Reise

Est. 1951

Reise

Reise was a small Japanese camera and lens operation associated with the Chiyoca and Chiyotax lines of Leica-style 35mm rangefinder cameras. The name appears in several forms, including Reise Kogaku Kenkyujo, Reise Optical Institute, and Reise Camera Company. Reise is relevant to Leica collectors because its cameras and collapsible Reise-Q.C. 50mm f/3.5 lens used the Leica M39 screw system, placing them among the less common Japanese LTM cameras and lenses of the 1950s.

History

Founding / Early Years

The surviving record places Reise's activity in the early 1950s, but does not provide a fully consistent legal foundation date. Specialist histories associate its personnel with Japan's postwar camera industry and with experience gained at other small precision-camera firms. The company worked with Chiyoda Shokai, which distributed cameras under the Chiyoca name.

Market Entry

Early Chiyoca models included scale-focus and rangefinder versions such as the Chiyoca 35, 35 IF, and IIF. Their styling and interchangeable screw lenses followed the established Leica format. Collector research reports that some of the earliest standard lenses were engraved Lena before the Reise name was adopted. The exact division of optical design, manufacture, assembly, and branding between the participating businesses is not completely documented.

Expansion / Modern Period

The Chiyoca name was changed to Chiyotax in the mid-1950s, reportedly because of its similarity to established Chiyoda or Chiyoko names. Reise Camera Company markings appear on later Chiyotax equipment, including the IIIF. Production under the Chiyotax identity ended later in the decade, and specialist histories connect part of the operation or workforce with Misuzu Kogaku and the Alta camera advertised around 1959. Reise did not continue as a major modern camera manufacturer.

Product Lines

Rangefinder Cameras

Reise is associated with Chiyoca and Chiyotax Leica-copy cameras, including coupled-rangefinder models using interchangeable LTM lenses.

LTM Standard Lenses

The Reise-Q.C. 50mm f/3.5 was offered in a collapsible Leica-thread barrel. Lena and other lenses also appear on related early cameras.

Technical Characteristics

Feature	Description
Camera format	35mm Leica-style rangefinder and scale-focus cameras
Lens mount	Leica M39 screw mount on documented Chiyoca and Chiyotax models
Reference lens	Reise-Q.C. 50mm f/3.5 Collapsible
Focusing	Rangefinder-coupled on appropriate lens and camera combinations
Brand relationships	Reise, Chiyoca, Chiyotax, and later Alta histories overlap
M-mount use	LTM lenses can be adapted to Leica M-mount cameras

Market Reception

Reise equipment is collected as part of the broad Japanese Leica-copy movement rather than as a large independent system. Chiyoca and Chiyotax cameras document the rapid development of Japan's postwar photography industry, while Reise-Q.C. lenses are sought for their rarity and period construction. Because small manufacturers sometimes reused lens cells, barrels, or brand names, collectors should verify thread pitch, rangefinder-cam travel, and exact engraving on individual examples.

Sources

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