Carl Braun Camera-Werk ofNuremberg, Germany, orBraun, as it was more commonly called, was founded as an opticalproduction house. It is best known for its35mmfilm cameras named Paxette, and forslide projectors named Paximat.

The company was founded in 1915^[1] under name ofKarl Braun KG, Fabrik optischer Geräte und Metallwaren for the fabrication of optical appliances and metalware. In 1948, the company began producing box film cameras, inrollfilm and 35mm format. It changed its name toCarl Braun Camera-Werke. Its best known model was the Paxette series of 35mmrangefinder cameras. Most of the company's cameras wereconsumer-level models, though the company did briefly produce several more advanced 35mmrangefinder designs as well as an interesting 35mmsingle-lens reflex camera line with leaf shutters, the Paxette Reflex (Automatic?)/AMC M335 Reflex.^{[citation needed]} The most advanced of Braun's rangefinders and SLRs had interchangeable lenses.

Braun ceased makingcameras in the 1960s, in part because of high labour costs and a resultant inability to compete in the consumer level cameramarket, a market increasingly supplied byJapanese firms.

Parallel to the camera manufacturing began the development and construction of film slideprojectors. In 1955, under theCarl Braun Camera-Werk Nürnberg label, the company introduced one of the first semi-automatic slide projectors with a tray magazine to the consumer market namedPaximat.^[2] Otherinnovations included wired or wirelessremote control,automatic focus, brighterhalogen lamps, and variablebrightness control. Since 1955, about 4 million slide projectors have been built and sold in 120countries around the world under the namesPaximat orNovamat.

Although the company was selling more than four million units by 1997, Braun's overall profitability declined precipitously, and in 2000, the company ceased trading. It was reorganized the following year.

In addition to the successful introduction of digital cameras and accessories, in 2003 Braun introduced the Braun Multimag SlideScan 3600 digital scanner for the consumer market. This scanner was based on the Paximat Multimag series of slide projectors, and enables the scanning of slides directly from six different slide trays. New Braun scanners utilize Digital ICE technology.

In 2004, Braun changed its name again. It is now known asBraun Photo TechnikGmbH, and continues to sell and/or manufacture slide projectors, other optical goods, and optical business applications.^[3]

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  Braun Paxina 6x6
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  Braun Norca Super
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  Braun Super Paxette I
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  Braun Paximat electric

• Reinventing The Camera Experience