Difference between revisions of "Photax"
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| − | The '''Photax''' was a viewfinder camera made of [[bakelite]]. It took 6×9cm exposures on film rolls. The first version was introduced in 1937 by [[MIOM|M.I.O.M.]], a maker of isolation material and casted plastic parts. It was the '''Photax''', also sold as Camera 77. Six different models where introduced between 1937 and 1960. Since model Photax II the cameras were also available as blindé variant. "blindé" stood for the bakelite lens cover which covered lens an shutter release. Technical details were kept as simple as possible. The body contained the film spools. Outer parts were the optical viewfinder, the film advance wheel, the opening shifter, the tripod thread, and an uncloseable red exposure counting window. All other functional parts were placed in the lens barrel's front plate, except the cameras most characteristic feature: the lens barrel had to be turned 360 degrees (counter-clockwise) to be screwed out of the camera body into working position, except in model I at which a metal ring had to be turned to screw out the lens. The functional elements in the lens tube's front plate were the | + | The '''Photax''' was a viewfinder camera made of [[bakelite]]. It took 6×9cm exposures on film rolls. The first version was introduced in 1937 by [[MIOM|M.I.O.M.]], a maker of isolation material and casted plastic parts. It was the '''Photax''', also sold as Camera 77. Six different models where introduced between 1937 and 1960. Since model Photax II the cameras were also available as blindé variant. "blindé" stood for the bakelite lens cover which covered lens an shutter release. Technical details were kept as simple as possible. The body contained the film spools. Outer parts were the optical viewfinder, the film advance wheel, the opening shifter, the tripod thread, and an uncloseable red exposure counting window. All other functional parts were placed in the lens barrel's front plate, except the cameras most characteristic feature: the lens barrel had to be turned 360 degrees (counter-clockwise) to be screwed out of the camera body into working position, except in model I at which a metal ring had to be turned to screw out the lens. The functional elements in the lens tube's front plate were the meniscus lens, the two round aperture masks, a shiftable nib to select one of the two apertures, another shiftable nib to select the shutter speed, the shutter and the tall shutter release button. The 5mm shifting travel of the shutter release button were enough to cock the shutter before exposure. Some of the postwar models had a flash cable connector in the lens tube front plate. Model VI finally even got a flash shoe. |
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===specifications=== | ===specifications=== | ||
Revision as of 22:15, 24 February 2007
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| Classic bakelite camera design: Photax III (wthout lens cover) |
The Photax was a viewfinder camera made of bakelite. It took 6×9cm exposures on film rolls. The first version was introduced in 1937 by M.I.O.M., a maker of isolation material and casted plastic parts. It was the Photax, also sold as Camera 77. Six different models where introduced between 1937 and 1960. Since model Photax II the cameras were also available as blindé variant. "blindé" stood for the bakelite lens cover which covered lens an shutter release. Technical details were kept as simple as possible. The body contained the film spools. Outer parts were the optical viewfinder, the film advance wheel, the opening shifter, the tripod thread, and an uncloseable red exposure counting window. All other functional parts were placed in the lens barrel's front plate, except the cameras most characteristic feature: the lens barrel had to be turned 360 degrees (counter-clockwise) to be screwed out of the camera body into working position, except in model I at which a metal ring had to be turned to screw out the lens. The functional elements in the lens tube's front plate were the meniscus lens, the two round aperture masks, a shiftable nib to select one of the two apertures, another shiftable nib to select the shutter speed, the shutter and the tall shutter release button. The 5mm shifting travel of the shutter release button were enough to cock the shutter before exposure. Some of the postwar models had a flash cable connector in the lens tube front plate. Model VI finally even got a flash shoe.
Contents
specifications
- Type: viewfinder camera
- Film: Type 620 film rolls (except Photax I: type 120)
- Manufacturer: M.I.O.M.
- Viewfinder: Galilei type optical finder (except model VI: frame finder)
- Exposure format: 6×9, except model VI with format 6×6, and models I and V, both with both formats
Photax or Camera 77 (classified as Photax I)
- Year of launch: 1937
- Lens: Boyer Serie VII meniscus lens, or Radior Serie meniscus lens
- Shutter: Guillotine shutter with two speeds
Photax II
- Year of launch: 1938
- Lens: Boyer Serie VIII meniscus lens
- Shutter: Guillotine shutter with two speeds
Photax III
- Year of launch: 1938 or 1945
- Lens: Boyer Serie VIII meniscus lens, distances 2.75 metres to infinity
- Shutter: Guillotine shutter with speeds 1/25 sec., 1/100 sec, or T (meaning B)
Photax IV
- Year of launch: 1946
- Lens: Boyer Rexar meniscus lens
- Shutter: Guillotine shutter with speeds 1/25 sec., 1/100 sec, or B
Photax III VA
- Year of launch: 1955
- Lens: Boyer Serie VIII meniscus lens, distances 2.75 metres to infinity
- Shutter: RIM shutter with speeds 1/25 sec., 1/100 sec, or T (meaning B)
Photax IV F
- Year of launch: 1951
- Lens: Boyer Rexar meniscus lens
- Shutter: RIM shutter with speeds 1/25 sec., 1/100 sec, or B snch.
Photax V
- Year of launch: 1956
- Lens: Angénieux Heanar Type V lens
- Shutter: RIM shutter with speeds 1/25 sec., 1/100 sec, or B synch.
Photax VI
- Year of launch: 1957 or 1960
- Lens: Angénieux Heanar Type VI lens
- Shutter: RIM shutter with speeds 1/25 sec., 1/100 sec, or B synch.
