The Altix history began way back in 1904 in Dresden. Your may also have heard the name "EHO Altissa" which dates from the mid-twenties where the EHO was short for Emil Hofert who owned the company way back then. This was yet another of those Dresden companys that managed to rise as the Phoenix from the ashes after the II world war. The old facilities were completely destroyed in the numerous airraids by the allied forces, but in as early as 1946 the company began manufactoring cameras in the new location in Blasewitzer Straße in Dresden.  The company changed names several times during its long history, and it all ended in 1959 when Altissa was absorbed into the mighty giant "VEB Kamera- und Kinowerke Dresden", and only a few years later in the early 60'ties production was stopped. However the company in fact managed to remain a privately owned corporation until 1952, at which point is was taken over by the east german state and were nationalized. Dr. Michael Spehr has an elaborate and superb homepage about the Altissa history and detailed descriptions of the various camera models. A must see !

http://www.altissa-museum.de/index.html

 Funny enough, my little Altix collection starts of in 1952. The Altix's never were high end cameras, and was never meant to be, but they are none the less quite well built. Except for the Altix N and NB they are quite compact and also somewhat quirky and the design is rather more special than actually pretty. They came with a variety of lenses and shutters, but you are most likely to find them with Vebur shutters and Meyer-Görlitz lenses, and hey thats not a bad thing at all. Some models were also fitted with Zeiss Jena Tessars.  In my experience the Vebur shutters are surprisingly reliable and well-functioning even after all those years. Regarding the Meyer-Görlitz lenses I openly admit that I have a soft spot for them in general. The often seen Trioplans produced lovely pictures, and as far as the accessory lenses such as the Primagon and the Telefogar they are not only good and above average, but also damned well built, and I have never had a Meyer-Görlitz lens with fungus or separation or the likes, and they have all had smooth and nice controls. So don't you point your fingers at the Meyer-Görlitz'es !. Go and make fun of the Schact's in stead. They deserve it !. Now on to the collection. Come and meet the Altissa girls ! 

Altix IV Version 2 Type B (1952) VF
Serial no.: 102217
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
Optics: Meyer Optik Trioplan 1:2,9  50mm
Shutter:  Vebur B + 1 => 1/250 sec.

There are really only very small differences in the designs of the various Altix IV models. It is a compact design and the lens/shutter barrel seems almost too big for the body. On top a manual reset counter and nice big wind/rewind knobs. The viewfinder is really a joke, but none the less it is useable. The Altix have a double exposure prevention coupled to the film transport cockwheel, and the shutter has to be manually cocked on the lens barrel shutter lever. As you can see from the picture above the film loading is just as quirky as on a Leica with seperate take up spool and hinged film pressure plate. However a nice little streetshooter. The Trioplan offers a depth of field shapness from less that 3 meter to infinity when stopped down to f.11. But where are the goddamned strap lugs ??.

Altix V Version I Type B (ca.1954) VF
Serial no.: 61236
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
Optics: Meyer Optik-Görlitz Trioplan 1:2,9  50mm / Altix bayonett mount
Shutter:  Tempor B + 1 => 1/250 sec. + selftimer
Accessories:
Meyer Optik – Görlitz Telefogar 1:3,5  90 mm
Meyer Optik – Gorlitz Primagon 1:4,5  35 mm
Viewfinder 35mm with masks for 50 and 90 mm

The body design of the Altix V is very similar to the IV except for the release button on the right hand side for the selftimer. When the release button are activated, the shutter cocking lever goes past and beyond the "B" setting and thus activates the selftimer. The most important difference between the model IV and the V is of course that the model V offers interchangeable lenses. The lenses have a bayonett mount that is almost identical with the Exakta mount, but smaller in diameter, only 38mm across. So if you ever stumble across a lens that appears to be an Exakta lens at first glance, but is smaller in diameter it is most likely an Altix lens.

Altix N  Type I (ca.1958) VF
Serial no.: 44558
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
Optics: Meyer Optik-Görlitz Trioplan 1:2,9  50mm / Altix bayonett mount
Shutter:  Tempor B + 1 => 1/250 sec. + selftimer

Woa ! What happended !. In 1958 Altissa came up with this brand new design for the Altix. Gone are the quirkyness of the old design. The body are bigger (12 x 8 x 3 cm.) and gone are the days of fiddling around with Leica-style film loading. The camera back comes right of (not hinged), built in takeup spool, 2 filmtransport cockwheels, film pressureplate and easy loading all the way. Film transport and cocking of the shutter is by rapid advance lever with the filmcounter underneath. Similar to the Altix V is has the Altix bayonett mount for changing lenses and the lenses are of course compatible from the V-model. I dare to say, that the engineers got it almost right with the Altix N type I, but only "almost" . Still no strap lugs !!

Altix N  Type 3 (ca.1958) VF
Serial no.: 141089
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
Optics: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2,8  50mm / Altix bayonett mount
Shutter:  Tempor B + 1 => 1/250 sec. + selftimer
Accessories:
Meyer Optik – Görlitz Telefogar 1:3,5  90 mm
Meyer Optik – Gorlitz Primagon 1:4,5  35 mm
Click here for photo sample

Thats more like it !. The body of the Type 3 are still the same, but some improvements have been made in comparison with the Type I. The rapid wind lever have been changed in order to give room for the DIN/ASA dial on the top plate, and the lever handle is slightly curved which gives a good grip. But the most important improvement are the brightlines in the viewfinder for 50mm and 90mm !. The brightlines are illuminated by the small square window just to the right of the rewind knob. So no addtional separate viewfinder is required. Later on came the Altix NB (B for "belichtungsmesser) with a built in lightmeter. I would gladly have traded the built in lightmeter for a coupled rangefinder !.

I will gladly stick my neck out, and openly claim that the Altix N Type 3 are one of the most underrated, if not THE most underrated, low cost viewfinder cameras with interchangeable lenses.  It is simply a wonderful camera, both in respect to the general quality but also when it comes to the user value and the way it feels and performs. I admit that I am hopelessly in love with this lady, and what's even better; you can find an Altix N in almost mint condition for app. 40,- Euros !. With a little patience you can collect the complete set incl. the Meyer lenses for around 100,- Euro. So what are you waiting for ?.  Oh my, they forgot the strap lugs again.....