Braun Colorette Super II B (1957–1959)

A German rangefinder with Dieter Rams' minimalist design and the DKL mount for interchangeable lenses. Rare, finicky, and unmistakably Braun.

Overview

The Braun Colorette Super II B doesn't shout. The clean faceplate and balanced proportions look like the work of someone who thought excess was a failure of thought. That someone was Dieter Rams, though he never put his name on it. Most cameras of the time still looked like engineering textbooks, with knurling, dials, and cluttered top plates. This 35mm rangefinder didn't. Produced from 1957 to 1959, the Super II B used the short-lived but technically capable DKL mount to take interchangeable lenses. It wasn't the first of its kind, but for Braun it was a statement: precision tools didn't need ornamentation.

It has a brightline viewfinder and a coupled rangefinder mechanism, so focus was fast and accurate for its time. The body houses a Synchro-Compur shutter, a leaf shutter known for its reliability - when it isn't gummed up. Owners report that even well-preserved examples can have the Compur mechanism seize, especially if the camera sat unused for decades. The wind lever is a known weak point too. Collectors note it often fails to reset automatically and needs manual help. These aren't dealbreakers, but they turn a "buy and shoot" plan into a "buy and restore" project.

Despite its technical capabilities, the Colorette Super II B never reached the fame of its contemporaries. Part of that was timing. The DKL mount was introduced in 1956 with the Voigtländer Vitessa T, as an attempt to standardize leaf-shutter lens integration across brands. Braun jumped in early, adopting the same 44.7 mm flange focal distance and electronic coupling. But DKL never caught on widely. Lenses were expensive, compatibility was limited, and by the mid-1960s the system was all but dead. Finding a working DKL lens today, let alone a spare, is a hunt.

Still, the Super II B has presence. The Dieter Rams connection adds pedigree, but the controls are the other reason: minimal, logical, almost surgical. The shutter speed dial sits on the camera body, not the lens, so exposure settings were centralized. That was part of the DKL logic, with electronic linkage between shutter and lens, but it also meant you couldn't mix and match with other systems. As one owner put it, "It's a closed ecosystem. You're all in, or you're out."

Specifications

Key Features

DKL Mount with Interchangeable Lenses

The Colorette Super II B used the DKL (Deckel) mount, a proprietary bayonet system developed for leaf-shutter lenses with electronic shutter speed coupling. This allowed interchangeable lenses without mechanical linkages. Shutter speed was set on the camera body and sent electrically to the lens. It was advanced for 1957, but also fragile. The system needs precise alignment and clean contacts, and both degrade over time. Lenses like the Schneider Kreuznach Braun Xenar f/2.8 50mm were built specifically for it, but today they're scarce and often command high prices. Because the shutter speed dial is on the body, no other lenses, even from Voigtländer or Wirgin, can be used unless they're DKL-compatible and properly coupled.

Synchro-Compur Shutter with Electronic Coupling

The Synchro-Compur shutter is a leaf shutter known for flash sync at all speeds, a major advantage in an era when focal-plane shutters often topped out at 1/30s. The "Synchro" designation refers to the electronic connection between the camera body and the lens, which lets the selected shutter speed trigger the lens shutter through contact points. The system fails if the contacts corrode or the shutter mechanism dries out. Owners report that a gummed-up Compur shutter is a common issue, often requiring disassembly and cleaning. Once working, the shutter is smooth and quiet, with a precise action.

Shutter-Priority Auto-Exposure with Manual Override

The Colorette Super II B offered shutter-priority auto-exposure, a rarity in the late 1950s. The tracking light meter measured scene brightness and adjusted aperture automatically based on the selected shutter speed. It wasn't fully automatic, though. Users could also switch to full manual mode and set both shutter speed and aperture independently. The meter is coupled to the lens via the DKL interface, so it only works with compatible lenses. There's no exposure compensation dial, which limits flexibility in high-contrast situations.

Brightline Viewfinder with Coupled Rangefinder

Framing and focusing go through a brightline viewfinder with a central rangefinder patch. The brightlines are generous, showing a clear 50mm frame with parallax correction marks. The rangefinder is fully coupled, so the patch aligns automatically as the lens is focused. Focus accuracy is excellent when the mechanism is in tune, but like all mechanical rangefinders, it can drift over time. Calibration requires specialized tools, and parts are not readily available. The viewfinder glass is clean and large by period standards, but there's no frameline switching. This is a 50mm-only system unless adapted.

Historical Context

The DKL mount was introduced in 1956 alongside the Voigtländer Vitessa T, a camera that aimed to simplify interchangeable lens photography with electronic coupling. Braun followed quickly, releasing the Colorette Super II in 1957, with the Super II B variant arriving shortly after. The system was also used by Wirgin and Wittnauer, and the Braun Colorette Super IIL is considered a sibling to the Wittnauer Professional. Despite the technical promise, DKL failed to gain widespread adoption. By the early 1960s, manufacturers had shifted toward simpler mechanical mounts or embraced SLR systems.

Collectibility & Value

The Braun Colorette Super II B is a niche collectible, sought after more for its design pedigree than its practical use. The Super II L variant is described as "rare," and while the II B is slightly more common, working examples are still scarce. Most units on the market are sold "untested" or with noted issues, particularly the wind lever failing to reset automatically. The gummed-up Compur shutter is another frequent problem, often requiring professional servicing. A repair manual exists and is referenced in collector forums, but replacement parts are difficult to source. There is no documented original price, and current market value varies widely depending on condition and lens inclusion. Fully functional sets with a Schneider Xenar lens can command several hundred dollars, but non-working bodies are often listed for under $100.

eBay Listings

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