In
1937, the company Lumière produces the Eljy model.
Having a very small size (8 x 5 cm), it uses a special film of a
24x36 format which is allowing 8 photos. The film is mounted on a paper
sheet.
The shutter speed range can be used to identify the different
generations of Eljy.
Dans sa version sortie en 1944, le Eljy est équipé d'un objectif Anastigmat Lypar 1:3,5 f=40mm monté sur
un tube rentrant dans le boîtier.
L'obturateur Lumière miniaturisé autorise les vitesses allant de 1/10
sec à 1/150 sec. Il est équipé d'une pose B et T.
The 1944 model is equipped with a lens Anastigmat Lypar 1:3,5
f=40mm attached to a optical pipe which can be retracted into the camera
body.
The miniaturized shutter Lumière allows a speed range from 1/10 to 1/150
sec and pose B and T.
The model produced from 1945 to 1947 still uses the same lens Anastigmat Lypar
but its shutter has a maximum speed of 1/200 sec.
The quality of this lens is exceptional; it allows perfect close-up.
Nevertheless, this functionality was requesting to use a flexible
shutter release in order to avoid vibrations. The focus can be adjusted in
a range of 50 cm to the infinite by rotating the lens.
None of these two models is synchronized.
From a technological standpoint, this camera was really in
advance for its epoch and was a real success with amateurs and
professional photographers.
This model has been improved in 1951 in a
more sophisticated model : the Eljy-Club equipped with a lightmeter.
despite of all these qualities, the production of the Eljy series will
be definitively stopped during the years 1955-57. This was due to the fact the specific
film format was not enough distributed and because of the progresses
made by other competitors for this type of camera.
