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Made in Milan, Italy, by Officine Galileo the GaMi (for Galileo Milan) 16 was first shown at the XXXI Milan Exhibition in 1953. This camera has even more impressive features than the Goerz Minicord. The lens is a 25mm six-element Esamitar Anastigmatic f1.9 and the shutter has a range of speeds from 1/2 to 1/000th plus B and X-type flash synchronisation. It has a built-in coupled extinction exposure meter as well as a coupled rangefinder in the viewfinder that has automatic parallax correction. There is also a spring mechanism for combined film transport and shutter cocking. It must have caused quite a lot of interest at the Exhibition !
The camera measures 11.5 x 5.5cms and feels quite solid as it weighs 300 grams. Nicely finished and having an exterior of aluminium alloy it is obviously a precision instrument. It is designed to be used held horizontally with the opened cover as a handle. (picture below) Two dials on the top are for setting shutter speed and focusing. The dial underneath sets film speed and aperture with a range of symbols for the light conditions in use. There is a built-in yellow filter that automatically adjusts the exposure when it is slid into position by using a small lever on the front panel. Closest focusing distance is .5 meter.
The viewfinder is a reasonable size but shows the smallest picture image I have ever seen in any camera, but it has more information than many! The view is correct for parallax and there is a small rangefinder square in the centre. Above the image there are numbers from 1 to 8, these are for the extinction meter. Above them is a narrow window showing the light condition symbols, if a tripod is necessary and if the shutter is set on B. This window will be yellow when the filter is in position. The eyepiece is adjustable for + 3 diopters.
The GaMi uses a double cartridge loaded with 16mm film for 30 exposures. (picture below right) With un-perforated film the image size is 12x17mm, with perforated film it is 10x17mm. The shutter is locked when the cover is in the closed position and also when there is no film cartridge in place. The action of closing the cover tensions the spring for the shutter. The shutter can be fired three times, separately or in quick succession, before it needs re-tensioning. Flash connection is cleverly made via the tripod socket when a special flash attachment is screwed in.
The GaMi was sold in a box containing the camera, case, cartridge of Ferraniacolor film, a special cartridge to test the camera without the film, carrying chain, instruction book and test certificate.
About 80% of the estimated total of less than 5000 that were made between 1953 and 1965 were exported to the US. It was an expensive camera in 1958 selling for US$297.50 - more than double the price of a Minicord at US$139.50.
Text and photographs ©2022 Geoff Harrisson
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