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Oct 13, 2026IT

Calypso Phot + 3,5/35mm Cousteau - prédécesseur de Nikon...

Calypso was the first waterproof camera. Born from patents by Jean Cousteau and a Belgian engineer, it was brought to market in 1961. The name was that of the famous research vessel used by Cousteau for oceanographic exploration. It was manufactured by Atoms and marketed by Spirotechnique. The camera was a failure, due to the extremely high price and because amateur divers were very few. A buyer was sought and in 1963 Nikon acquired it, starting the Nikonos series, which still today uses Cousteau's patents. There are no production data, but certainly the numbers were very low (note: the serial numbers appearing on the body are numbers of parts already existing at Atoms). Today the camera is on display at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco and in the Museum of Historical Cameras in Paris. While researching, I tracked down a few European and American specimens, totaling less than twenty. Certainly more exist, but I do not know how many. This specimen is in good cosmetic condition; in particular the coating that recalls seal skin is quite delicate but intact and clean. Mechanically it does not work because inside, on the back, the shutter speed selector is missing (see the last photo); the cap for the flash synchronizer is also missing, which is easy to find because it is the same as the Nikonos (except the 4 and 5) but I did not want to fit a non-original part.

Stima:€400

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Calypso Phot + 3,5/35mm Cousteau - prédécesseur de Nikon...

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€400

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