Philippe Dufour Workshop Visit and LeCoultre Compass Camera
A visit to horologist Philippe Dufour's workshop in Le Solliat included a look at his recent acquisition, a LeCoultre Compass II camera. The article details the camera's design and engineering, highlighting its connection to LeCoultre's watchmaking heritage.
- LeCoultre Compass II camera designed by Noel Pemberton-Billing
- Manufactured by LeCoultre & Cie
- Approximately 4,000 examples produced before 1940
- Fixed focus retractable 35mm CCL3B Anastigmat, f/3.5 lens
- Shutter speeds from 4.5s to 1/500, T (CU value 22 – 0)
The LeCoultre Compass II camera, designed by Noel Pemberton-Billing and manufactured by LeCoultre & Cie, is a compact camera with a precision engineering reminiscent of watchmaking.
The camera features a fixed focus retractable 35mm CCL3B Anastigmat lens with apertures from f/3.5 to f1/6, and a spring-powered rotary shutter with speeds from 4.5 seconds to 1/500.
It incorporated advanced features for its time, including a coupled rangefinder, an optical exposure meter, multiple viewing arrangements, built-in filters, and facilities for panoramic and stereoscopic photography.
The camera's metal body is finished with concentric and linear brushing, similar to Côtes de Genève, with highly polished surfaces and matte finishing.
Philippe Dufour was excited to share this acquisition with the author, a fellow photographer and camera enthusiast, as a diversion from their usual watch discussions.