Lot Essay
The Rangefinder Baby Sibyl camera was reviewed by Amateur Photographer: 'Those photographers who have hitherto avoided the miniature on account of its lack of a rising and cross front, or who objected to the large number of exposures that has to be made in most miniatures before the film is freed for developing, will find in the new range-finder model of the well-known Baby Sibyl a miniature camera exactly suited to their needs'. The camera was little different to the regular Sibyl except for the rangefinder: 'The focussing is coupled, by way of the trellis bars supporting the front, to the split-field range-finder... Careful test showed that this gave very accurate readings, and it was found easy to tell when the two images came together along the line of demarcation between the two halves of the field. The camera will focus to 2 yards'. The camera sold for £21, compared with £19 5s for the regular model.
The camera was made in very small numbers with only six examples having recorded (including this one) from serial number B1403 to B1412 and lenses from 141505 to 141517.
The camera was made in very small numbers with only six examples having recorded (including this one) from serial number B1403 to B1412 and lenses from 141505 to 141517.