Pax 35

The Pax 35 was the first in the Pax series of compact fixed-lens 35 mm rangefinders made by Yamato from 1952-55 The styling recalls a Leica II or III, but it was a much smaller and simpler camera.

Pax 35 image by Rick Soloway (Image rights)

Specifications

• Type: 35 mm fixed-lens coupled rangefinder camera.
• Format: 24x36mm on 135 cassette film.
• Manufacturer: Yamato Kōki Kōgyō
• Years of production: 1952-55
• Lens:Luminor Anastigmat 1:3.5 F=45 mm; a coated triplet.
• Shutter: YKK 'D' rim-set leaf shutter. 1/10 - 1/300 sec plus B. Manually cocked. No delayed action. Synchronised for flash with a PC socket.
• Viewfinder: Reverse-galilean viewfinder, with separate eyepiece from rangefinder.
• Focusing:
  • Coupled rangefinder in superstructure on the top plate, giving double-image focusing in a separate window from the viewfinder. Rangefinder baseline approx. 40 mm.
  • Knurled thumb-knob on lens. Scale in feet, from 3 ft to infinity.
• Film advance: Knob-wind, with frame counter around base of knob.
• Film rewind: Rewind knob. Button to release the film for rewind is behind the shutter release.
• Other features:
  • Accepts 30 mm slip-on hood or filters; there is no filter thread.
  • 'Cold' accessory shoe on top of the RF superstructure.
  • Back does not hinge, but comes off altogether for loading (latch on the base).
• Dimensions width x depth x height): 110 x 60 x 64 mm
• Weight: 450 g