The Elementary Altix

<p>Well, at least this is a change from Japanese rangefinders! This is one of the older 35mm cameras in my collection. It's the Altix IV.<br /><br /></p><div></div>

<p>Echo-Altissa had rather a sad history. Founded by Richard Knolls in Liepzig in 1896 to repair cameras and photographic equipment, by the 1930's the company was producing a line of box cameras, some of them being of fine quality under the now-collectable "Altissa" brand. In 1939 the company produced the first of a well-designed and beautifully-built range of viewfinder cameras, branded "Altix". The company survived the war as a private concern under the direction of Berthold Altmann, but in 1950 Berthold in effect defected to the West, and the Company was seized by the Socialist East German State. In the late 1950's it became part of VEB Kamera-und-Kinowerk, and the last cameras were produced in 1961. The Altix cameras had evolved through many different models and minor variations, but by the end of their production were outclassed by the contemporary competition, particularly from the flood of Japanese rangefinders.<br /><br />This very original example is an Altix Version IV, Model II, Type B or C, dating from about 1952. Throughout a long period of manufacture the cameras underwent small refinements rather than major changes in design; I can't distinguish between the Type B and C models, but perhaps one of our informed members can offer some advice. It's a slightly quirky but very attractive little camera which I'm very pleased to own and use. It has a viewfinder that is reminiscent of a Brownie 127, a little tunnel that gives some idea of where the camera is pointing. It has a knob wind for the film and an interlock to prevent double exposures, but the shutter has to be cocked by hand, using a traditional lever above the lens. Rewinding the film was somewhat of a mystery, until I discovered that the whole winder knob pops up to release the film for rewinding. Film loading is also unusual, with the bottom plate sliding off and a hinged pressure plate remaining in the back to give access to the sprocket drive and for locating the film, which is threaded onto a free spool, Leica-style, prior to loading. Just a little fiddly, but not so tricky after a little practice. Frame counting has to be manually re-set.<br /><br />The camera is immensely solid and silky-smooth in all it's moving parts. The Vebur B shutter is pretty much the East German equivalent of the Compur, and feels much the same. The hefty focusing ring at the rear of the lens barrel moves the whole assembly as a unit, and the aperture scale and shutter speeds are located at the front. Shutter speeds run from 1 sec. to 1/250th plus B, and the lens is the well-known 50mm Meyer-Optik Trioplan f/2.9, a triplet construction which punches well above it's weight in terms of image quality; even wide-open it's fairly sharp, but from f'/4 onwards it performs very well indeed. The Altix looks and feels very much like the early Braun Paxettes, with it's oversize knobs and fat lens barrel, but the quality of it's construction is exceptional, and I'm now an Altix devotee. I really enjoyed re-learning a few old-camera procedures such as remembering to cock the shutter, and guessing distances, and twiddling the winder knob seemingly endlessly to advance the film, and I hope you enjoy seeing a few products of my efforts. Film is Fuji Superia 100, scans from the Fuji Frontier, conversions in Photoshop.</p><div></div>

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<p>Excellent post <strong>Rick</strong>! I perceive that you have a highly evolved "still-life study" approach. It adds an interesting dimension to your pictures of the street scenes too. I don't know if that is deliberate or simply second nature; it is very nice all the same. It suits the environment you live in very well too, the calm quiet surroundings, as if life stood still, almost. Thanks for the wonderful post. sp.</p>

<p>Rick,</p>

<p>You did it again... you inspired me. <strong><em>Shovels </em></strong>and <em><strong>Windows, Light and Shade </strong></em>are simply out, FANTASTIC. Thanks.</p>

<p>Mike</p>

<p>These are wonderful photographs! Interesting camera as well --- the film loading system looks similar to a certain camera from Wetzlar (Midland/Solms, etc.).</p>

<p>Shovels is outstanding Rick. I agree with SP - you live in a beautiful part of the world.<br>

Your technique for product photography is also great. Do you mind telling me what you did to shoot the camera pictures?</p>

<p>Thanks for a great post, Rick. Those are some very sharp photos. If this camera were produced today, the manufacturer would want to include your photos in the brochure. The Fuji Superia 100 converted well to black & white. The Main Street photo is my favorite of the group.</p>

<p>Rick,<br>

The camera and story are quite marvellous but are still out-done by the photographer. Stunning B&W images! My first 35mm camera was the Braun Paxette and I am trying to find info on them in the hope I can recognize the model I had. I think mine had the "shaded numbers" type viewfinder as an exposure guide. I used it for many years, including my first business trips to Japan & South Korea. I agree with the similarity to the Altix.</p>

Rick,

I also very much like the pictures but am intrigued by the small logo just to the right of the "y" in Meyer in Detail 2. I have an old camera case in very good condition with the same logo on the front. I have a vague recollection that it represents something in Leipzig but I may be wrong. Any info would be appreciated.

<p>Very nice. I like the fit and finish on the camera, the street scenes, and the detail shots. It's all part of a common whole. Overall, it reminds me of the small rural farm town where I live.</p>

<p>Nice. thanks for sharing.</p>

<p>Somebody poked their finger through the shutter on mine. :(</p>

<p>That logo, Charles, is the Ernemann Turm (on the headquarters of the Ernemann Werke, later Zeiss Ikon in Dresden, not Leipzig) and had Zeiss Ikon's "ZI" appearing below it in earlier days.<br />It was used by Pentacon.</p>

Beautiful post, speechless on the quality of photographs. Such beauty and expression on all of them.

 

I am thankful to share this forum with you and other classic shooters here Rick.

 

My AltiX DN belongs to the comunist era and it is a fine camera as well even though the film advance does skip from time time. I have the Tessar 2.8 and the 90mm telephoto. One day I will post something as well around it.

<p>Very nice Rick! I bought two Altix' and never really used them, but imagined the lenses might be good. For zone focusing, I'd say you nailed it.</p>

<p>Can I ask you a side question: did your Altix come in this nice of shape, or did you clean it? It's beautiful. Mine are in in good condition, but the chrome is dingy looking, and I wondered if you had any tips on cleaning it.</p>