Voss Diax
Voss Diax
Cameras in review specs
Diax camera family list
Diax Standard images
Diax Ia images
Diax IIa images
Diax accessories
The city of Ulm in southern Germany sits where two ancient trade routes meet, one following the Danube, flowing from the Swiss Alps to the Black Sea, and the other the Alb Valley route, crossing it at about a right angle towards today’s Stuttgart. Trade route junctions garner merchants, who, in turn, congregate as markets, growing into communities with tradespersons and artisans to provide wares for a self-feeding communities. Such happened when a river stream ended before getting south to York in Upper Canada, so it became a market aptly named Newmarket, which name still holds to this day in Ontario, and the citi of York became Toronto, which is where my humble abode is.
As of the 10th century, the Ulm community became a commercial and industrial hub. Due to its location, it was a lucrative pray for competing powers as an easy income source taxing the passing traffic. It kept growing till WWII, when most of the city was flattened by the Allies. The town was rebuilt and is now an eclectic building style, from Medieval to Renaissance to Bauhouse to modern post-war construction.
The city’s claim to fame consists of two extremes: the tallest church steeple, which miraculously survived the war and being the birthplace of an extreme mind, Albert Einstein.
Walter Voss, a WWII AA gunner on the wrong side, was lucky enough to fall captive at the American hands. As a POW, he was guaranteed three meals a day and a warm corner to bunk, way more than what the millions displaced during that period had. This gave him peace of mind and time to plan a compact camera to compete with the pre-war giants like Leitz and Zeiss. It is odd, as with a background in commerce, he had no technical experience to rely upon.
Nonetheless, two years after the war had ended, he set shop in Ulm due to its industrial reputation. Named Fotokamerafabrikation und Feinmechanik, the company embarked on producing relatively simple yet well-made 35mm cameras.
The company ran for ten years, making about 100,000 Diax cameras, primarily variations of the early model. Besides the cameras, Voss produced as many accessories, mostly attached rangefinders, to complement his and other brands. Midway, it was renamed Diax Kamera Werk.
Diax cameras were sold at the local market, with some exported to the US and UK, and one model made solely for OZ / NZ. Furthermore, Voss offered different lenses for different markets, creating unnecessary logistical difficulty. Moreover, it is puzzling to have a dedicated model for a fraction of the market there, I would assume a smart distributor was involved.
As with many other small camera makers that flourished in the late 1940s, the company could not cope with the change of taste to SLR models, with the East Block mammoth industry flooding the market as a foreign exchange generator and the advancing Japanese makers offering features unseen before.
The Diax cameras are exceptionally well made, solid, advanced, yet simple to use. Willi Kerlkman serenades their quality and its long service life, untypical to him and so far not seen in other models I looked up. The cameras are catalogued as having ten models, but there are perhaps three generations with sub-variants. As with other camera makers of the time, there were endless combinations of lenses and shutters, presumably dictated by tight post-war supplies. Moreover, Voss was confident enough to offer a proprietary lens mount with an array of lens configurations for a meagre 100,000 cameras, which figure includes the fixed lens models.
The first model was a small-run prototype with an Axinon 3.5/40; some come up for sale occasionally.
The first Diax commercial model, offered in 1947, was a simple viewfinder with a fixed lens. Specifications for this and the following models are in the table below. The guides list several Diax variants, which were just different lenses matched with different shutters, so I would lump all under this model’s name.
The Diax I came in 1950, same as the previous model, with a larger viewfinder window.
Diax II of 1951 was a rangefinder, still with a fixed lens. The bottom part was taken from the earlier models, with a new top housing the mirror assembly.
1952 saw the Diax Ia. A viewfinder with an odd removable lens. An M55 thread, reversed mount to the common style. Here the body has the male thread, with a female thread on the lens side. It is peculiar but very easy to use. Three viewer windows, for 45/50mm, 35mm and 90mm. An added self-timer is activated by pushing the cocking lever on the lens mount a tad further.
In 1953, Diax offered an entry-level model, the Diaxette, as if the market was short of another ‘ette’ named camera. A viewfinder with a fixed lens. The bottom was borrowed from the Diax Ia, and the top from the Diax I. Not many were made, relatively hard to find. There is a difference between cheap and inexpensive models, as high-end manufacturers cannot make cheap products, and vice versa. Bencini will never be able to make a Leica competitor, nor could Leica compete with Bencini on price.
Another low-cost model, the Diax Standard of 1954, meant for Australia and New Zealand, offered a scaled-back shutter combined with an interchangeable lens. Essentially, it was a Diax Ia body with a Diaxette top.
The Diax IIa of 1954 was a rangefinder with a dedicated viewer for a telelens. Two rear viewers, one for a 50mm lens rangefinder, the other for a telelens 80/90mm, as at the Diax Ia. The factory converted some units from Ia to IIa, identified with serial numbers beginning with 5 or 6. This model was the most popular of the lot; most cameras offered for sale are the IIa.
Back to the viewfinder with the 1956 Diax Ib, similar to the Ia but with a flat top and a lever winder. Three viewer windows: 35mm, 50mm, 90mm.
The same year saw the Diax IIb, which was the same as the Ib, but again with a flat top and lever winder.
The Diax L-1 of 1957 was the first model to divert from the classic Diax form. A rounded body, styled like most models of the time. It is a fixed-lens viewfinder with an uncoupled selenium meter.
This model was the last of the Diax run. A Diax L-Matic prototype in a rangefinder flavour or coupled meter was in the works, but the company had folded in 1958. It is said that some exemplars pop up for sale.
General notes, in no particular order:
- The rangefinder and viewfinder bodies are almost identical. On the Rangefinder, a ring at the shutter’s base transfers the movement to the mirror assembly at the top housing.
- Some early models were offered with ‘Made in Germany US-Zone’ marking.
- The late models have a leaf spring added to the inner bottom of the back cover, making it easy to remove.
- Winder cocks the shutter and pulls the film one frame. Not widely found on that generation models.
- Two cogs on the film path ensure the film moves correctly, not depending on the take-off pivot pull.
- The take-off pivot is of a nice size, with an easy-to-use groove for the film pilot.
- An extra shutter cocking lever is mounted above the lens mount, with an actuation lever on the side. I guess it was a standard feature on the third-party sharers used. Both options were redundant here.
- On the late models, the self-time is cocked by pushing that lever a bit further, not marked on the camera.
- The lever on the right side of the barrel, either a fin or a green tab, is X/M synch selector.
- A nice touch is having the same filter size, 40.5mm, for all lenses.
- The Diax models hold value and are sought after by collectors. Despite being 70 years old, most still click and hum unless abused.
What I don’t like:
- The speed selector ring is flush with the lens barrel base, making moving and seeing the gradients difficult. It does not click into position, so in poor light, it can be positioned anywhere.
- Many screws are brass rather than steel. It is challenging to remount as you need both tweezers and a screwdriver, which is difficult to impossible in tight places. Further, a stubborn screw head would likely damage being softer than the tool used.
Voss Diax cameras in review
List number | 3304 | 3305 | 3308 |
Brand | Diax | Diax | Diax |
Model | Diax Standard | Diax Ia | Diax IIa |
Manual | Butkus | ||
Value | Diax Standard at camdex.ca | Diax Ia at camdex.ca | Diax IIa at camdex.ca |
Format | 35mm | 35mm | 35mm |
Introduced | 1948 | 1952 | 1954 |
AKA | |||
Country | Germany | Germany | Germany |
Qty made | |||
Initial price | |||
Currency | |||
Type | Viewfinder | Viewfinder | Rangefinder |
Body material | Metal | Metal | Metal |
Mode | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Weight | 460 gr, Body only | 500 gr, Body only | 460 gr, Body only |
Class average weight | 480 gr, Body only | 480 gr, Body only | 480 gr, Body only |
ASA range | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Kit lens | 3.5/50 | 3.5/35 | 2.8/45 |
Lens make | Westar | Xenagon | Xenar |
Filter size | 40.5mm | 40.5mm | 40.5mm |
Lens mount | Thread | Thread | Thread |
Mount size | 55mm | 55mm | 55mm |
Aperture | |||
Shutter | Leaf | Leaf | Leaf |
Shutter make | Synchro Compur | Synchro Compur | Synchro Compur |
Light meter | None | None | None |
Winder | Knob | Knob | Knob |
Lock | No | No | No |
Speeds | B, 1-500 | B, 1-500 | B, 1-500 |
Mirror | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Viewer | Viewfinder | Rangefinder / Viewfinder | Viewfinder, 3 windows |
DOF preview | No | No | No |
Exposure lock | No | No | No |
Exposure compensation | No | No | No |
Shoe | Cold | Cold | Cold |
External sync | X/M | X/M | X/M |
Sync speed | |||
Timer | No | No | No |
Battery, original | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Battery, replacement | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Battery voltage | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Integral flash | None | N/A | None |
Other | |||
Service / repair links | See camerlog.com | ||
More | Foto Historicum kamera samling |
||
Even more | Photoaugenblick Corso Polaris Chello Shutterbug Leitz Museum CJ’s Classic Cameras Camera Collector boards Photo.net Collection-appareils Casual photophile 35 MMC Rollei List Hank Kellner |
Voss Diax models list
wdt_ID | Model | Year | Type | Image | Model | Lens | Windows | Shutter | Winder | Meter | Timer | Mount | Shoe | Sync port | Notes | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Diax | 1947 | Viewfinder | Diax | Heligon 3.5/40, Axinon 3.5/40, Xenar 2.8/45, Trinar 3.5/45, Culminar 2.8/42 | 1 | Compur Rapid, Synchro Compur B, 1-1/500 | Knob | None | Fixed | Cold | X/M on late models | More details | |||
2 | Diax I | 1950 | Viewfinder | Diax I | Xenar 2.8/45, Xenon 2.0/45, Heligon 2.0/45 | 1 | Compur Rapid Synchro, Compur B, 1-1/500 | Knob | None | Fixed | Cold | X/M | Larger finder than the early models. | More details | ||
3 | Diax II | 1951 | Rangefinder | Diax II | Heligon 2.0/45, Xenar 2.8/45, Xenon 2.0/45 | 2 | Compur Rapid Synchro, Compur B, 1-1/500 | Knob | None | Fixed | Cold | X/M | As the Diax I, with rangefinder top housing. | More details | ||
4 | Diax Ia | 1952 | Viewfinder | Diax Ia | Xenar 2.8/45, Cassar 2.8/45, Westar 3.5/50, Xenon 2.8/45, Diaxar 3.5/50 | 3 | Compur Rapid Synchro, Compur B, 1-1/500 | Knob | None | Yes | M55 | Cold | X/M on late models | Some Diax Ia were transformed in Diax IIa adding rangefinder top. Removable lens 3 viewfinder windows. Self timer activated by pushing the cocking lever on lens barrel a bit forward. Three viewer windows, for 45/50mm, 35mm and 90mm. | More details | |
5 | Diaxette | 1953 | Viewfinder | Diaxette | Cassar 2.8/45, Westar 3.5/50 | 1 | Pronto, Prontor, Prontor S, Vario B, 1-200 | Knob | None | No | Fixed | Cold | X/M | Low-cost export model. Fixed lens, several shutter configurations. Bottm borrowed from the Diax Ia, top from the Diax I. | More details | |
6 | Diax Standard | 1954 | Viewfinder | Diax Standard | Westar 2.8/45, Westar 3.5/50 | 1 | Pronto B, 25-200 | Knob | None | No | Interchangable | Cold | X/M | Diax 1 body with Diaxette top, but interchangeable lenses, sold in Australia and New Zealand | More details | |
7 | Diax IIa | 1954 | Rangefinder + viewfinder | Diax Iia | Xenon 2.0/50, Xenar 2.8/50 Isconar 3.5/50 | 3 | Compur Rapid Synchro, Compur B, 1-1/500 | Knob | None | Yes | New interchangable lens which ?? Breech lock?? | Cold | X/M | Two rear viewers, one for a 50mm lens rangefinder, the other for a tele lens 80/90mm. Similar to the Diax Ia. Some units were converted by the factory from Ia to IIa; serial numbers begin with 5 or 6. | More details | |
8 | Diax Ib | 1956 | Viewfinder | Diax Ib | Xenon 2.0/50, Xenar 2.8/50, Isconar 3.5/50, Westar 3.5/50 | 3 | Compur Rapid Synchro, Compur B, 1-1/500 | Lever | None | Yes | Rotated 90 deg? | Cold | X/M | As the Ia but with a lever winder. Three viewers: 35mm, 50mm, 90mm. | More details | |
9 | Diax IIb | 1956 | Viewfinder | Diax IIb | Xenon 2.0/50, Xenar 2.8/50, Isconar 3.5/50, Westar 3.5/50 | 3 | Compur Rapid Synchro, Compur B, 1-1/500 | Lever | None | Yes | Rotated 90 deg? | Cold | X/M | As the Diax Ib, but with a lever winder. | More details | |
10 | Diax L-1 | 1957 | Viewfinder | Diax L-1 | Trinar 2.8/45 | 1 | Compur Rapid B, 1-500 | Lever | Uncoupled Selenium | Yes | Fixed | Cold | X/M | Uncoupled selenium meter, front-mounted trigger, hinged back, self-reset frame counter. | More details |
Voss Diax Standard images
Voss Diax Ia images
Voss Diax IIa images
Diax accessories
I have a Diax Standard. Is anybody keeping a serial numbers list for these cameras to your knowledge? Regards, Chris Sherlock
Diax was a back bench manufacturer, with only a few followers today. The royalty brands carry more interest and fans dig deeper into data, which is not the case here. I have not seen such list and can only assist with the four Diax models I have.