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Braun Paxette IL |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1958 to 1960.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 13356
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 | 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 | 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 | ||||
__________
This Paxette I L has a fixed lens and a luminous frame viewfinder as confirmed by its name according to the typology established by Braun [1] :
I: fixed lens.
L: luminous frame viewfinder (Leuchtrahmensucher).
On the other hand, it does not feature lightmeter and rangefinder.
Two levers are present on both sides of the upper cover:
- one (on the right) for the film advance (2 actuations) and the arming,
- one (on the left) for film rewinding.
According to the classification system proposed by Patrice-Hervé Pont [1], this Paxette is categorized "Family 3 / Type 15". "Family 3" corresponds to Paxettes and Super Paxettes with a high top cover, "Family 2" members have a hunchbacked top cover and those of "Family 1" have a flat top cover.
This Paxette I L would have been marketed in the United Kingdom under the reference Paxette I AL [2].
In addition to the combination Plastogon 50 mm f2.8 / Prontor-SVS B, 1 s - 1/300 s of the copy on this page, this Paxette model exists with other lens/shutter combinations, among which at least :
- Staeble-Kata 45 mm f2.8 / Pronto B, 1/25 s - 1/200 s
- Ennagon 45 mm f2.8 / Prontor-SVS B, 1 s - 1/300 s
The equivalent model with interchangeable lenses is unsurprisingly named Paxette II L.
Interesting links or bibliography :
| [1] Pont Patrice-Hervé. Maxifiche Paxettes & Super Paxettes. France : Club Niépce-Lumière, décembre 2008, Les fondamentaux, n°28., suggested by Sylvain Halgand |
| [2] McKeown James M. & Joan C. McKeown's price guide to antique & classic cameras., 12th Edition 2005-2006. USA : Centennial Photo Service, 1st September 2004. Page 152., suggested by Sylvain Halgand |
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