Design of the Automatic Analog: The Olympus Mju / Stylus

Design of the Automatic Analog: The Olympus Mju / Stylus

Today is 9/21. My grandfather's name, was 921 Yamada. That's no typo; his first name was 921, which in Japanese sounded similar to "No.1 in the Country (Kuni-ichi)." I'm conflicted that my grandfather has a interesting yet Borat-esque name.  He used a lot of cameras, and always researched about the best cameras. He was also blind, caused by a bullet penetrating his leg during the second world war. I actually don't know how that really makes sense, but apparently he was able to see photographs at a close range although he couldn't generally see. When I was a small child, he gave me the Olympus Mju (Pronounced "Mew", and called the "Stylus" in the States). I did not think much of it then, but I easily carried this camera in my pocket everywhere I went.

The camera is made of plastic, and it does not have a zoom. The camera is turned on by sliding the front cover open, and all you had to do was press the shutter button. As a kid I was amazed by the cleverness of the design, and how the design, the curves worked with how the camera was supposed to be used.  It had a fixed focal length of 35mm, which was a very sharp lens. This camera was so useful as a everyday camera, and it took the beatings associated with that of being in a pocket of a late-elementary/middleschooler all the time. Back then I didn't have the appreciation of this camera as I do now, but I was surprised how durable it was despite being a plastic point and shoot. Its rewinding mechanism broke down after all the years of shooting, and after getting into SLR' in high school and going into Architecture, I forgot about the camera, and it was stored in the damp, humid storage of my parents house in Japan for almost 10 years.

Recently, film photography has attracted some new attention, and I remembered about this camera.  I assumed that since it has been sitting for 10 years, it must have rotted out but that I would still keep it around as a keepsake of my grandfather (My parents house is particularly humid during the summer, to a point where a book would curl up in few hours) Much to my surprise, the camera worked (The battery was inside for more than 10 years too), and the rewind mechanism was able to be repaired relatively affordably.  There was a bit of fungus growth in the lens, but it did not affect the photos.

Looking at the camera today, it is a delightfully 90's Japanese design - reminiscent of the Mazda Miata, the culture of compact "fun" innovation- the care the designer took to integrate the use into the hand-friendly form has left a lasting legacy, where I enjoy taking this camera in my pocket today, even with a great camera already included in the iPhone.  Also, the lens is very sharp and the quality of the photo it produces is very nice.

The use of plastic to achieve the rounded form and the lightweight, resilient camera is very appropriate for the intended use of this camera. Looking back now, the use of plastic and its better resiliency over metal is probably what had this camera survive my use when I was a child.  The use of traditionally non-premium materials such as plastic does not automatically make a design cheap - the criticality and honesty with the design and materiality is what brings the value into the design.

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Blackened Hardware

[lang_en]Blackened Hardware[/lang_en][lang_ja]黒錆の金具[/lang_ja]

[lang_en]Recently, I went to a facility that will be blackening the hardware for the Type 34 camera strap. Until now, I have been blackening the hardwares myself with chemicals, which took a lot of time and not all the hardware was useable.  Why do I demand this custom blackened finish over  the commonly available black-nickel plated hardwares? Here I will briefly explain my fascination with this particular finish. Click the button to read on. [/lang_en][lang_ja]最近、３４式カメラストラップの金具を黒く染める工場に行ってきました。今までは自分の家でやっていたのですが、個人がやるのでは効率が悪く、加工したうち使えない金具も少しありました。今回はよくある黒メッキ加工の金具ではなく、この黒染め加工になぜこだわるのか、説明したいと思います。[/lang_ja]

[lang_en]This finish is called "black oxide", and it is commonly used for hardwares and guns. The chemical process makes a thin oxidized layer on the surface of the metal.  This adds corrosion resistance while finishing the hardware black.  Unlike paint or plating, this process also adds only about a micrometer of thickness, which makes it ideal for screws and firearms which require precise fit and movement. It can be done in batches, and is an economical and efficient in terms of production.

While the logic and efficiency makes sense, my love of blackened metal comes from the way it wears.  It offers a matte black finish that is deeply ingrained in the metal itself, and when it gets worn overtime, it does not peel or chip off like paint - it wears in a nice way like how a nice worn pair of jeans wears.  This is why I use blacken my stainless steel parts for my Camera Strap - It wears nicely, and the stainless base metal will not corrode even if worn.

A lot of what we own today is nice and shiny when new, but as it gets damaged and worn through use, it starts losing its appeal- and we quickly replace it with the next new and shiny thing.  I would like to provide longevity for my products, in the sense that the damage and wear through using the products adds the depth and character to the item, not only encouraging the use but prolonging the value overtime.[/lang_en]

[lang_ja]この加工は黒錆加工といい、ビスや銃の加工によく使われます。この加工は、薬品を使い鉄の表面を酸化させることにより、鉄がさらに酸化しないように保護します。プレートやペンキとは違い、加工の膜が１ミクロメートルほどしか生じないので、ビスや銃など動くパーツに使われます。液体を使い、一度に大量の加工が出来るので、効率がよく、経済的なプロセスです。

理屈はかなっているこの黒染め加工ですが、心に響くのはその仕上がりと剥げ方です。鉄を黒く塗るのではなく、染める加工なので、ペンキみたいに割れたり剥がれたりするのではなく、かっこ良くすり減っていきます。ステンレスにこの加工を施すと、鉄の下地が現れてきても錆びません。

最近の商品は新しいうちはピカピカでも、使っていくうちに傷やすり減り具合がかっこわるく、じきに新しいものを欲するようになります。自分が作る商品やデザインは、使ってすり減ったり、傷が付いていくほど味が出てきてかっこ良くなる物を作りたいと思っています。そうすることによって、長く、楽しく愛用出来るデザインを提供したいと思います。[/lang_ja]

Tool v.s. Gadget

[lang_en]Tool v.s. Gadget[/lang_en] [lang_ja]道具とガジェットのデザイン[/lang_ja]

[lang_en]

Many people use the words gadget and tool interchangeably.  And this pisses me off, as a big tool nerd. This has a lot to do with design, as tool design and gadget design is different and should be pretty easy to grasp.  Remember, every time you use either words incorrectly, god makes a tool that cooks kittens for the nazis...

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道具とガジェット（小道具）は似たようなものだが、やっぱりまったく違うものなんだよね。デザインする上でも、まったくプロセスが違う。道具フェチの俺として、今回はこの違いについて話したいと思う。

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[lang_en]

The importance here is the difference, not how they are defined.  How to define the two is up to you, but here is how I define the difference.

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ここで大事なのは、二つの言葉の意味よりも、その違いを見たほうがいいと思う。それぞれをどう定義づけるかは、個人それぞれだと思う。

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[lang_en]

Tools: Something Serious

Tools are optimized for some specific operation.  The tool is designed without any frivolous design or use of materials.

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[lang_ja]

道具：くそマジメで一途

道具ってのは、あることをするだけのだめに作られ無駄なものやオマケのものが一切ない。

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[lang_en]

My favorite design in tools is the pry bar. This has been shaped by function to the very last millimeter.  Pulling out a nail or prying open a wood joint- sounds so simple, but there are a lot of different situations-When the nail is nailed too deep into the wood, when the nail is crooked, when the nail has been cut off, etc.  This single tool used with a hammer is a can be used to handle all these different situations- and doing so is like a mini puzzle. Which end to use, and how hard to hit, etc.  You really cant understand this without having actually done it.

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[lang_ja]

僕が一番好きな道具のデザインは、くぎ抜きに使うバールだ。釘を抜くって、結構単一な作業に聞こえるけど、釘を抜くときにはいろんなシチュエーションが出てくるんだよね。釘が深く刺さりすぎてたり、釘が折れ曲がっていたり、釘の頭がなくなってたり。このバールを金槌でたたけば、ほとんどの場合気持ちよくスポっと取れるんだ。ワインのコルクを上手く抜いたときみたいにね。それもけっこう小さなパズルみたいで楽しいんだ。これはほんと、いろんな釘を抜いてみないとわからない楽しさだろうね。

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[lang_en]

Gadgets: Something Fun

These are something that CAN be used as a certain tool, but is integrated into something else. Gadgets usually have functions added as bells and whistles or bells and whistles added to function.  As a easy general rule if it "can be used" for something else that the entire object isn't, its an added gimmick to something else.

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[lang_ja]

ガジェット：どっちかというと、遊び人

ガジェットって何かのために使えるんだけど、物全体を見るとその用途との関連性はさほどない。ガジェットには道具らしきものがエキストラとして付いていたり、おもちゃの一部に道具らしきものが付いていたりする。「XXにもつかえる」ってのは大体ギミックであってたぶんガジェットと解釈していいだろう。

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[lang_en]

This is pretty much crap.  Sure, you would need a phone and a mouse on your work desk probably, but its useless for everyone.  For example, I can't look at porn while calling someone really boring.  There’s no relationship between the two functions so this "mouse that can also turn into a phone" is as useful as shit on a stick.

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[lang_ja]

これなんかひどいもんだ。電話とマウスってのはたしかにデスクの必需品だけど、一緒にしちゃったらどうしようもない。電話相手がつまんないときにエロサイト見たくなったらどうするんだ。電話とマウスって、ほんと機能的に関連性がないから「電話としても使えるマウス」ってことになる。「帯に短し、襷に長し」だ。

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[lang_en]

What about Multi-Tools and Swiss Army Knives?

So, here things start going up for debate. They are both contraptions that can be used for many things, but is not optimally designed for one operation.  I personally think multiplier tools such as Gerbers and Leathermans as tool while Swiss Army Knives are a gadget.

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[lang_ja]

スイス・アーミー・ナイフやマルチプライヤーはどうなんだ？

こっからいろいろとややこしくなってくる。どっちも、多くの道具の機能性を持ち合わせているが、何か一つの作業のために作られた物じゃあない。個人的にはマルチプライヤーはレッキとした道具でスイス・アーミー・ナイフはガジェットと思っている。

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[lang_en]

Gerbers and Leathermans are designed for heavy use and has no frivolous or symbolic parts.  They are simply "bunch of tools bunched up into one without compromising too much usability". I feel the Gerbers are better designed as a tool, but more on that next time.

Swiss Army Knives, on the other hand, started out as a utilitarian tool.  I define it as a gadget because today it is perceived more as a accessory or a gift than something that is truly useful in accomplishing a task.  There is no tactical advantage to the polished red handle-although that butts into the criticism of a tool (see, this is why it's a little complicated).  I see it as a "key chain that also has a bunch of tools nested inside."

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[lang_ja]

ガーバーやレザーマンのような物は真剣に実用性を考えて作られていて飾りなどは一切ない。「色んな道具を、ある程度使える感覚以内で集めた」って所だろう。個人的にはガーバーの方が道具としては上手く出来ているって思うんだが、そこらへんは次回に残しとこう。

一方、スイス・アーミー・ナイフって最初は似たような道具として始まったと思う。しかし、現代では実用性よりもアクセサリー感が強いのでガジェットに値すると考える。赤く、つるっとしたハンドルは握りにくいはず。まあ、突き詰めていくと「いい道具かどうか」の話になってしまうだけど（これだから、意味を探すのって難しい）。僕はこれを、「キーチェーンだけど、色んな道具が入ってる」と見る。

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[lang_en]

So the Tool is Better, right? Because it's all function and no extras?

Sometimes, its just kickass to have something that does something else.  Gadget and Gimmick gets a bad connotation, but the trivial and the extraenous are essential to connecting with human happiness. You might not need a hammer.  But you may find enjoyment in a robot that is designed to hit itself.

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[lang_ja]

だからと言って道具が真剣だからって、ガジェットよりいい訳ではない

道具が必要じゃないのなら、サプライズがあるガジェットをもってる方が楽しいし、一概に昨日を果たす道具がいいとも言えない。なんかガジェットとかギミックって安っぽいニュアンスがあるけど、こうゆう「無駄」や「飾り」ってけっこう人に喜びを与えたりする。トンカチはいらないかもしれないけど、ノックマンが自分をたたくのを見ていると楽しかったりする。

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