Xiaojiabiyu -Diax camera among classic cameras

In the colorful world of classical cameras, some brands rarely attract people's attention. These cameras are not well-known and the output is not high, but they are still loved by camera collectors because of their unique design ideas and exquisite production technology. Diax camera is one of them.

In World War II, Germany's entire industrial system was dragged into the war. Leica, Zeiss, Fu Lunda and other old German optical manufacturing enterprises all moved to the military. When the war ended, these enterprises suffered heavy losses. For example, the main factory building of Datong Company was bombed, and the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union scrambled to grab Zeiss equipment, documents and technicians. Several other companies are also facing a serious shortage of factories, equipment and personnel, and it is difficult to resume production at the moment. Under this background, Mr. Walter Voss, who is about to turn 40, keenly seized this rare opportunity and founded a camera manufacturing company named after himself on 1946+00. With years of camera manufacturing experience, Walter Voss soon produced the first Diax camera with 135 film in the second year.

The Diax prototype of 1947 is very simple in design, with two winding keys and one rewinding key on both sides of the smooth top. Small viewfinder, automatic counting. The camera adopts advanced Compur-Rapid shutter, and the speed range is b, 1 ~ 1/500 seconds; The three prototype versions are equipped with several different lenses such as Xenar (Figure 1). This camera complied with the urgent demand for small products using 135 film at that time, and won people's praise for its ultra-small size and simple operation, especially for women. This compact camera product was classified as Kun machine in his later years. Diax camera made its debut in the photography market after several minor improvements from 1947 to 1950.

Diax I (Figure 2) entered the market at 1950. This camera has not changed much except that the viewfinder is enlarged and the top right side of the camera is raised.

195 1 Diax II went on the market, and the camera viewfinder was added a little, adding a linkage ranging device. This camera uses a Schneider -Xenar 1: 2.8/45 mm lens, and later changed the lens to a faster 1:2.0 specification. In order to make the rewind button at one end of the viewfinder no longer protrude, the rewind button is changed to a flat design. This makes rewinding inconvenient, but it takes care of the balance of camera appearance. This design has been used in various models after Diax (Figure 3). When Diax II was launched, the Diax interchangeable lens model had been basically developed, and a year later, the brand-new Diax 1a went on the market. So Diax II, which can't change the lens, fell behind as soon as it was launched. This one only exists in a small amount, and it is the rarest one in the whole Diax series.

There is actually a Diax Standard between Diax I and Ia. The fuselage of this model is the same as the L-shape, but the lens can be replaced. It should be a single-digit trial product, which is very rare. On the auction website in Yi Bei, a standard model was auctioned for more than 340 Australian dollars.

Diax Ia of 1952 can be said to be a brand-new system of Diax camera. It is the first time to adopt the design of interchangeable lens, which is matched with the camera through the M55 external rotation interface. In order to cooperate with the framing of lenses with different focal lengths of 35, 50 and 90, Diax did not follow the practice of other brands at that time, adding a framing line in the viewfinder or external viewfinder, but designed three framing windows to correspond to different lenses (Figure 4). On the back of Diax Ia's fuselage, you can see three observation windows marked with clear focal length. In order to reduce confusion, colorless, blue and yellow glasses are used for the three window panes (Figure 5).

1954, Diax introduced the II series based on the I series. This series is no different from the I series in appearance, but it adds the linkage focusing function. The II series model is the most technologically advanced of all Diax machines.

1956 On the basis of Diax a, it was changed to a flat-topped fuselage and a B-type wrench (Figure 6). Except for the appearance change, there is not much difference in function between type A and type B.

Diax's two interchangeable lens series cameras have beautiful appearance, especially the three side-by-side viewfinder windows are very eye-catching. Mechanical transmission parts such as camera shutter are firm and reliable; Some lenses are matched by famous factories such as Schneider, with fine workmanship and excellent optical quality, which is enough to take good photos (Figures 7 and 8).

The new model with interchangeable lenses greatly expands the application scope of Diax camera, but its unique framing system limits the use of more focal lenses. In the later stage of Diax I series development, more than a dozen lenses with six different focal lengths (35, 45, 50, 85, 90, 135) produced by different manufacturers can match the camera (Figure 9), which contradicts the design of the preset viewfinder of the camera body.

When Walter Voss prepared to launch a new model in which Diax IIa and IIb can focus together, it realized the limitations of multi-view window design, so in IIa and IIb models, the three view windows on the back were reduced to two (Figure 10), leaving only 50 and 85-90 focus segments.

Diax developed an independent viewfinder to match lenses with different focal lengths. Later, in order to avoid the trouble of changing the viewfinder every time, Steinheil was specially entrusted to develop an external viewfinder that can adapt to various focal lengths and adjust parallax. This exquisite viewfinder can provide three different focal lengths of 35, 85/90 and 135, and the task of linkage focusing is completed by the 50 focal length window on the fuselage, which is a complete solution for camera framing. However, Diax IIa and IIb cameras with external viewfinders will have vivid scenes with six small observation windows from the front (Figure 1 1). Photographers have to use two windows for other shots unless they use a 50mm focal length lens. At this time, it is necessary to ensure the accuracy of focusing and the consistency between the lens used and the viewfinder, which will definitely increase the possibility of confusion and cause confusion in use.

Replaceable A-type and B-type lenses are marked with the model name on the mirror body, while others are not. Fortunately, the two models of lenses are interchangeable. The position of the A-type fuselage linkage ranging rod socket is at the lower right of the lens interface, and the B-type is at the lower left. Therefore, two different types of lenses will be distorted by 90 degrees after installation, which will only affect the photographer's habit of reading the data on the lens, but will not affect the function of the lens. Among all replaceable standard lenses (focal length 45 and 50mm), Schneider f:2.0 Xenon lens is the rarest, and it is the one with the largest aperture and the best film-forming effect among all Diax series matching lenses.

Diax camera's unique dedicated viewfinder system has finally come to an end. When Diax-L- 1 model appeared in 1957, there were no multiple viewfinder windows at the same time, and the new Diax model returned to the single viewfinder design (Figure 12), and the lens could no longer be replaced. Diax-L- 1 has lost the compact image that Diax has been insisting on for ten years, and the new body is huge and bloated (Figure 13). Except for a built-in Gossen exposure meter, the whole camera has no obvious bright spots. This may also indicate that Walter Voss can't compete with the German camera manufacturer who recovered from the war, because the company reported bankruptcy shortly after the launch of this new camera.

Although Mr. Walter Voss seized the opportunity of the reconstruction of Germany's post-war camera manufacturing industry, in the next ten years, he completely relied on his own strength to embark on the road of independent research and development, and the enterprise did not develop rapidly. At its peak, Walter Voss had only more than 60 employees. By 1957, the company lost money and went bankrupt soon. This weak family business could not solve many problems such as cost management, marketing, technology research and development, external competition and so on, and became one of the first German camera manufacturers to fall after the war.

Diax cameras have reached nearly100000 in ten years. Although they have been discontinued for more than 50 years, there are still many products in Europe and Australia, and their sales are very smooth. Because the brand awareness is not high, it is not too difficult to collect Diax cameras. Yi Bei is a good platform for treasure hunting. Usually, a Diax Ia or Ib model with good appearance will not exceed 100 USD. Among all Diax models, IIa and IIb with interchangeable lenses and linkage focusing function are exquisitely made, which are the two most worth collecting and playing with. 2.0 caliber interchangeable lenses are rare.

Among the supporting lenses, Schneider lenses are all made of high-quality solid materials, and other brands should pay attention to the selection of supporting lenses. Some lenses that support the I series do not include the linkage focusing function, which requires special attention. Except for those rare varieties, other Diax models are not too expensive, including the transitional Diaxette camera with low output (Figure 14). On the contrary, those Diax original accessories, such as external viewfinder, hood, various filters and lens cover, are even less, and you need to be patient enough to collect them (Figure 15). Diax occasionally appears in some famous auctions abroad. With luck, you can even photograph a rare Diax suit (Figure 16).

Nowadays, film cameras are about to withdraw from the historical stage. Faced with these exquisite Diax cameras, people are often curious about their short history. Collecting these cameras and even using them to take nostalgic photos will bring us more special experiences and nostalgia for the era of pure cameras.

This article first appeared in the June 2065438 issue of Photography World.

The photos in this article are all from personal collections. Do not quote without permission, and offenders will be prosecuted.

1947 Diax prototype, fixed lens, flat top, small viewfinder, Diax logo at the top of the fuselage, Axinon f3.5/40mm lens, Compur-Rapid with the fastest 1/500 second nine-speed shutter.

1948 Diax prototype, fixed lens, flat top and small viewfinder. Besides Diax trademark and Walter Voss factory logo, the top of the fuselage is equipped with Steinheil Culminar f2.8/42mm lens, Compur-Rapid1-Kloc-0//500 second nine-speed shutter and no flash socket.

1949 Diax prototype, fixed lens, flat top, small viewfinder, different from 1948 version, is that a flash socket is added on the front of the fuselage. Equipped with Steinheil Culminar f2.8/42mm or Schneider Xenar f2.8 45mm lens, Compur-Rapid1-Kloc-0//500 second nine-speed shutter. The whole machine weighs 423 grams.

195 1 year, Diax I type, fixed lens, top and right convex, magnifying viewfinder, equipped with Schneider Xenar f2.8 45mm or Schneider Xenon f2.0 45mm or Heligon f/2 45mm lens, Compur-rapid1-1/545mm. The whole machine weighs 469 grams.

195 1 year, Diax II, fixed lens, heightened fuselage, non-flat top, further enlargement of viewfinder, linkage ranging, self-timer, Schneider Xenar f2.8 45mm, Schneider Xenon f2.0 45mm or Heligon f/2 45mm lens, synchronous-compur1. The whole machine weighs 527 grams.

1952, Diax Ia type, interchangeable lens, non-flat top, focus evaluation, three viewing windows on the back, and inverted keys. Equipped with Laack Diaxar f3.5 50mm, Schneider Xenar f2.8 50mm, Schneider Xenon f2.0 50mm, Isco Isconar or Westar f3.5 50mm lens, synchronous-Comapur1-Kloc-0//500 seconds shutter. The fuselage and Xenar f2.8 50mm lens weigh 626g (the following interchangeable lens models all use the same lens).

1953, Diaxette, basically the same as Type I, with a fixed lens, camera self-timer and zoom-in rewind buttons, just like the film rolling button. The lens body is equipped with black sheath, Steinheil Munchen Cassar f2.8 45mm lens and Pronto 1/25- 1/200 second shutter. The whole machine weighs 466 grams.

1954, Diax IIa type, interchangeable lens, non-flat top, linkage focusing, two viewing windows on the back, and inverted keys. Schneider Xenar f2.8 50mm, Schneider Xenon f2.0 50mm lens, synchronous -Comapur 1- 1/500 second nine-speed shutter. The whole machine weighs 699 grams.

1956, Diax Ib, interchangeable lens, film winding key changed to film winding wrench, flat top, focus evaluation, and three observation windows on the back. Equipped with Schneider Xenar f2.8 50mm, Schneider Xenon f2.0 50mm, Isco Isconar or Westar f3.5 50mm lens, synchronous -Comapur 1- 1/500 seconds ten-speed shutter. The whole machine weighs 705 grams.

1956, Diax IIb, interchangeable lens, film winding button changed to film winding wrench, flat top, linkage focusing, and two observation windows on the back. Schneider Xenar f2.8 50mm, Schneider Xenon f2.0 50mm, Isco Isconar or Westar f3.5 50mm lens, synchronous -Comapur 1- 1/500 second ten-speed shutter. The whole machine weighs 742 grams.

1957, Diax L- 1, lengthened and widened fuselage, fixed lens, film winding wrench, Gossen pointer selenium electric exposure meter at the top of fuselage, delayed selfie, shutter button on the right side of the front of fuselage, equipped with Rodenstock-Diax-Trina R2.8 45mm lens, Compur-Rapid 1-. The whole machine weighs 638 grams.

The 35mm f3.5 Isco Westron lens weighs 77g..

35mm f3.5 Schneider Xenagon lens weight171g.

45mm f2.8 Schneider xenar lens weight 166g.

50mm f3.5 Isco Isconar lens weight 187 g.

85mm f4.5 Isco Isconar lens weight 179g.

90mm f3.5 Tele-Xenar lens weighs 351g.

135mm f4 Tele-Xenar lens weighs 304g.

Figure 1 Diax prototype (version 1949).

Fig. 2 viewfinder enlarges Diax I camera.

Figure 3: Diax II camera with linkage ranging is added on the basis of Diax I.

Fig. 4 Diax Ia with interchangeable lens.

The viewfinder in Figure 5 is distinguished by colorless, blue and yellow glass.

Fig. 6 Diax Ib, with a new flat top design, the winding button is changed to a winding wrench.

Fig. 7 is a picture taken by Diax Ia with a 50x focal length lens.

Fig. 8 is a picture taken by Diax Ia with a 90-degree focal length lens.

Figure 9 Diax can connect lenses with multiple focal lengths.

Figure 10 diax iib back.

Figure 1 1 a lively scene with six small windows using DIXIIB with an external viewfinder.

The last camera of picture 12 Diax Diax-L- 1.

Comparison between figure 13 Diax-L- 1 and Diax prototype.

Figure141953 Dixette is a rare transitional model.

Photo 15 Rare camera accessories and descriptions.

Figure 16 Rare Diax suit.