Manufactured or assembled in Germany from (Circa) 1958 to (After) 1960.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 13244

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Chronology of cameras Adox 

The company ADOX, also known as Dr. C. Schleussner Fotowerke GmbH, was specialized in manufacturing chemical products related to photography. For about thirty years, from 1930 to 1960, the company attempted to build cameras. Its most beautiful model by far was the Adox 300. However, this 35mm 24 x 36 camera is something of an enigma. It is made of 830 grams of an illogical and improbable mixture of basic and avant-garde techniques.

It is part of the exclusive circle of 24 x 36 cameras with interchangeable backs (or magazines). It shares this prestigious circle with the beautiful Zeiss Ikon Contarex/Contaflex, the surprising Mamiya Magazine, and the unaffordable and very rare Kodak Ektra.

The Adox 300 has a large film advance lever located on the shutter ring, similar to the Konica III and Zeiss Tenax. Depending on the manufacturing, its lenses can be a Steinheil Cassar 2.8/45mm with three lenses, or a Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 2.8/45mm with four lenses. Unfortunately, they are fixed! Two shutters were used: the Compur-Rapid and the Synchro-Compur, both allowing shutter speeds from one second to 1/500th of a second. The four combinations of shutter/lens pairs have been seen, with no relation to the chronology of manufacturing.

The viewfinder is clear, un-collimated, and without a rangefinder or parallax correction. In short, it is a very clear and generously sized viewfinder for glasses wearers... but an unworthy viewfinder for this camera.
A semi-automatic Bewi selenium cell provides its recommended couple indications on a dial to the left of the camera.

The oval shape of its trigger is typical of the brand.


Interchangeable backs


Unlike the other interchangeable backs 35mm cameras, it is the only one to have completely integrated interchangeable backs, i.e. the camera back is closed. For all other models, the interchangeable backs integrate into the camera back.

A single key, on the left side of the soleplate, like a Leica, allows the back to be fully opened, providing access to the interchangeable back, which I will call a magazine here since it is not used as a back. This hinged magazine, with a slide opening, is of superb quality. Opening the back by turning the key triggers a mechanism that hermetically closes the magazine's exposure opening with a stainless steel flap.
The tops of the magazines have a mechanical frame counter, the indications of which are visible through a triangular window located on the right side of the cover.
They also have two notched wheels that indicate the type of film used and its sensitivity. The selections on these wheels are visible through a small window on the back of the camera. In my humble opinion, this feature is unique.
It should be noted that, unlike its competitors from Zeiss Ikon, the magazine is not an option but an integral part of the camera.

Despite the lack of a rangefinder and interchangeable lenses, this model, with its very expensive to produce magazine, was a commercial disaster for Adox. Few copies were sold from 1958 to 1962. Realizing, but too late, the flaws of its camera, the company tried to save it by working on an Adox 500. Identical to the 300, it was planned with interchangeable lenses, collimated viewfinder, and, depending on the option chosen, offered with or without a rangefinder. The research and development costs eventually drove Adox into bankruptcy. This model would have only been manufactured as a prototype before the brand's bankruptcy.

On some Adox 300 cameras, we find almost identical magazines to those of the original Adox, but stamped with Leitz. The mystery is not completely solved between the unlikely subcontracting of Leitz to manufacture Adox magazines and the purchase by Leitz, at the time of Adox's bankruptcy, of the machines necessary for the production of these magazines. What is certain is that Leitz will manufacture magazines practically identical to Adox's for some models of its Micro Orthomat camera. Since many Orthomats will come out in white, Leitz's attention to detail will be to manufacture many chargers painted white as well.

Regarding Adox magazines, I have personally encountered three types, chronologically evolving according to their numbers:

• Red and black film type table + red and black sensitivity table
• Orange and black film type table + orange and black sensitivity table
• Orange and black film type table + red and blue sensitivity table.

The first models bear the engraving "Dr C. Schleussner Fotowerke GmbH - Made in Germany" on the hood.
These cameras have, in principle, three numbers, plus the magazine number:

• A number is present in the accessory shoe on the first models I encountered and is no longer present on the second.
• A number is engraved to the right of the sole's back, opposite to the "Made in Germany," but seems to have been forgotten sometimes. This number is used as an identifier on sales or warranty certificates but has nothing in common with the one engraved on the accessory shoe.
• A serial number for each lens.

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