A Tiny French Compact Camera
The Baby Sem is a 35mm fixed-lens camera manufactured in France during the 1950s. The design choices clearly reflect a desire to offer the most affordable camera possible.
A rudimentary device
The Baby Sem’s body is made of aluminum. This means that despite its small size, the device still weighs 350 grams.
This aluminum body houses a leaf shutter lens.
The lens varies from model to model. It can be a four-element Tessar optical design (Berthiot Flor, as seen here) or a triplet.
There is no shutter release button on the camera body. The shutter is released by operating a lever on the lens.
Similarly, cocking the shutter and advancing the film require two separate actions.
The film advance mechanism is the camera’s only real sophistication.
Indeed, the wheel locks when you advance to the next frame, preventing you from wasting film by leaving too much time between shots.
The viewfinder is very narrow, but it remains usable if you are not wearing glasses.
To insert the film, you have to separate the back from the body.
On my copy, there’s some play between the back and the body when they’re attached. Not ideal for keeping the film flat.
Not as compact after that
A Foca rangefinder camera with its retracted lens, longer but thinner, would be more suitable if you want to slip a French camera into your pocket (though it won’t be ideal).
Alternatively, if you really want a 35mm camera that fits in a pocket, you could buy a Minox, which also has the advantage of a much better lens.
What images can we expect?
I imagine the “Flor” (Tessar) lens on my camera should produce reasonably sharp images.
However, in terms of contrast, there’s not much to expect from these lenses lacking an anti-reflective coating (lack of tonal gradation).
Taking a photo with a Sem Baby (tutorial)
Load the film.
Lower the small lever on the left side of the camera, then remove the back.
Raise the small wheel in the upper left corner to make room for the film. The film is loaded just like in any other 35mm camera.
Hold the button at the front and turn the wheel (in the direction of the arrow) until you reach the “1” on the counter below the wheel.
We choose the shutter speed.
We choose the aperture of the diaphragm.
Cock the shutter.
And we take a photo.
Next, be sure to advance the film immediately, as this camera has no protection against multiple exposures.
To do this, press the button on the front panel. Turn the large dial. As soon as the dial starts to turn, release the button. Continue turning the dial. Eventually, the dial will stop: that’s it, you’ve reached the next frame.
Rembobiner la pellicule
Simply turn the small wheel on the left side of the device to rewind the film.
Then reset the counter to 0 if it isn’t already.
You can turn the gear inside counter-clockwise to reset the counter to “0”.
Sources :
https://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/appareil-25-Sem_Baby%20Sem.html
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