With a name straight out of Science Fiction, the Lord Martian is a 35mm range finder made by Okaya Kōgaku Kikai K.K. Japan in 1960. It is a boxy, but stylish camera - I really do like the design!

I had never heard of it until stumbling across an online Japanese auction - instantly I knew I had to have it! In fact there were two listed at the time, so to be sure I bid on both…. And actually won both!

This first one arrived not working, but when the back was opened there was a roll of Kodacolor II inside. As this film ceased production 45 years ago, one can assume this was when it was last used. A bit of Googling later and suggestions were that the shutter blades were simply stuck together. With the front lens element removed the shutter leaves looked to be fine, so I started to unscrew the rear lens. With only a 10 degree anti clockwise twist - the shutter released! Now it fires well on all speeds. It obviously just needed a bit of encouragement.

The shutter speeds of 1s to 1/500th are set on the lens barrel, with aperture on the ring directly behind. It is a 40mm f1.8 Okaya Highkor lens with selenium meter ring around the front that sits behind the filter ring to automatically compensate for any attached filters. There is also a needle meter on the top of the camera.

This particular Martian is not in the best condition, with a slightly hazy viewfinder - but the rangefinder patch is visible, and a ding on the top corner meaning the advance lever doesn’t move totally freely. None of this is an issue to me, as I just love it, and it works. It also came with it’s original black leather case, a Lord 55mm filter and lens hood - also in a little leather case. The only thing missing is the lens cap, but as luck would have it the second one does have it.

As for the second Martian….

“To Be Continued when it arrives…”

The MARTIAN has landed…

2025 Review…