) or GLOBE CAMERA (below), although it's understandable why this would happen. Although they have the same features and look very similar, a close examination will reveal "fine" differences, such as the film advance knob.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Not to be confused with the GLOBAL or GLOBE (above), although it's understandable why this would happen. Although they have the same features and look very similar, a close examination will reveal "fine" differences, such as the film advance knob.
-- a hard-to-find "HIT"-type camera, it is almost always seen in a gold-plated body with an Art Deco appearance. And if you really want to find an even-harder-to-find "HIT"-type camera, track down the GNCO in a CHROME BODY.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
Most of the cameras on this page are referred to as Hit cameras, but they really aren't because their label is not marked "HIT". But there are actually several types of the original HIT cameras. The first probably appeared around 1950. It has a fixed-focus 30mm lens, a single speed of 1/30, and a fixed aperture of f11. Later versions of the genuine Hit camera had slight variations in the front nameplate of the camera, the shape of the body and film advance knob, the leatherette color, and some had two shutter speeds -- I (1/25) and B. There was even a "gold" version made. All of the genuine "Hit" cameras were made by the Tougodo Co., but the Tougodo Company did make some other Hit-type cameras with different labels, such as the CMC cameras (above). Still, the Hit look-a-likes were mostly by other firms and had different names, as you can see -- above and below.
-- the best known "HIT"-type camera. It has lots of variations over time, but all are clearly marked "HIT". Se also "Hit-II" and "New Hit"
-- It looks so different, it might have been made by a different company. In any case, it is a LOT harder to find than the original Hit camera.
-- Hit wasn't the only brand that added the word "Foreign" to its lens plate. See Marvel & Minetta.
-- (1960) Fixed-focus lens. Single speed.
-- Apparently made by the same factory that made the Myracle with similar features, but little is known about it.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- (1949) A vertically-styled camera with a fixed-focus 35mm (2.8-11.0) lens. Shutter speeds of B, 1/20 - 1/200. Pop-up viewfinder on the top.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
see Morita Kiku 16
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a typical "HIT"-type camera, but hard to find. It's the same as the Q.P. (see below) -- which is much EASIER to find. Not to be confused with the numerous Hello Kitty cameras -- one of which used 110 film.
-- see Okada Kolt
-- see Snappy
-- It's probably just the Corona
-- see Toyoca KUTE
-- see Lovely
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- (1948) Fixed-focus lens in a rectangular body, similar to the Minolta 16 -- even though it used 17.5mm paper-backed film.. Speeds of B, 1/25 - 1/100. Hard to find.
They were hoping that the name would sell the camera, because the features won't -- it's a standard Hit-type camera. Â Speeds of B and I (1/50). Looks the same as the Happy (above). Perhaps the two should have been combined and sold as the HAPPY-GO-LUCKY.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Fixed-focus, fixed f-stop lens. Two shutter speeds -- I and B.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- One of at least three "HIT"-type cameras that used the "Foreign" name -- see "Hit Foreign" and "Minetta Foreign".
-- see Shimura
-- a "HIT"-type camera. See also Mighty Midget, and Misuzu Midget.
-- see Mity, Toko Mighty, or Mighty Midget.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Like the CMC camera (above -- and other Hit-style cameras), the Minetta came with different names on the face-plate, and different colored leatherette. This model is marked "MINETTA" on the top of the lens, and "MADE IN JAPAN" on the bottom.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. This model is marked "MINETTA" on the top of the lens, and "CAMERA" on the bottom.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. This model is marked "MINETTA" on the top of the lens, and "FOREIGN" on the bottom.
-- (1950) A vertically-styled camera with a fixed-focus lens. Shutter speeds of B, 1/25 - 1/150. Pop-up viewfinder on the top. Not to be confused with the Mini Camera (below)
-- see Sing 388 and Laurie Import
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera -- and available in several colors.
-- a rarely seen "HIT"-type camera. See also Mighty (above).
-- see Sanwa Mycro
-- a "HIT"-type camera. It has the name of the U.S. distributor -- SOUTHERN -- on the frontplate.
-- (1950) Two models exist. Both have a fixed-focus (f4.5) lens. One model has a variable aperture to f11.0. The other is fixed at f4.5. Both have speeds of B, 1/25 - 1/100.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. In fact, It's exactly like the original Hit camera. It is simply marked "HIT" on the lens plate, but the top of the viewfinder is marked "NEW HIT".
-- (1950) Fixed-focus 14mm (fixed f4.5) lens. Speeds of B and I. A "HIT"-type camera. Various faceplates.
-- might just be a misunderstanding
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera -- not to be confused with "Souvenir of Mexico" (below).
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- just another "HIT"-type camera. The box says "PAMEX BABY CAMERA".
-- (1949) Fixed-focus 20mm lens. Speeds of B and I. Round viewfinder on top.
-- (1950) Fixed-focus 20mm (fixed f4.5) lens. Speeds of B and I. Round viewfinder on top.
-- (1949) This is a tiny twin lens reflex with pop-up viewfinder. Fixed-focus 20mm (f3.5-11.0) lens. Speeds of B and I. Similar to, but not the same as, the Baby Flex.
-- (1950) This is a tiny box camera with pop-up sportfinder and regular viewfinder. Fixed-focus (fixed f4.5) lens. Speeds of B and I.
-- (1955) Fixed-focus lens with two f-stops marked with images of "clouds" and "sun". Single speed.
-- (1950) Round camera, sort of like the Petal, but the lens points out the top. Fixed-focus 25mm (f8.0) lens. Speeds of B and I. Pop-up viewfinder on the side.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Like many Hit-type cameras it has appeared with slightly variations. It is marked "Prince" on the lens and can be marked "Prince-S" on the top, "16-S" on the lens, etc.
-- (1960) Unusual bar-type 17.5mm camera with a fixed-focus (f10.0) lens. Like other Hit-type cameras, it has two speeds -- B and I. It is also notable for its imitation selenium meter, and unusual, but larger, 14x16mm film format size. It is marked "Prince" on the front and "Prince 16-A" on the case.
-- It was the same as the Homer 16 and the Toyoca Ace -- including the fake meter next to the viewfinder -- but unlike the other cameras, it came in various colored leatherettes, such as black, silver, or gold. Talk about CLASS! It is marked "Prince" next to the viewfinder, and "Prince Ruby" on the lens.
(1960) Fixed-focus lens. Speeds of B and I. A "HIT"-type camera. Same as the Kitty (see above).
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- Did it "REAL"ly exist?
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- (1950) A bar-style camera with a flip-up front cover to protect the lens and viewfinder. Fixed-focus lens. Speeds of 1/50 - 1/100.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Also see New Rocket.
-- see Rubix
see Morita Saika
-- a "HIT"-type camera
see Harukawa
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Fixed-focus, fixed f-stop lens. Two shutter speeds -- I and B.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- (1950) An extremely rare vertically-styled 17.5mm camera apparently produced by the Shimura Co. under the authority of Topcon. Not much is known about it, and if any were actually produced -- a big "IF" -- it might have appeared in different varieties, such as a 20mm or 25mm lens, both with two aperture settings -- f4.5 & f8. The lens is fixed-focus, of course, with shutter speeds of B, 1/25, 1/50, & 1/100 -- both selected by small levers on the front. Looking much like the 16mm Coronet Midget -- not the Mighty Midget or Misusu Midget -- it has a built-in viewfinder on the top.
-- vetically-styled camera. same as the Peace Baby Flex
-- see Gemflex
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- The Sing 88 stands out because it is shaped more like a "Bell 14" (see above), mini-rangefinder-style camera, than a typical "HIT"-style camera -- even though the simple features are the same. Like its brother (below) it is marked "MINI CAMERA" on the front of the lens, but unlike it's brother, it is also marked "Sing 88" on the front of the camera.
-- A typical "HIT"-style camera but unlike its sister (above) the camera is simply marked "MINI CAMERA" on the lens face, and only the box indicates a different name -- "Sing 388".
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera -- not to be confused with "Old Mexico" (above).
-- see Sun B
-- see Mykro-fine
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- see Maruso
-- a "HIT"-type camera in a slighty more "sophisticated" body -- not to be confused with the more pedestrian, cosmic, Hit-cameras like: Sun, Astra, Blue Star, Comex, Sputnik, Rocket, Globe, etc.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. "Lite" might be in the name, but it weighs the same as any Hit-type camera.
-- yet another celestial "HIT"-type camera -- without any stellar features.
-- Wouldn't it be nice to have a stereo HIT-type camera? What would that be, exactly? A Hit camera with two speakers that plays music? Don't be ridiculous! Actually there is a Stereo Hit camera, but it doesn't have speakers and it doesn't play music. And it doesn't use 17.5mm film. It uses 127 film and takes TWO pictures to create 3-D images. Why they named it the "STEREO HIT" camera instead of the "3-D 127" camera might be the reason it was a complete failure. People were expecting MUSIC!!!
-- another "HIT"-type camera from Tougodo (see below)
see Hope, Myracle, Rubix and Rubina
-- Shaped like the Snappy, but this one has a unique viewing system. It's actually a tiny TLR camera! Comes with fixed-focus 35mm lens. Speeds of B and I.
-- a "HIT"-type camera. Not to be confused with the Sun, it does NOT use 16mm film.
-- Not to be confused with the Sun. Made by SNK.
-- There were two cameras that carried the Swallow name, but they are very different in features, even though they are from the same era -- late '40s to the early 50's. The most common is a slightly elongated "HIT"-type camera with the typical features. Two speeds of B and I (1/50) with a fixed-focus, single aperture lens, probably f11. I know it's hard to swallow, but a more upscale Swallow was also made. It had a fixed-focus, 20mm (f4.5-9.0) lens with variable speeds from 1/25 - 1/100, plus B. In addition, it lacked the typical "HIT"-type viewfinder. This model had a waist-level finder.
-- (1955) Camera was shaped like a small Leica. Fixed-focus 30mm (f8.0) lens. Speeds of B, 1/25 - 1/100. Flash synch.
-- (1950) Fixed-focus 20mm lens. Speeds of B, 1/25 - 1/50. A "HIT"-type camera.
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- (1947) 25mm (f4.5-8.0) fixed-focus lens. Speeds of B and I. A "HIT"-type camera with a few of improvements. First, there is the waist-level finder built-in, right next to the regular viewfinder. Even more important is the variable aperture, which improves results when stopped down, and offers some exposure control. In addition, a lens shade and a 2X teleconverter was made which slipped onto the front of the lens.
-- See Rubix.
-- See Maruso
-- see Baby, Click, Colly, Hit and Sterling
-- see Mighty and Tone
-- see Tacker
-- see Ginrei Vesta
-- a "HIT"-type camera
-- an infequently found "HIT"-type camera
-- see Halmat
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