Elax

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The Elax was a folding 3x4 camera, using 127 film, made from 1931 by the French maker Lumière. It had an unusual focal plane shutter with rigid metal curtains, from 4s to 1/1000 with self-timer. At the time, the Foth Derby was another example of folding 3x4 focal plane shutter camera. The Elax had a Berthiot Flor 50/3.5 four element lens with helical focusing. Its viewfinder is said to be bought to Leitz, and was apparently the same as the Leica I but vertically oriented. The film advance was coupled to the shutter winding. The Elax had a black finish, and is a very rare camera.

The Elax II, in 1946, was the postwar version of the Elax, in chrome finish. It is yet rarer, it is said only fifteen were produced. The book of B. Vial states that only the Elax II had an advance lever, but an Internet picture of the prewar Elax (see here) clearly shows an advance lever too.

Bibliography

  • Histoire des appareils français, B. Vial, Ed. Maeght
  • Pontiac Lynx, Super Lynx, Baby Lynx, Fotofiche 15, Patrice-Hervé Pont, Ed Fotosaga

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