As product designs go, it doesn't get much better than this.
Manufactured in 1949, the Indra Lux is a plastic camera that was made in Germany by Indra-Camera G.m.b.H. It's got a fixed-focus 60mm/f7.7 lens and a large viewfinder which is tinted to simulate what you'd see on black & white film. Two feet on the bottom allow it to sit flat, but are also functional; the one on the left is home to the tripod socket, and the one on the right unscrews, revealing a storage compartment for a spare roll of 127 film. Unscrewing the foot/cap also allows the camera to be pulled apart. Of course, it's the design, not the features, that makes this camera one of my most prized.
The Indra Lux was advertised as being unbreakable, and the purchase price included a one-year warranty against breakage. Unfortunately, they were actually quite breakable, a fact that most likely contributed to the demise of Indra-Camera; apparently they were only in business for a few months. These facts make the Indra Lux very rare, so I feel rather lucky to have acquired one, and at a good price. Not to mention it arrived intact from France!
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John Kratz 34 months ago | reply
There are two on eBay right now...
utp. 34 months ago | reply
Thanks, but all my money went to film and flying across the country this month. lol
Camera Capers 34 months ago | reply
Fantastic!
fed_v 32 months ago | reply
That´s it. Hands down, the coolest looking plastic camera I´ve ever seen! Holy crap, are you lucky! How are the results from it?
John Kratz 32 months ago | reply
I haven't used it. I don't have any 127.
Don Henderson 31 months ago | reply
John, this is such a cool camera! At first glance it looks like old radio. The Art Deco design really makes this camera a work of art! What do you do to get the plastic to look so luscious?
John Kratz 31 months ago | reply
Most of the time all I have to do is breathe on it and wipe it with a cloth. Even if a camera is really in need of a cleaning, I usually just use water and a rag, sometimes Q-tips.
Occasionally I'll use some kind of cleaning chemical depending on the material, but I try not to resort to that since you never know exactly how the materials and chemicals will react with each other.
Don Henderson 31 months ago | reply
Thanks for the info John. I'm always afraid of using anything after I fogged a viewfinder using alcohol on this Ansco
www.flickr.com/photos/yankeedog57/5162107118/
I forget what a friend of mine used on a Apple keyboard one time, but it caused a chemical reaction that made the plastic literally snap, crackle and pop!
John Kratz 31 months ago | reply
Well your friend probably figured an apple would go nicely with Rice Krispies! ;o)
Don Henderson 31 months ago | reply
It was really wild, it broke down like a how a piece of tempered glass keeps popping and breaking into smaller and smaller pieces.
St. Valentine 31 months ago | reply
I use a microfiber cloth with window cleaner, Q-Tips and wooden toothsticks for cleaning cameras. But the most useful tool is "Rodico" which is a kind of putty watchmakers use. It´s very sticky and great to get that ol´grime out of those nooks and crannies.
Don Henderson 31 months ago | reply
Thanks for the info!
Vintage America 27 months ago | reply
What a beautiful design. I can't say I've ever see anything like this one.
old_cameras 24 months ago | reply
nice)))
f6point3studio 20 months ago | reply
Truly unique! It actually reminds me of an old TV, and how they used to have the huge cabinet and the tiny screen. Too bad you have no plans to use it. I gave away all my 127 film to someone else, or I'd offer to send you a roll. Congrats on this acquisition, John!
John Kratz 20 months ago | reply
Hey thanks Pete. Maybe I should try taking a picture through the viewfinder, since it's supposed to approximate B&W results! ;o)
photopeter159 19 months ago | reply
I just discovered your cameras on Flickr yesterday.
It is amazing to see, that you own a lot of the cameras that I either have or would love to have.
Even though the Indra Lux has been on my wanted list (together with many others) for a long time, I never knew that it was that beautiful!
The image in the 2001-2002 McKeown's guide is not that good.
For me, the Indra Lux just moved up a few notches on the priority list.
Your photos are great and your cameras are in beautiful condition!
John Kratz 19 months ago | reply
Thanks for the compliments Peter!
Of course Jim & Joan McKeown couldn't possibly have color photos in their guide, but it sure does make a difference when you see some of those cameras in color!
By the way, I see you have a few cameras that are on my wish list as well!
Eli the Bearded 7 months ago | reply
That's a very pretty camera.
John Kratz 7 months ago | reply
Indeed it is!