-Super-Lynx-I.jpg){kind=link}
| Pontiac |
|---|
| Bakélite |
| Bloc Métal 41 |
| Bloc Métal 45 |
| Lynx |
| Super Lynx |
| Baby Lynx |
| Versailles |
The Super Lynx I was a 24x36mm camera launched by the French maker Pontiac in 1948. It had an optical viewfinder and a focal plane shutter from 1/25 to 1/500, similar to the shutter of the Lynx, with a self-timer. The Super Lynx had a striated aluminium body that could be left as is, or painted black to imitate leather covering, as on the Lynx. The lens was collapsible and non interchangeable. The choice of lenses was:
On the first advertisements, the body was shown with no name, but all the production bodies known are clearly marked Super-Lynx I. On an early ad (see here), the Super Lynx I was announced with interchangeable lenses.
The Super Lynx Standard is a version with a fixed wide angle lens Berthiot Flor 35/3.5, in a rigid mount, and with no self-timer.
In 1951 the production line of the Super Lynx was moved to Morocco. The bodies made in Morocco had a real leather covering instead of the black paint or alu finish. The following versions were launched after the move.
The Super Lynx (without number) was a simplified version with no self-timer, only sold with the Berthiot Flor 50/3.5.
The Super Lynx II was an improved version with interchangeable lenses. The range of lenses with bayonet mount was:
- Berhiot Angulor 28/3.3
- Berthiot Flor 35/3.5
- Berthiot Flor 50/3.5
- Berthiot Flor 50/2.8
- Berthiot Flor 75/2.8
- Berthiot Flor 90/3.5
The range of lenses above is stated by Vial, P-H Pont does not mention the 35mm and 75mm. Vial illustrates the 50/2.8. McKeown mentions the Sagem Hexar lens (misspelled Sacem) for the Super Lynx II, not the I, but Vial, probably better informed, says it was only mounted on the Super Lynx I.
The auction company lpfoto has sold a Berthiot Flor 50/3.5 lens in screw mount about 38mm diameter, advertising it as probably for Super Lynx II, see here. This is surely a mistake: the Super Lynx II had a bayonet mount, and the lens infinity lock was different, as the pictures in Vial's book demonstrate.
The production of the Super Lynx stopped when the company disappeared in 1954. Vial mentions that Pontiac had announced a Super Lynx with coupled rangefinder. All the Super Lynx are rare, the most common being the Super Lynx I.
Bibliography[]
- Vial, Bernard. Histoire des appareils français. Période 1940–1960. Paris: Maeght Éditeur, 1980, re-impressed in 1991. ISBN 2-86941-156-1.
- Pontiac Lynx, Super Lynx, Baby Lynx, Fotofiche 15, Patrice-Hervé Pont, Ed Fotosaga
Links[]
- The Pontiac page at ClicClac: page with pictures of the Super Lynx I and Super Lynx (no number).
- The Pontiac page at Gérard Langlois site, with ads for the Super Lynx too.
- On www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand :