Misuzu Kogaku

Misuzu Kogaku (Misuzu Optical Industrial Co., Ltd.) represents the absolute "deep end" of the Japanese Leica Copy collecting pool. Active for a vanishingly short period in the late 1950s, this obscure manufacturer is known for producing the Alta camera—a high-quality clone of the Leica III—and its matching Altanon lenses.

For the Leica M-mount and LTM historian, Misuzu Kogaku is the definition of a "unicorn." Their production numbers were microscopic compared to Canon or even Nicca. Finding a native Altanon lens in the wild is a quest that takes years, making them prized trophies for completists who think they have already seen everything the Japanese industry had to offer.

History

The story of Misuzu Kogaku is a brief post-script to the "Leica Copy" boom.

The Chiyotax Inheritance (1957 to 1959)

Misuzu Kogaku didn't start from scratch; they picked up the pieces of a failed predecessor. In roughly 1957, the company Reise (makers of the Chiyotax camera) ceased production. A team of former employees and managers formed Misuzu Kogaku to continue the lineage.

• The Alta: They rebranded the Chiyotax IIIF as the Alta. It was a competent, well-built screw mount camera that arrived too late to make a dent in a market already dominated by the Nikon S2 and Leica M3.
• The Disappearance: By 1959, the company vanished. The total production run of Alta cameras is estimated to be as low as 500 to 1,000 units, with the matching branded lenses being potentially even scarcer [[1]].

Product Lines (LTM Native)

Misuzu lenses are branded as Altanon. Due to the company's size, it is widely believed these lenses were manufactured by a third party (possibly Tanaka Kogaku or Fujita) and rebadged, though definitive documentation is lost to history.

The Altanon 5cm f/2

The standard lens sold with the Alta camera.

• Rarity: Extremely high. Most Alta cameras found today are equipped with mixed lenses (like Tanars or Canons), suggesting that original Altanon lenses were separated or produced in lower quantities than the bodies.
• Design: It is a heavy, chrome-on-brass lens. The optical formula is likely a 6-element Double-Gauss (Biotar type), similar to the Nikkor-H or Tanar of the same era.
• Aperture: Like many boutique Japanese lenses of the 50s, it often features a high blade count (10+ blades), ensuring a circular aperture that modern lenses lack.

The Altanon 3.5cm f/3.5

A wide-angle companion that is virtually a ghost.

• Design: A standard Tessar-type wide angle, housed in a compact chrome barrel.
• Existence: While listed in catalogs, actual physical copies are so rare that they rarely appear even in specialized Japanese camera auctions.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification Details
Native Mount	LTM (Leica Thread Mount)
Focus Coupling	Coupled. (Standard rangefinder coupling).
Build Materials	Heavy Brass with high-quality Chrome plating.
Markings	Engraved "Altanon" or "Misuzu Kogaku".
OEM Mystery	Collectors speculate the glass was sourced from Tanaka (Tanar) or Sun Optical, given the visual similarities and manufacturing timelines.
Filter Thread	Typically 40.5mm or 43mm (Standard for the era).

Why Photographers Choose Misuzu Kogaku

• The "Final Boss" of Collecting: If you own a Canon 50mm f/1.4, you are a photographer. If you own a Zunow 50mm f/1.1, you are a rich collector. If you own a Misuzu Altanon, you are a detective. It signals a level of obsession with obscure Japanese industrial history that commands respect among historians.
• Build Density: Like the Chiyotax before it, the manufacturing quality of the Alta/Altanon line was surprisingly high. These were not cheap "tin can" cameras; they were dense, precision instruments that feel satisfyingly heavy on a modern Leica body.
• The "Tanar" Look: Assuming the Tanar connection is true, these lenses offer that distinct 1950s "Sonan/Gauss" blend—sharp centers with glowing, slightly swirling corners that define the vintage Japanese look.

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Sources

• [1] CameraQuest (The Alta / Chiyotax Connection): https://cameraquest.com/alta.htm
• [2] eBay / Auction Histories: https://www.leitz-auction.com (Rare listings of Alta cameras often confirm the lens pairings).
• [3] Camerapedia (Misuzu Kogaku Profile): https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Misuzu