ISO Lux
The Lux is the first of a series of 35 mm rangefinder cameras made by Industria Scientifica Ottica in the years after the Second World War. Few copies of the Lux were made; it was soon superceded by the more conventionally-designed Bilux.
It is a highly original design. It has a coupled rangefinder, combined with the viewfinder, but with the second rangefinder window below the viewfinder, beside the lens.[1] In the superstructure where a Leica-copy would normally have the rangefinder components, is instead an optical-wedge extinction lightmeter.[2]
The camera has a focal-plane shutter with cloth blinds, giving speeds from 1 to 1/1000 second, plus 'B'. This has slow- and fast-speed controls on the top plate.
The film is advanced with a conventional winding knob, with a frame counter, and there is a rewind knob. The rewind release is on the front of the camera. The base of the camera is removed for loading.
The lens is an 50 mm f/3.5 or f/2.8 Iriar; at least some of ISO's lenses were made by Hensoldt in Germany, but this lens is engraved 'Made in Italy'.[1] The Lux has a bayonet mount:[1] the subsequent ISO rangefinders have screw-mount lenses. Focusing is done with a knurled focusing wheel at the top right of the front of the body, operated with the right index finger, like a Contax rangefinder.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Danoli Cecchi (2002): L'Industria Fotografica Italiana, part 3 of 4, at Nadir Magazine
- ↑ ISO cameras, including the Lux, at Mistermondo; an excellent picture of the Lux, when enlarged, showing an extended eyepiece for the meter.
Links
- Lux serial no. 1178, sold at the 23rd Westlicht Photographica Auction, on 25 May 2013; several excellent pictures of the camera.
- ISO cameras including the Lux; text in Japanese, with two pictures of the Lux, at Fotocamere Italiane.
- ISO Lux (amongst other ISO cameras) at Fotocamere Italiane 1946-1964 (in Italian)
