1947 Photavit Subminiature Camera, CLA'd, Freshly Serviced!

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!

Nikon not included

This is a Photavit subminiature cameras produced in Germany in circa 1947. It’s a very small camera that was designed to produce square 24x24 negatives on standard 35mm film loaded into special Photavit cartridges. Film is drawn from the supply cartridge to the take-up cartridge with no need to rewind. When the roll is finished and the camera is opened and reloaded, the empty supple cartridge then serves as the new take up cartridge.

This 70 year old camera is in clean, presentable condition and is fully functional. It’s been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. The quality Compur shutter works well. All speeds (T, B & 1 sec.-1/300th) fire smoothly and appropriately.

The lens is a sharp Schneider Xenar 2.5/37.5mm, a four element lens, very similar in design and performance as a Zeiss Tessar. The lens has been well protected by its original lens cap and is clean and clear. There are no scratches, no cleaning marks. There are no separated elements, fungus or other problems and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and B&W films.

The camera has a nice technical detail in that focusing is achieved by moving the entire lens/shutter combination back and forth. This provides better lens performance (especially up close) than the more common “front cell focus” in which only the front element is turned in or out.

This camera comes with two cartridges in it so all you’ll have to do is reload some fresh film into one of them and you’ll be good to go. (Alternatively, you can go into a darkroom and simply load some 35mm film directly into the camera without using the cartridges. Film pulled from a roll of 35mm film is so curly that it will roll right up and fit into the film chambers.)

It comes complete with a used brown leather case, an original lens cap & two film cartridges. (The camera strap will need to be reattached on one side.)

All in all, a very interesting, enjoyable addition to your collection.