Adox Polo matic 3 S

Photos by Bernard Faure text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Bernard Faure. Last update 2024-03-19 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1961 to (Circa) 1964.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 12206

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Adox

After the Sport and the Golf in the early 1960s, here is a new series of 35 mm cameras whose name evokes dynamism, by associating a certain idea of luxury. But despite their name, some Polos are simple cameras, without much technicality, and even less luxury.

The series includes the following models (source Mc Keown):

	Lens	Shutter

Polo	Adoxar 3,5/45 mm
Polo 1	Adoxar 3,5/45 mm	Vario or Prontor 125
Polo 1 S	Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar L 2,8/45 mm ¹	Pronto (1/30 to 1/250)
Polo 1 B	Adoxar 3,5/45 mm or Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar L 2,8/45 mm	Pronto
Polomat 2	Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar L 2,8/45 mm	Pronto-LK
Polomat 1 ²	Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar L 2,8/45 mm	Pronto-LK or Prontor 500 LK
Polomat 1 S ²	Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar L 2,8/45 mm	Pronto-LK or Prontor 500 LK
Polomat 2 ²	Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar L 2,8/45 mm	Prontormat
Polomatic 2 ²	Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar L 2,8/45 mm	Prontor-Lux
Polomatic 3 ²	Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar L 2,8/45 mm	Prontormat-S
Polomatic 3 S ²	Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar L 2,8/45 mm	Prontor-Matic

1 The Radionar L 2.8/45mm lens has a specificity, denoted by the L. Its lenses are coated by adding lanthanum oxide La2O3 to increase the refractive index. Lanthanum is one of the rare earth metals.
2 With built-in lightmeter.
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If the brand is clearly visible on the logo displayed on the front, you must open the back to read the model name written on a simple label attached inside.

The Polo matic 3S (or IIIS) offers a fully defeatable automatic exposure control. To use it, you must first set the film sensitivity. The speed must be set to 1/125 and the aperture ring must be set to Auto. If a green signal appears in the viewfinder, you must adjust the focus distance by selecting one of the three icons on the distance ring: portrait, group, or landscape. The photo can then be taken. If a yellow signal appears instead of green, the focus distance must be adjusted more precisely using the graduated scale instead of the icons. If a red light comes on, you must adjust the shutter speed by turning the ring in the direction indicated by the arrow on the red signal until yellow or green appears. If this is not possible, you must exit the automatic exposure mode, use a flash, or switch to long exposure.

Manual exposure control is also possible. Starting from Auto mode, if you press the small red button on the top of the camera, the automatically selected aperture value appears in the viewfinder. It is then possible to vary the aperture value by turning the aperture ring.

Compared to the Polomatic 3, the Polomatic 3S has a faster shutter speed, and its light meter accepts a wider range of film sensitivity (11-30° DIN instead of 11-27° DIN).

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