Lumière Eljy Subminiature Camera (Standard Model)

Details

The Lumière Eljy is an iconic subminiature camera produced in France by the Lumière company starting in the late 1930s. Despite its tiny size—scarcely larger than a pack of cigarettes—it was no toy, but a sophisticated instrument featuring a robust metal body and chrome finish. This model is notable for its retractable lens (extending tube), which allows the camera to remain extremely flat when not in use, making it easy to carry in a vest pocket or its original leather case.

Technically, the Eljy used a special unperforated 35mm film roll to capture 24 x 36 mm images, an impressive feat for such a compact device. It features a fold-out "Galilean" viewfinder and typically mounts a high-quality Lycpar lens. It is a highly prized collector's item due to its Art Deco design and historical significance as one of the most successful "pocket" cameras of the interwar period.

• Width: 8.5 cm

• Height (viewfinder closed): 5.2 cm

• Height (viewfinder open): 6.5 cm

• Depth (lens retracted): 4.5 cm

• Depth (lens extended): 6.5 cm

(One unit available)