Pax 35

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Revision as of 18:03, 17 February 2011 by Dustin McAmera (talk | contribs) (Added Rf adjustment note, and complete speculation re EP mark/PX stores)
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The Pax 35 was the first in the Pax series of compact fixed-lens 35 mm rangefinders made by Yamato from 1952-55 [1]. The styling recalls a Leica II or III, but it was a much smaller and simpler camera. The name (as 'Pax'[2], not Pax 35) is engraved on top of the rangefinder superstructure, together with the serial number. 'Pax' is also impressed in the leatherette of the back.


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:
    • Knurled thumb-knob on lens. Scale in feet, from 3 ft to infinity.
    • Coupled rangefinder in superstructure on the top plate, giving double-image focusing in a separate window from the viewfinder. Rangefinder baseline approx. 40 mm.
    • Rangefinder adjustment is by a screw on the RF lever at the back of the lens (i.e. accessed through the film gate); vertical adjustment is by the larger of two screws in the film chamber, by the rewind fork.
  • 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


Notes

  1. McKeown
  2. The stylised text of the Pax logo might suggest the camera was originally produced to be sold to US forces in PX stores. Certainly examples exist with the EP engraving on the base, showing that they were sold in such stores.