Petri's fast f/1.9 fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder — selenium meter, leaf shutter, 1960.
The Petri 1.9 is a fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder made by Petri, introduced in 1960. The name refers to the fast f/1.9 maximum aperture of its fixed lens, a selling point at a time when many affordable rangefinders offered slower optics. It is part of Petri's early 'Circle Eye' rangefinder line.
This is a coupled-rangefinder 35mm camera with a fixed lens of roughly f/1.9 maximum aperture and a leaf shutter. Metering is by a selenium photocell requiring no battery, arranged in the Circle Eye layout around the lens, and focusing is by the coupled rangefinder. The camera operates mechanically without battery dependence.
The Petri 1.9 suits users who want a fast-lens rangefinder for general and available-light photography without an SLR's bulk. The bright f/1.9 optic helps in lower light, and the mechanical, self-powered design makes it a practical travel and street camera for manual-exposure shooters.
When buying, confirm the selenium meter still reacts to light, as these cells fade with age. Inspect the f/1.9 lens for haze and fungus, verify the rangefinder patch is present and aligned, test the leaf shutter for sticking across its speeds, and check the light seals and film-advance feel. A dead selenium cell cannot be recharged.