Meguro Kogaku Melcon II
The Meguro Kogaku Melcon II is a LTM-mount film rangefinder camera, introduced in 1957. Leica camera price index →
Reference maintained by Thomas Boots
General
- Mount
- LTM
- Release Year
- 1957
- Type
- Film
- Model Number
- II
- Serial Range
- Unknown
Dimensions
Viewfinder & Shutter
- Magnification
- 1x
- Framelines
- Fixed 50 mm brightline
- Shutter Speeds
- T, B and 1 s to 1/500 s
- Shutter Type
- Cloth
Features
- Hot Shoe
- No
- Tripod Socket
- Yes
- Self Timer
- No
- Flash Sync
- Unknown, F/X selectable synchronization
Melcon II
The Melcon II is a low-production LTM rangefinder introduced by Meguro Kogaku in 1957. Although its stepped top plate and control placement evoke the Nikon S2, it retains a Leica thread mount, hinged back and cloth focal-plane shutter [1][2].
Its combined 1.0x viewfinder and coupled rangefinder has a fixed 50 mm brightline and a 70 mm physical rangefinder base. Film advance is by lever, while rewind uses a folding crank [1].
History
Development and Launch
The Melcon II replaced the original Leica III-style Melcon with a more contemporary body in 1957. Nippon Kogaku supplied normal lenses, and the extent of any Nikon involvement in the body design remains debated rather than documented fact [1][2][3].
Production Evolution
The camera appears to have remained on sale for only part of 1957. Collector sources estimate 500 or fewer bodies, but no factory production ledger or dependable serial allocation is presently established [1][2].
Special Variants
No documented factory special edition requires a separate profile. Nikkor and other LTM lens pairings are outfit variations, including collector pairings that were not original sales packages [2].
Collector Notes
The front F/X selector resembles a self-timer lever, but the camera has no self timer. Verify the 1.0x finder, fixed 50 mm brightline, LTM mount, hinged back, cloth curtains and Meguro markings [1][2].
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