Braun Paxina

The Paxina was a series of cameras for medium format film (for 120 and 127 types) manufactured by Braun at Nüremberg, in Germany, around the middle years of the 20th century. Some of them sport retractable tubular lens supports; other, most sofisticated variations, mounted fixed lenses and (on Electromatic models) a lightmeter. All in all, a total of 7 different variations were made, being the one pictured in the accompanying photos a Paxina 29.

One of the simpler versions, using 120 roll film, has a square-shaped baquelite front in which the lens is supported and that strongly reminds the style of those older box cameras, even more with the selector for the three possible apertures (f/7.7, f/11 and f/22). Another selection lever near the lens front allows for selection of the shutter speed: 1/100, 1/30 and B. The release button is located in the inside part of the square block panel, and focussing is achieved by means of front element rotation (that's shared by all models) between the 1 meter and infinite range.

The Paxina 29 takes its name from the lens' maximum aperture: a 75mm, f/2.9 Steinar on a Gauthier's Pronto shutter, with 4 speeds (1/200, 1/100, 1/50 and 1/25) apart from B. Contrary to its bigger sibling, the Braun Gloria, the retractable tube must be extended manually (i.e. by turning the lens and shutter block around 10 degrees and pulling gently, turning it back once extended to lock it in place). This model also includes a DOF scale around the front element. Shutter is triggered by means of a side lever, located in the right part of the body when holding the camera for taking the photograph, and that fits in a small hole when the tube is retracted to avoid incidental shooting that may cause camera damage.

The dimensions of the camera are 139x87x69 mm (closed) or 139x87x96 mm (with the lens extended) and weights around 500 gr.

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