Photax was one of the earliest bakelite cameras which had the spiral retractable lens on the camera. It is said to have inspired other other camera designs like the Druopta’sPionyr, Corina, WZFO’s Druh and many other similiar cameras.

Proposed in 1938, the first of the ‘spiral’ retractable lens camera, Photax II’s success was expected to be enormous as it was launched at the beginning of the holidays. After the war, its shutter was improved and it became the Photax III. There was also a blindé variant where the lens cover protected the lens and shutter release.

The Photax III was more widely known due to the fact that it was imported to United States after the war in 1947 and was distributed under the name Monte Carlo Photax by importer JL Galef & Son in New York.

 

The Photax IIIVA is similiar to the Photax III except of the loading mechanics which is made simplier and the absence of the synchro-flash.