Gamma Italy family list
Gamma Italy camera family list
In the post-war years, Italy saw quite a few companies venture into camera manufacturing. Most had no prior roots in the industry, with some lacking even a basic grounding in fine mechanics. Some aimed at mass-market products and lasted for several decades, while others flew too close to the sun and shortly failed, leaving no mark on the trade. Gamma of Italy had begun as a well-founded idea from old industry hands, only to pursue an unrealistic goal at the wrong time.
The company’s first appearance was at the 1946 Milan exhibition, an event meant to celebrate both the end of WWII and the resurrection of Italian industry. Fratelli Koristka, a long-standing optical equipment manufacturer, hosted a family start-up from Rome in its display, presenting wannabe Leica camera models. The promoters, the Rossi family, a father and two sons, brought experience drawn from a decades-old precision machine shop that had survived the war. The camera concept was indeed inspired by the famed Leica, as were dozens upon dozens of other models at the time. But here they had in mind a better product than the good old Leica, which brings to mind a similar antic by the makers of the Lionel camera. On the Leica, the rubberized cloth curtain shutter was a weak point, so here they attempted to replace it with metal blades, added a removable back, and a cartridge-to-cartridge film transport. Having the exposed film section safely tucked into the take-off cartridge, they also added an Exakta-style cut-off blade.
The idea of curved, solid focal plane curtains was not seen before or after. See image and simulation below.
The camera concept attracted investors, and the company took off, presenting several Leica-inspired models. It then changed hands several times before finally being minted as Gamma-Officine Meccaniche di Precisione – Gamma-Precision Mechanical Workshops. At first, lenses were made by the above-mentioned Koristka, and Gamma took it over. It seems they did not excel at glassmaking, so they dropped it, and future lenses were sourced in Germany, which was atypical for Italian camera makers.
Production commenced in 1947, with cameras under the Gamma name and short production runs, measured in the hundreds. Today, it means that Gamma cameras fetch high prices in the collectors’ market.
As the specs and quality were at the market’s high end, so was the price, and sales of a no-name brand did not fare well. As such, the company’s high-flying hopes took a path closer to earth, with a series of modest cameras, the Perla, Stella, Atlas, and finally the 1957 Alba / Atom, after which the company gave up. See the list below.
Note that there was also a Gamma in Hungary and a Japanese miniature named Gamma. Neither had any connection with this brand. The Rossi family could well be connected to the MPR Fartelli Rossi, who is in the photography trade to date.
For the collector, the Gamma cameras can be grouped into three classes. The early, Leica-inspired ones are rare and expensive. The Perla and Stella are at a similar cameras price, and the rest are inexpensive. Nonetheless, all Gamma models are worth having.
Gamma Rome camera family list
The information below is taken from numerous sources, which are found to be contradictory or incomplete. At the time these cameras were made, the supply chain was inconsistent, say haphazard; it could well be that manufacturers used whatever they could get. As such, the variants mentioned could well be correct.
All cameras use 35mm format.
Gamma I, 1947, was vaguely styled after the Leica models. Viewfinder, retractable lens on proprietary bayonet mount, Solid metal curved curtains on tracks rolling under the two-column style outcrops at the front. Cartridge-to-cartridge film path and a sliding blade to allow cutting and replacing mid-roll. 1-500 speeds. Only a dozen or so were made.
Gamma II, similar to the Gamma I, Viefinder, and rangefinder windows; Koristka 3.5/55. Early units had 20-750 speed; late units had 20-1000 speed. Early units had a bayonet mount; late units changed to the LTM 39x1mm mount. About 800 were made.
Gamma III, 1949, as the II, with a concentric slow-speed dial under the speed selector, 1-1000. Mount LTM 39x1mm. Several sub-models were made with different shutters and lenses. About 1,300 were made. Most cameras available today are this model.
Gamma Aeronautica, 1949, Also Gamma Aeronautica Militaire. Only a few were made; the difference is an additional engraving. If one is offered for sale, it is probably a modified Gamma III, as with the FED-to-Leica conversion.
Gamma III gold, hardly seen, two sales were recorded in the last decade. At the time of writing, one is listed for sale on eBay for USD 14,500.
Gamma R, with a microscop adapter and Gamma II Microlab with a front accessory mount, special-use cameras; little information available.
Perla, 1950, a compact rangefinder, fixed lens, central leaf shutter, three options: Type A 3.5/55, Type B 2.8/50, Type C 2.0/50. Retractable lens, speeds 1-300. Was the company’s attempt to reach a broader customer base with a lower-cost camera.
Perla I, 1956, shutter cocking with film advance, fixed lens.
Perla II, 1956, rangefinder, larger body, added a front-mounted lever winder. Xenar 2.8/50, 2.0/50, 1-100
Stella, 1953, viewfinder, Kata 3.5/50, 25-200, self timer, Similar to the Perla, large and bright viewer.
Alba light meter, 1957, Alba with uncoupled light meter, 1956, similar to the Alba. Enna 2.8/50.
Atlas, 1956, yet cheaper, to compete at the lower end of the market. Two-speed scissors shutter 30-100, Gamma 6.3/11.
Atom, 1957, rebranded Alba, Enna 2.8/45, 25-200
Alba, 1958, viewfinder, scaled down Stella, Casar 3.5/50, Kata 3.5/50, Ennagon 2.8/45, Radionar 3.5/50. Pronto 25-200, Prontor SVS 1-300. Guthier w self timer
Gamma camera curtains
Gamma camera curtain simulation, viewed from top.
Gamma camera curtains image, courtesy Bencini Story.
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