Debrie Sept
The Debrie Sept is a French spring-driven camera, taken 18×24mm exposures on 35mm film. It can be used for still pictures as well as for cine sequences. It can also be transformed into a movie projector or enlarger by adding a lamp house.
Contents
Origin
The camera originated as the F.A.C.T. Autocinephot made by the Italian company F.A.I.T. and distributed by Giuseppe Tartara in the late 1910s; then was modified as the Sept, initially offered by the same company around 1920.[1] It is said that 150 examples of the original Autocinephot were made.[2] The design of the Sept was then sold to the French company André Debrie, which produced it from 1923 to 1927.[3] The Debrie Sept was produced in some quantity, and
  
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| Debrie Sept no.M3382, Anastigmat "Huet" 50/3.5 no.3403. Pictures copyright David Young at www.furnfeather.net. (Image rights) |
Features
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| Inside of the Debrie Sept, showing the film cartridge. Pictures copyright David Young at www.furnfeather.net. (Image rights) | |
The Sept takes 35mm film in five-metre cartridges, allowing to take 250 exposures in 18×24mm format.[4] The film runs vertically and the internals are closer to a cine camera than to a regular still camera.
 
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| Brilliant finder and eye-level finder, in open and closed position. The pictures from the back also show the exposure counter. Pictures copyright David Young at www.furnfeather.net. (Image rights) |
The back has an exposure counter at the bottom. There is a waist-level brilliant finder at the top, whose front element comes out to act as an eye-level finder in combination with a pivoting eyepiece on the rear.
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| Side of the motor housing, showing the wind key and setting knob. Picture copyright David Young at www.furnfeather.net. (Image rights) |
 
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| Removable motor housing, attached and detached. Pictures copyright David Young at www.furnfeather.net. (Image rights) |
The motor housing is removable and is coupled to the main body by a square key. At least two types exist: the early one is square and the late one is rounded.[5] The main release is placed at the top, and the camera cannot function without it. On the side, there is a large key to wind the spring motor, and a knob with three positions: C for Ciné or Continu (continuous shooting), P for Pose (Bulb setting) and I for Instantané (Instant setting, about 1/60).[6] The main release is shaped so as to stay in place when pushed down and outwards; the camera will run as long as it is held down when the knob is in "C" position.
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| Anastigmat "Huet" Paris 50/3.5 no.3403. Picture copyright David Young at www.furnfeather.net. (Image rights) |
The 50/3.5 lens is mounted on a focusing helical. The reported lenses are the Roussel Stylor, Berthiot Stellor, Krauss Tessar, Optis Anastigmat and Huet Anastigmat.[7]
Notes
- ↑ Malavolti, p.260.
- ↑ Malavolti, p.260; this page at Novacon.com.
- ↑ Dates: McKeown, p.244; this page at Novacon.com.
- ↑ McKeown, p.244; this page at Novacon.com.
- ↑ McKeown, p.244. See also this page at Photoptic.
- ↑ 1/60 speed: this page at Subclub.
- ↑ Stylor, Stellor, Tessar: this page at Novacon.com. Optis: Lothrop, A Century of Cameras. Huet: example pictured in this page.
Bibliography
- Lothrop, Eaton S., Jr. A Century of Cameras from the Collection of the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House. USA, Morgan & Morgan, 1973. ISBN 0871001632.
- Malavolti, Mario. La Produzione delle fotocamere italiane. Milano, Fotocamera, 1994. No ISBN number. Pp.260–1.
- McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). P.244.
Links
In English:
- F.A.C.T. Autocinephot and Debrie Sept at Novacon.com's Oddity cameras
- Debrie Sept at the Greek Film + Foto Technik Museum
- Debrie Sept among half-frame cameras at Subclub
- Post about the Debrie Sept at allexperts.com
In French:
