The SEM camera - history

S.E.M. stands for Societe des Etablissements Modernes and was based in Aurec, France. It evolved from a company in St.Etienne which made 35mm film cameras during the German occupation of the 1940s. In early post war years, SEM took the basic design of the Reyna Cross camera and produced the Sem-Kim. The same camera was also made by Cornu in Paris as the Ontobloc.

SEM went on to manufacture a range of consumer type 35mm film cameras fitted with fixed Berthiot or Cross lenses. The camera designs were typically avant garde (for the period) and had names like Babysem, Challenger and Colorado. Some models were plastic, others made in cast aluminium.

The company also produced a range of 6X6cm medium film format twin lens reflex cameras for photography enthusiasts and professionals. These included the Semflex Joie de Vivre 45, an inexpensive model made from plastic. Others included the Semflex Otomatic of 1950, a more sophisticated tlr with lever wind film and shutter cocking advance lever similar to the German Rolleiflex camera. Several versions of this model exist and can sometimes be found for sale on Internet auction sites.

SEM also produced the Semiflex Standard and the Semflex Studio Standard. The latter was made for more than 20 years between 1951 and 1972. This was a popular and well made heavy metal camera featuring a large front end to allow use of the fixed Tele-Berthiot f/5.4, 100mm lens suitable for classic studio portrait photography. Two versions of this camera model were made with knob and lever wind film advance. The Compur shutter was armed by a small lever at the base of the camera.