Pax Ruby Analogue camera

07
days
06
hours
05
minutes
36
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
No reserve price
No bids placed

Catawiki Buyer Protection

Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details

Trustpilot 4.4 | 130595 reviews

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.

Brand Yamato Koki; Model Pax Ruby; Functional condition: tested and working.

AI-assisted summary

Description from the seller

Pax Ruby (Yamato Koki) – A Rare Japanese "Subminiature-Style" 35mm Rangefinder
The Pax Ruby, manufactured by Yamato Koki in the late 1950s, is a fascinating example of the "Leica-style" 35mm rangefinder craze that swept through Japan post-WWII. Despite its diminutive size—often mistaken for a subminiature camera at first glance—the Pax Ruby is a full-featured 35mm film camera. It is celebrated by collectors for its surprisingly high build quality, bright coupled rangefinder, and sharp optics. This "Ruby" edition is particularly prized for its refined aesthetic and the distinctive red logo on the front plate, representing a high point for the boutique manufacturer Yamato.

Key Benefits
Compact Excellence: One of the smallest 35mm rangefinders ever produced, offering full manual control in a pocketable format.

Coupled Rangefinder: Features a bright, integrated rangefinder for precise focusing, a rare luxury in cameras of this size.

Premium Kit: Accompanied by a period-accurate Agfa Lucimeter, providing a complete vintage analog experience.

Features
Brand: Yamato Koki (Japan)

Model: Pax Ruby

Format: 35mm Roll Film

Lens: Colour-Luna 45mm f/3.5 (Serial No. 89701)

Shutter: Leaf shutter with speeds from B to 1/300s.

Focusing: Coupled Rangefinder.

Build: Metal body with satin chrome top plate and black leatherette wrap featuring an embossed "PaX" logo on the rear.

Condition
Rated: 4/5

Cosmetic: The camera is in beautiful vintage condition. The chrome top plate is clean, and the red "Ruby" and "PaX" branding remains vibrant. The leatherette is fully intact with a deep, crisp embossed logo.

Optics: The 45mm Colour-Luna lens appears clear. The viewfinder and rangefinder patch are bright and well-aligned.

Mechanical: The shutter fires across speeds, and the film advance lever operates with a satisfying mechanical click.

Accessories: The included Agfa Lucimeter S light meter shows a clean ivory-colored housing. The needle reacts to light, though its calibration for modern use is untested.

Note: This set is sold as a premium collectible. While mechanically functional, it has not been film-tested for light-tightness.

What's Included
1x Pax Ruby 35mm Rangefinder Camera

1x Original Brown Leather "Ever-Ready" Case with Strap

1x Agfa Lucimeter S Exposure Meter (Made in Germany)

1x Agfa Leather Meter Case

Why This Product?
The Pax Ruby is the "jewel" of early Japanese rangefinders. Its combination of miniature charm and full-frame 35mm capability makes it a unique addition to any shelf. Included with the Agfa Lucimeter, this lot provides a wonderful cross-continental pairing of Japanese mechanical ingenuity and German optical measurement, making it a standout for collectors of rare 1950s gear.

Keywords
Pax Ruby, Yamato Koki, Japanese Rangefinder, 35mm Film Camera, Vintage Photography, Colour-Luna Lens, Agfa Lucimeter S, Rare Analog Camera, 1950s Tech, Subminiature Style.

Pax Ruby (Yamato Koki) – A Rare Japanese "Subminiature-Style" 35mm Rangefinder
The Pax Ruby, manufactured by Yamato Koki in the late 1950s, is a fascinating example of the "Leica-style" 35mm rangefinder craze that swept through Japan post-WWII. Despite its diminutive size—often mistaken for a subminiature camera at first glance—the Pax Ruby is a full-featured 35mm film camera. It is celebrated by collectors for its surprisingly high build quality, bright coupled rangefinder, and sharp optics. This "Ruby" edition is particularly prized for its refined aesthetic and the distinctive red logo on the front plate, representing a high point for the boutique manufacturer Yamato.

Key Benefits
Compact Excellence: One of the smallest 35mm rangefinders ever produced, offering full manual control in a pocketable format.

Coupled Rangefinder: Features a bright, integrated rangefinder for precise focusing, a rare luxury in cameras of this size.

Premium Kit: Accompanied by a period-accurate Agfa Lucimeter, providing a complete vintage analog experience.

Features
Brand: Yamato Koki (Japan)

Model: Pax Ruby

Format: 35mm Roll Film

Lens: Colour-Luna 45mm f/3.5 (Serial No. 89701)

Shutter: Leaf shutter with speeds from B to 1/300s.

Focusing: Coupled Rangefinder.

Build: Metal body with satin chrome top plate and black leatherette wrap featuring an embossed "PaX" logo on the rear.

Condition
Rated: 4/5

Cosmetic: The camera is in beautiful vintage condition. The chrome top plate is clean, and the red "Ruby" and "PaX" branding remains vibrant. The leatherette is fully intact with a deep, crisp embossed logo.

Optics: The 45mm Colour-Luna lens appears clear. The viewfinder and rangefinder patch are bright and well-aligned.

Mechanical: The shutter fires across speeds, and the film advance lever operates with a satisfying mechanical click.

Accessories: The included Agfa Lucimeter S light meter shows a clean ivory-colored housing. The needle reacts to light, though its calibration for modern use is untested.

Note: This set is sold as a premium collectible. While mechanically functional, it has not been film-tested for light-tightness.

What's Included
1x Pax Ruby 35mm Rangefinder Camera

1x Original Brown Leather "Ever-Ready" Case with Strap

1x Agfa Lucimeter S Exposure Meter (Made in Germany)

1x Agfa Leather Meter Case

Why This Product?
The Pax Ruby is the "jewel" of early Japanese rangefinders. Its combination of miniature charm and full-frame 35mm capability makes it a unique addition to any shelf. Included with the Agfa Lucimeter, this lot provides a wonderful cross-continental pairing of Japanese mechanical ingenuity and German optical measurement, making it a standout for collectors of rare 1950s gear.

Keywords
Pax Ruby, Yamato Koki, Japanese Rangefinder, 35mm Film Camera, Vintage Photography, Colour-Luna Lens, Agfa Lucimeter S, Rare Analog Camera, 1950s Tech, Subminiature Style.

Details

Era
1900-2000
Brand
Pax
Model/type nr
Ruby
Physical condition
Very good
Functional condition
Tested and working
Film type
35mm
Estimated period
1940-1950
The NetherlandsVerified
190
Objects sold
96.15%
Private

Similar objects

For you in

Cameras & Optical Equipment