Difference between revisions of "Baby Lynx"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
m
m (Links: Removed commented out Link URL, page still not present)
(27 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
{{Flickr_image
 +
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/31319546@N08/7584742174/in/pool-camerawiki/
 +
|image= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7584742174_c0f3acf3d0.jpg
 +
|image_align= right
 +
|image_text= Pontiac Baby Lynx
 +
|image_by=  Adrian Gee
 +
|image_rights= with permission
 +
}}
 
{{pontiac}}
 
{{pontiac}}
The '''Baby Lynx''' was a 35mm leaf shutter camera launched by the French maker [[Pontiac]] in 1950. It was a simpler and less expensive model than the focal plane shuttered [[Super Lynx]]. The body in in cast aluminium with leather covering. The lens was fixed, with front cell focusing. The lens and shutter were mounted on a telescopic tube. The film advance was not coupled to the shutter cocking.
+
The '''Baby Lynx''' is a 35mm viewfinder camera launched by the French maker [[Pontiac]] in 1948<ref>Both McKeown and Vial say 1950, but a Pontiac advertisement dated 1948, previously visible at [http://stereocollection.pagesperso-orange.fr/index.htm Stereocollection], shows the Baby Lynx.</ref><!-- Deleted the original link for this ref; the website has been reordered; the document may reappear at [http://stereocollection.pagesperso-orange.fr/pubs/anosjours/pontiac.htm Pontiac advertisements]; there's a link but the page doesn't exist as at june 2012. D McA --> The camera body is cast from aluminium (McKeown notes that aluminium was one material not in short supply in France during the War<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p796.</ref>), with leatherette covering. It has a fixed lens, usually a [[Berthiot]] Flor 50 mm f/3.5 or f/2.8 with front-cell focusing, and a [[Prontor II]] leaf shutter with speeds to 1/200 or 1/250 second,<ref>[http://auktion.lpfoto.se/auk/w.MegaPic?inC=LP&inA=08-03-16&inO=150 Baby Lynx] with f/3.5 Flor and Prontor II shutter to 1/200 second, and [http://auktion.lpfoto.se/auk/w.MegaPic?inC=LP&inA=08-03-16&inO=149 Baby Lynx] with f/3.5 Flor and Prontor II shutter to 1/250 second], sold by Swedish auctioneer [http://www.lpfoto.se/ LP Foto Auktioner] in their [http://auktion.lpfoto.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inC=LP&inA=08-03-16&inPageNo=4&inPageMode=R&inScrollTop=&inSiteLang=ENGLISH&inSelectedSort=&inSearchCrit=0&inCategoryId=&inSearchText= Auction 29] in March 2008.</ref> or a Prontor S to 1/300 second. The very last bodies have the Flor 50/3.5 on an Atos 2 shutter to 1/250 with ''Pontiac Baby Lynx'' written on the shutter, and brown leather covering. One example has been observed at an eBay auction with a [[Boyer]] Saphir 50/3.5 and a Prontor II shutter with speeds 1 - 1/200 second. This lens variant is also mentioned by P-H Pont. A cheaper variant called '''Baby Standard''' is reported, with a [[Roussel]] Trylor 50/3.9 three-element lens on a [[Pronto]] shutter from 1/25 to 1/200.
The production moved to Morocco in 1951 and stopped in 1954 when the Pontiac company disappeared.
 
  
The usual lens combinations were:
+
The lens tube collapses into the camera body when not in use. The camera was the least well-specified and least expensive of the [[Lynx]] and [[Super Lynx]] cameras; both the Lynx II (also of 1948) and the Super Lynx have a focal-plane shutter.  
* [[Berthiot]] Flor 50/3.5 on Prontor II shutter to 1/200
 
* [[Berthiot]] Flor 50/2.8 on Prontor S shutter to 1/300
 
  
A body with the Flor 50/3.5 and a Prontor II to 1/250 instead of 1/200 has been sold on auction by [http://www.lpfoto.se lpfoto], see [http://www.lpfoto.se/swe/auktioner/objectWinInfo.asp?auktionsnamn=Auktion%2018%20den%2027%20april%202003&objektnr=147].
+
The Baby Lynx has a reverse-Galilean viewfinder built into the top housing. Also on the top is a frame counter, separate from the winding knob; advancing the film does not cock the shutter.
  
The very last bodies had the Flor 50/3.5 on an Atos 2 shutter to 1/250 with ''Pontiac Baby Lynx'' written on the shutter, and brown leather covering.
+
Production of the camera moved to Morocco in 1951 and stopped in 1954 when the Pontiac company ceased trading.
 
+
{{Flickr_image
One variant is reported by P-H Pont with a [[Boyer]] Saphir 50/3.5 (shutter not mentioned).
+
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/vagn49/19751850369/in/pool-camerawiki/
 
+
|image= http://farm1.staticflickr.com/317/19751850369_1eba8a1072.jpg
A cheaper variant called '''Baby Standard''' is reported with a [[Roussel]] Trylor 50/3.9 three element lens on a Pronto shutter from 1/25 to 1/200.
+
|image_align= left
 +
|image_text= 1948-54 Pontiac Baby Lynx
 +
|image_by= Vagn Sloth-Madsen
 +
|image_rights=  non-commercial
 +
}}
 +
{{br}}
 +
==Notes==
 +
<references/>
  
 
== Bibliography ==
 
== Bibliography ==
 
+
* {{Vial}}
* ''Histoire des appareils français'', B. Vial, Ed. Maeght
 
 
* ''Pontiac Lynx, Super Lynx, Baby Lynx'', Fotofiche 15, Patrice-Hervé Pont, Ed Fotosaga
 
* ''Pontiac Lynx, Super Lynx, Baby Lynx'', Fotofiche 15, Patrice-Hervé Pont, Ed Fotosaga
  
 
== Links ==
 
== Links ==
* [http://www.collection-appareils.com/pontiac/html/pontiac_baby_lynx.php The Pontiac Baby Lynx at Sylvain Halgand site]
+
In French :
 +
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=11162 Red Baby Lynxat Sylvain Halgand site
 
* [http://clicclac.free.fr/clicclac.php?page=appareils_marque.php?marque=PONTIAC The Pontiac page at ClicClac]
 
* [http://clicclac.free.fr/clicclac.php?page=appareils_marque.php?marque=PONTIAC The Pontiac page at ClicClac]
* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/photoptic/Pontiac.htm The Pontiac page at Photoptic]
+
* [http://glangl1.free.fr/Photo2/Photo_P_750.html Baby Lynx] at [http://glangl1.free.fr/Photo.html the Gérard Langlois site]
* [http://glangl1.free.fr/Liste%20Pontiac.html The Pontiac page at Gérard Langlois site]
+
* [http://stereocollection.pagesperso-orange.fr/Appareils%20photo/marques/Pontiac.htm Pontiac cameras including the Baby Lynx] at [http://stereocollection.pagesperso-orange.fr/index.htm Stereocollection]
 +
* [http://www.butkus.us/pontiac/baby_lynx/baby_lynx.htm PDF scan of French instruction manual, English scan translation available] at [http://www.butkus.us/index.html Butkus.org]
  
 
[[Category: 35mm viewfinder]]
 
[[Category: 35mm viewfinder]]
Line 31: Line 44:
 
[[Category: B]]
 
[[Category: B]]
 
[[Category: L|Lynx]]
 
[[Category: L|Lynx]]
 +
[[Category: Bestiary|Lynx]]
 +
[[Category: Morocco]]

Revision as of 06:14, 20 November 2018

Pontiac
Bakélite
Bloc Métal 41
Bloc Métal 45
Lynx
Super Lynx
Baby Lynx
Versailles

The Baby Lynx is a 35mm viewfinder camera launched by the French maker Pontiac in 1948[1] The camera body is cast from aluminium (McKeown notes that aluminium was one material not in short supply in France during the War[2]), with leatherette covering. It has a fixed lens, usually a Berthiot Flor 50 mm f/3.5 or f/2.8 with front-cell focusing, and a Prontor II leaf shutter with speeds to 1/200 or 1/250 second,[3] or a Prontor S to 1/300 second. The very last bodies have the Flor 50/3.5 on an Atos 2 shutter to 1/250 with Pontiac Baby Lynx written on the shutter, and brown leather covering. One example has been observed at an eBay auction with a Boyer Saphir 50/3.5 and a Prontor II shutter with speeds 1 - 1/200 second. This lens variant is also mentioned by P-H Pont. A cheaper variant called Baby Standard is reported, with a Roussel Trylor 50/3.9 three-element lens on a Pronto shutter from 1/25 to 1/200.

The lens tube collapses into the camera body when not in use. The camera was the least well-specified and least expensive of the Lynx and Super Lynx cameras; both the Lynx II (also of 1948) and the Super Lynx have a focal-plane shutter.

The Baby Lynx has a reverse-Galilean viewfinder built into the top housing. Also on the top is a frame counter, separate from the winding knob; advancing the film does not cock the shutter.

Production of the camera moved to Morocco in 1951 and stopped in 1954 when the Pontiac company ceased trading.


Notes

  1. Both McKeown and Vial say 1950, but a Pontiac advertisement dated 1948, previously visible at Stereocollection, shows the Baby Lynx.
  2. 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). p796.
  3. Baby Lynx with f/3.5 Flor and Prontor II shutter to 1/200 second, and Baby Lynx with f/3.5 Flor and Prontor II shutter to 1/250 second], sold by Swedish auctioneer LP Foto Auktioner in their Auction 29 in March 2008.

Bibliography

  • Vial, Bernard. Histoire des appareils français. Période 1940–1960. Paris: Maeght Éditeur, 1980, re-impressed in 1991. ISBN 2-86941-156-1.
  • Pontiac Lynx, Super Lynx, Baby Lynx, Fotofiche 15, Patrice-Hervé Pont, Ed Fotosaga

Links

In French :