introduction | Brinox | Colibri I | Colibri II | EPESO | Fips | Microphot | Mirac | REX
The Colibri was made by Knoedler in 1952. They subsequently went on to sell several other variations during the 1950's. The Colibri is a tiny, simple, plastic subminiature camera possibly made to sell at low costs in the same way that HIT type cameras where in Japan. It had a fixed-focus f4.5 20mm lens with a single speed 1/30second shutter. Some of the boxes say "Spy Camera". The distributor was Bruno Otto company, Nuremberg, Germany. Mirac cameras where distributed by by Woehler.
The image size 13x13mm on special paper-backed 16mm roll film giving 12 exposures. The spool is a tube, unlike the HIT type cameras which are very thin. The dimensions are the same, that is, the space between the top and bottom can accommodate 17.5mm film.
Most samples today have warped backs, although the mechanism often still works.
(1952) Name variation of the Colibri. It had a fixed-focus f4.5 20mm lens with a single speed (1/30) shutter.
(1952) The Colibri was the first camera made by Knoedler. It had a fixed-focus f4.5 20mm lens with a single speed (1/30) shutter.
(1953) Looking like the original but has a slower Aplanat f5.6 20mm optic. Same single shutter speed. Uncommon.
(1952) Similar to the Colibri II with f5.6 lens and 1/35s shutter. The original box is labelled "Der kleine Rex" but the camera has "EPESO" on the lens surround.
(1955) Similar body style to the Colibri, but smaller body, an f8 25mm lens and single speed shutter - 1/50. Image size 13x13mm.
(1955) Name variant of the Fips with f6.8 aperture 1/50s shutter.
Similar to the Fips, but with f6.3 lens and two speeds -- I and B. Distributed by Woehler and some 2000 supposed to have been made.
(1952) Similar to the Colibri II with f5.6 lens and 1/35s shutter. The original box is labelled "Der kleine Rex" and "REX" on the lens surround.
Last Updated on 25th January 2005