Royer Altessa II |
Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in France from 1952 to 1955.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 5312
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Royer
In 1952, Royer introduced a 6 x 9 camera; they had not yet ventured into producing smaller formats. René Royer had the idea to offer a 6 x 9 camera with an interchangeable lens, a luxury reserved for those using 24 x 36 cameras.
To bring this idea to life, he used a classic 6 x 9 camera body from his folding camera range as a base and replaced the bellows with a telescopic tube. This tube featured a bayonet mount for changing the lens. Two lenses were developed for this camera: a 190mm telephoto lens from Berthiot and a 75mm wide-angle lens (Berthiot or Angénieux) that could only be used in the 6 x 6 format. To change lenses, it was imperative to use the rotary button located on top of the camera and trigger the closure of a curtain to protect the film. A safety feature prevented the shutter from firing unless this same curtain was positioned for either 6 x 6 or 6 x 9 (for the 6 x 9 position, the curtains were completely wound onto their drum).
Despite a very reasonable price and a fairly aggressive advertising campaign, the Altessa did not sell well. It disappeared from the catalogs by 1955. Nevertheless, it is undoubtedly one of the most original 6 x 9 cameras ever manufactured, and its rarity, due to its short existence, adds to its appeal.
Tous les Altessa II sont identiques, seul change le bloc optique...
Quand le tube est rentré, l'appareil est relativement compact pour un 6 x 9.
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