Nishika N8000

In the summer of 1982, Nimslo (later called Nishika) was the fastest selling 35mm camera in the U.S., and was featured on the cover of the Sears & Roebuck, Cameras & Photographic Supplies Catalogue. A four lens, 3D lenticular camera, the Nishika is probably the most expensive all plastic used camera you can buy. After the collapse of the American company, used Nishika cameras sold for practically nothing. That was until some creative photographers began posting online wiggle gifs made from images taken using the Nishika cameras.

The first question often asked when seeing the camera is ‘why four lenses?’ For the answer to that question, you first need to understand lenticular prints. You have probably seen them, they are those 3D images you find on DVD covers, books, and as prizes at the fair. A lenticular print is comprised of multiple images broken up into micro stips and printed in an interlaced order. Then a plastic coating comprised of hundreds of small prism ridges is glued to the print. When viewed the effect is an illusion of depth or even movement as the print is rotated at different angles. To create these images four or more images taken at slightly different angles are needed.

In 1989 Nimslo was sold to Navada based Nishika that continued the production of the Nimslo as the Nishika N8000. The Nishika name is said to have been selected to resemble a higher quality camera from Japan. The Nishika N8000 has a plastic body, plastic lenses, one shutter speed of around 1/60 a second and a sunny (f19), partly cloudy (f11) and cloudy (f8) aperture selection. The four images were captured at the same time producing 4 half frame, 35mm negatives. The one thing that stands out is just how cheaply constructed is the camera. The camera has a simple look through viewer hidden under a fake pentaprism found on SLRs of the time. There is a fake led screen printed with exposure information to give the illusion of an electric exposure meter. Even the basic hot shoe had two additional fake metal points to resemble a TTL hotshoe.

The Nishika N8000 was often sold by mail order in sets including a vinyl camera case, strap, plastic flash, and a how-to VHS cassette video with Vincent Price as host. As sales slumped Nishika began using misleading and illegal tactics to market the camera and make money. This included an infamous prize promotion scheme which resulted in an $11.3 million dollar class action settlement for the consumers victimized by the ‘Huge Prize Promotion Telemarketing Scheme.” In a March 1996 release from the Federal Trade Commission, Nishika LTD. allegedly induced consumers nationwide to pay up to $700 each for a “3-D” camera and other items by engaging telemarketers to tell the consumers that they had won a valuable award. In fact, the FTC charged in federal district court, most consumers received only travel certificates of little value.

Though the Nishika Camera is no longer produced, these quirky plastic cameras have been steadily increasing in value. Not for use as a lenticular camera, but instead for taking rotating still images. The camera has found almost a cult following with web pages dedicated to discussing the camera and sharing the wiggle gif images created by scanning the processed 35mm film, and layering the four images in order rotating back and forth to create the digital lenticular effect.

Nishika 8000

Manufacuter: Nimslo/Nishika
Production: N8000 1989 – 1990s
Type: Lenticular stereo camera
Media: 35mm film
Focus: Fixed.

Accessories:

  • VHS Instructional Video
  • Flash Unit
  • Nishika branded bag and strap.

Collectability:

Nishika 8000

The Nishika 8000 & 9000 scores around 60 on a 100 point scale. An all plastic camera of little quality, the Nishika does gain points as a conversation piece, but what drives its value is continued use and demand by creative photographers.

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Photographer: John Baltz

John is a seasoned professional with nearly 30 years in photography. A native to Northwest Arkansas, John’s first interest in photography began with collecting cameras as a child from antique markets around town. Later, John received a degree in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas. It is his strong knowledge in digital photography, along with a love for the the history of photography that provides for a unique sense of creativity driving many of his projects.

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Bibliography

The Worst Camera I’ve Ever Loved – https://fstoppers.com/film/worst-camera-ive-ever-loved-nishika-n8000-173235
Nishika 3-D N8000 – https://vintagecameralab.com/nishika-3d-n8000/
Nimslo – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nimslo
Nishika – http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Nishika
Nishika N8000 3D GIF Tutorial in Photoshop – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IUQu7QqxoE