KOWA 16mm SUBMINIATURES
(1959) -- A fixed-focus 23mm (f3.5-11) lens. Speeds of B, L (1/50), 1/100, H (1/200). This was a camera with a built-in six transistor radio -- or a radio with a built-in camera, if you prefer. It was made by Kowa, not Minolta, but used the Minolta cassette, and was similar to the Minolta Sonocon radio/camera. It was available in black, blue, red and white. Typically sold in a kit which was comprised of the radio-camera, carrying case, ear plug (of course!), camera strap, 9V battery, instruction book and box. It's the same as the Kowa Ramera -- below -- but not to be confused with the Ellison Kamra that used half-frame 35mm film.
It's the same as the Bell Kamra (above), and like the Kamra, the Ramera might have appeared in slightly different models. While the camera itself, is very much like the Minolta 16, the shutter speed and aperture dials are not right next to each other. They are in opposire corners, but operate exactly the same way. A button on the bottom of the camera releases the film door (which is held on by a pair of flaps) to allow changing the cassette. There is a PC connection on the front, and the shutter release is on the bottom -- which becomes the side when a picture is being taken. Two dials on the opposire end of the Kamra/Ramera control the radio AM frequency and volume.
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