Super Lynx
The Super Lynx I was a 24x36mm camera launched by the French maker Pontiac in 1948. It had an optical viewfinder and a focal plane shutter from 1/25 to 1/500, similar to the shutter of the Lynx. Most of them had a self-timer. The Super Lynx had a striated aluminium body that could be left as is, or painted black to imitate leather covering, as on the Lynx. The lens was collapsible and non interchangeable. The choice of lenses was:
On the first advertisements, the body was shown with no name, but all the production bodies known are clearly marked Super-Lynx I.
The Super Lynx Standard is a version with a fixed wide angle lens Berthiot Flor 35/3.5, in a rigid mount.
In 1951 the production line of the Super Lynx was moved to Morocco. The bodies made in Morocco had a real leather covering instead of the black paint or alu finish. The following versions were launched after the move.
The Super Lynx (without number) was a simplified version with no self timer, only sold with the Berthiot Flor 50/3.5.
The Super Lynx II was an improved version with interchangeable lenses. The range of lenses with bayonet mount was:
- Berhiot Angulor 28/3.3
- Berthiot Flor 35/3.5
- Berthiot Flor 50/3.5
- Berthiot Flor 50/2.8
- Berthiot Flor 75/2.8
- Berthiot Flor 90/3.5
The range of lenses above is stated by Vial, P-H Pont does not mention the 35mm and 75mm. Vial illustrates the 50/2.8. McKeown mentions the Sagem Hexar lens (misspelled Sacem) for the Super Lynx II, not the I, but Vial, probably better informed, says it was only mounted on the Super Lynx I.
The production of the Super Lynx stopped when the company disappeared in 1954. All the Super Lynx are rare, the most common being the Super Lynx I.
Bibliography
- Histoire des appareils français, B. Vial, Ed. Maeght
- Pontiac Lynx, Super Lynx, Baby Lynx, Fotofiche 15, Patrice-Hervé Pont, Ed Fotosaga
