Braun Super Paxette IIB

Photos by JPHB text by JPHB. From the collection of JPHB. Last update 2024-01-19 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1957 to 1964.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 10473

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Braun

Although the company existed as an optician since 1915, it wasn't until 1948 that Braun (Karl Braun AG or Carl Braun) started selling cameras. The initial models were fairly simple box cameras. The construction of some boxes was outsourced to Linden, a metallurgical company. Throughout the 1950s, the number of camera models built by Braun increased. The box camera range was quickly complemented by a series of folding cameras with technical levels dating back to pre-war times. The 35mm cameras from the Paxette series found success for almost two decades. However, facing competition from Asia in the 1960s, the company soon ceased this activity to refocus on the production of slide projectors, with the popular Paximat series since 1955. The company became Braun Photo Technik GmbH in the early 2000s. As of 2023, the company still exists and manufactures binoculars and action cameras.

This company, based in Nuremberg, has no connection with the household appliance company (Braun AG, later Braun GmbH), founded in 1921. The confusion between the two companies arises from the fact that Braun GmbH also built slide projectors (such as the Braun D7).

The main series of Braun cameras were :

Box	Box 6x6 or 6x9
Norca	Folding 6x6 and/or 6x9 on film 120
Gloriette	Compact film 135
Paxina	Compact 6x6 on film 120
Paxette	Compact film 135
Paxette 28	Compact film 126
Paxette 35	Compact film 135

The first series of Paxette comprises cameras with a distinctive appearance. Two large knobs are symmetrically arranged around a central cover enclosing two windows and the accessory shoe. These cameras have a somewhat rugged appearance but are very sturdy. Starting from 1957/58, the silhouette undergoes a complete change and becomes more commonplace.

non-exhaustive	Years	Lens	Shutter	Window	Obj. Fixe	Obj. inter.	Film winding

Paxette	1951-	Kataplast 2.8/45 mm	Prontor-S	One viewfinder + lightmeter	Yes		Knob
Paxette	1951-	Cassar 2.8/45 mm
Paxette	1951-	Pointar 2.8/45 mm
Paxette	1951-	Staeble - Kata 3.5/45 mm	Vario
Paxette I	1953-	Staeble - Kata 2.8/45 mm	Prontor-S
Paxette I	1953-	Staeble - Kata 2.8/45 mm	Pronto
Paxette IL		Cassar 2.8/45 mm	Prontor-SVS				Lever
Paxette IM	1953-58	Pontar 2.8/45 mm	Prontor-SV	One viewfinder + rangefinder
Paxette IIM	1953-58	Staeble - Kata 2.8/45 mm	Prontor-SVS	One viewfinder + rangefinder		Yes
Super Paxette I	1956-58	Pointar 2.8/45 mm	Prontor-SVS	Coupled Rangefinder	Yes
Super Paxette I	1956-58	Staeble - Kata 2.8/45 mm			Yes
Super Paxette II	1955-57		Prontor-SVS			Yes
New design (c. 1958)
Paxette IL	1958-60	Plastogon 2.8/50 mm	Prontor-SVS	-	Yes		Lever
Paxette IL	1958-60	Staeble-Katagon 2.8/50 mm	Prontor-SVS	Rangefinder	Yes
Paxette IL	1958-60	Staeble-Kata 2.8/45 mm	Prontor-SVS	Rangefinder	Yes
Paxette IIL	1958	Cassarit 2.8/50 mm	Prontor-SVS	-		Yes
Super Paxette IIL	1956-62	Cassarit 2.8/50 mm	Prontor-SVS	Rangefinder
Super Paxette IIB	1957-64	Staeble - Kata 2.8/45 mm	Prontor-SVS
Super Paxette IIBL	1957-64	Staeble-Katagon 2.8/50 mm	Prontor-SVS
Paxette Automtic Super III	1958-62	Culminar SLK 2,8/50 mm	Prontor-SLK

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The Super-Paxette II models are interchangeable lens rangefinder cameras. The IIB model is additionally equipped with a non-coupled light meter. By pressing and releasing the small button on the right-hand side of the top cover, you can read the entire set of available shutter speed/aperture combinations based on the film sensitivity, selectable from 12 to 800 ASA.

The user has two levers. One requires two actions of the right thumb to arm and advance the film. The other is operated by the left thumb to rewind the film after exposure.

The lens on this specimen is a Staeble Kata 2.8/45mm, and the shutter is a Prontor-SVS.

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