Difference between revisions of "Beira"

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The '''Beika''' and '''Beira''' are 35mm folding cameras made by [[Beier]] in the 1930s. On all the models, the square front standard is mounted on scissor struts, and there is a focusing lever, moving the lens and shutter unit as a whole.
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|image= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51116501327_eccc669f04.jpg
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|image_text= Early '''Beira''' with Rodenstock Trinar <br/>5cm f/4.5 in a Pronto shutter
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|image_by= Christoph Batz
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The '''Beira''' are 35mm folding cameras made by the young camera manufacturer [[Beier]] in Freital, Germany during the 1930s. On all the models, the square front standard is mounted on scissor struts. The first model released in 1931 belonged to the first competitive attempts using 35 mm film to enter the promising market of pocketable [[Small format]] cameras the [[Leica A|Leica]] has created. However, it initially used an image format of 3x4 cm (on non perforated 35 mm film), unlike [[:Category: German 3x4 viewfinder folding | most of its competitors of 1931]], which used [[127 film]]. Later models were modified for perforated film and used the standard 24x36 mm format.  
  
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The camera was released in 1931 as the '''Beika'''.<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, pp.43–4. </REF> It has a folding optical viewfinder, and takes 3×4cm exposures on unperforated film, loaded in special cassettes. (When loaded with perforated film, the usable exposure format is about 24×40mm.)<REF name="MK"> {{MK}}, p.116. </REF>
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===Beira, base model===
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The camera was announced at the ''Leipziger Frühjahrsmesse'' (spring fair in Leipzig, Germany) in 1931 as the '''Beika''',<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, pp.43–4. </REF> and released on the market later this year. The name was later changed to '''Beira'''.<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, p.47. </REF> The reason for that change is not known for sure, but maybe "Beika" sounded too close to "Leica". However, there seem to be no proof that the camera ever sold as '''Beika'''. The camera was sold by [[Birnbaum]] as the '''Birelle'''.<REF name="MK" />
  
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The name was changed to '''Beira''' in 1932.<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, p.47. </REF> The reason for that change is not known for sure, but maybe "Beika" sounded too close to "Leica". The camera was sold by [[Birnbaum]] as the '''Birelle'''.<REF name="MK" />
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The base model, produced from 1931 to ca. 1933 has a folding optical viewfinder, and takes 3×4cm images on unperforated film, which has to be loaded into special cassettes. (When loaded with perforated film, the usable exposure format is about 24×40mm.)<REF name="MK"> {{MK}}, p.116. </REF>. Simple three-element lenses (like Trinar or Trioplan) have front element focussing. For all other lenses there is a focusing lever, moving the lens and shutter unit as a whole.  
  
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The '''Beira Ia''' has a tubular viewfinder instead of the folding unit.<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, pp.47–8. </REF> The camera was further modified ca. 1933 or 1934, for 24×36mm exposure format.<REF name="MK" /><REF> Kadlubek and Beier, p.48. </REF> The new model can take a pair of standard film cassettes, but has no rewind knob.
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The following lenses and shutters were available (list based on sightings, may not be complete):
  
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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* [[Rodenstock]] Trinar 4.5/5cm, [[Pronto]] shutter
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* [[Rodenstock]] Trinar 4.5/5cm, [[Compur]] shutter
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* [[Meyer]] Trioplan 4.5/5cm, [[Vario]] shutter
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* [[Meyer]] Trioplan 3.5/5cm, [[Compur]] shutter
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* [[Meyer]] Trioplan 2.9/5cm, [[Compur]] shutter
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* [[Schneider]] Xenar 3.5/5cm, [[Compur]] shutter
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{| class="plainlinks floatright" style="text-align: center;"
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|| [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49131080111/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49131080111_fc38d8a433_m.jpg] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49131304187/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49131304187_d535ec2f8e_m.jpg]
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|-
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|| [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49131126361/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49131126361_deb362bee6_m.jpg] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49131317927/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49131317927_a6d953e1a1_m.jpg]
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|-
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|| ''Beira Ia'' rebadged as ''Kreca'', tubular viewfinder,<br> Kreca 5cm f/2.9 lens with no serial number, [[Compur]] shutter.<br>Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. {{with permission}}
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|}
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===Beira Ia and Beira II===
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From c.1933 or 1934 there were some adjustments and the camera was named '''Beira Ia'''. It now has a tubular viewfinder instead of the folding unit.<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, pp.47–8. </REF> The camera was further modified: Instead of the rubber wheel of the base model, the typical sprocketed wheel for perforated 35 mm film was implemented and the image window resized to 24×36mm exposure format.<REF name="MK" /><REF> Kadlubek and Beier, p.48. </REF> The new model can take a pair of standard film cassettes, but still has no rewind knob.
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The Beira Ia and Beira II<REF> {{MK}}, p.561. </REF> versions were also rebadged as the '''Kreca''', sold by Kremp.
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In 1935 the '''Beira II''' was launched, a coupled-rangefinder version, incorporating the '''Okula''' prismatic rangefinder made by Ernst Krauss in Jena.<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, p.49. </REF> With that equipment, the camera was also called '''Beira Okula'''.<REF name="MK" />The Beira Okula was still listed in a Beier catalogue dated Spring 1941,<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, p.60. </REF> then the production of the camera went to a halt during World War II.
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For the later models the following lenses and shutters were available (list based on sightings, may not be complete):
 +
 
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* [[Schneider]] Xenar 2.9/5cm, [[Compur]]
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* [[Schneider]] Xenon 2.0/4.5cm, [[Compur-Rapid]]
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* [[Steinheil]] Cassar 2.9/5cm, [[Compur-Rapid]]
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* [[Leitz]] Elmar 3.5/5cm, [[Compur-Rapid]]
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{| class="plainlinks floatleft" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
 
|| [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49128732986/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49128732986_2fdd341f44_m.jpg] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49128745031/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49128745031_7a8e7db101_m.jpg]
 
|| [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49128732986/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49128732986_2fdd341f44_m.jpg] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49128745031/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49128745031_7a8e7db101_m.jpg]
 
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In 1935, a coupled-rangefinder version was offered, incorporating the '''Okula''' prismatic rangefinder made by Ernst Krauss in Jena.<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, p.49. </REF> With that equipment, the camera was called '''Beira Okula''' or '''Beira II'''.<REF name="MK" />
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{| class="plainlinks floatright" style="text-align: center;"
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
 
 
|| [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49128939762/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49128939762_52eaf7c46b_m.jpg] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49128768511/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49128768511_115431ca52_m.jpg]
 
|| [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49128939762/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49128939762_52eaf7c46b_m.jpg] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49128768511/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49128768511_115431ca52_m.jpg]
 
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The Beira Ia and Beira II<REF> {{MK}}, p.561. </REF> versions were also rebadged as the '''Kreca''', sold by Kremp.
 
  
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
 
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|| [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49131080111/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49131080111_fc38d8a433_m.jpg] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49131304187/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49131304187_d535ec2f8e_m.jpg]
 
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|-
 
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|| [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49131126361/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49131126361_deb362bee6_m.jpg] [https://www.flickr.com/photos/camerawiki/49131317927/in/pool-camerawiki/ https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49131317927_a6d953e1a1_m.jpg]
 
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|-
 
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|| ''Kreca, tubular viewfinder, Kreca 5cm f/2.9 lens with no serial number, [[Compur]] shutter.<br>Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. {{with permission}}''
 
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|}
 
  
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The Beira Okula was still listed in a Beier catalogue dated Spring 1941,<REF> Kadlubek and Beier, p.60. </REF> then the production of the camera went to a halt during World War II.
 
  
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{{br}}
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
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== Bibliography ==
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==Bibliography==
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* [http://knippsen.blogspot.com/2021/04/beira.html More info and pictures of the Beira base model] on [http://knippsen.blogspot.com KniPPsen]
 
* Kadlubek, Günther, and Beier, Wolfgang. ''Kameras um Dresden herum. Beier, Pouva, Welta & Co.'' Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 2003.
 
* Kadlubek, Günther, and Beier, Wolfgang. ''Kameras um Dresden herum. Beier, Pouva, Welta & Co.'' Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 2003.
 
* {{McKeown12}} Pp.116 and 561.
 
* {{McKeown12}} Pp.116 and 561.
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[[Category: German 35mm viewfinder folding]]
 
[[Category: German 35mm viewfinder folding]]
 
[[Category: German 35mm rangefinder folding]]
 
[[Category: German 35mm rangefinder folding]]
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[[Category: German 3x4 viewfinder folding]]
 
[[Category: B]]
 
[[Category: B]]
 
[[Category: Beier]]
 
[[Category: Beier]]

Latest revision as of 07:48, 15 March 2022

51116501327_eccc669f04.jpg
Early Beira with Rodenstock Trinar
5cm f/4.5 in a Pronto shutter
image by Christoph Batz (Image rights)

The Beira are 35mm folding cameras made by the young camera manufacturer Beier in Freital, Germany during the 1930s. On all the models, the square front standard is mounted on scissor struts. The first model released in 1931 belonged to the first competitive attempts using 35 mm film to enter the promising market of pocketable Small format cameras the Leica has created. However, it initially used an image format of 3x4 cm (on non perforated 35 mm film), unlike most of its competitors of 1931, which used 127 film. Later models were modified for perforated film and used the standard 24x36 mm format.

Beira, base model

The camera was announced at the Leipziger Frühjahrsmesse (spring fair in Leipzig, Germany) in 1931 as the Beika,[1] and released on the market later this year. The name was later changed to Beira.[2] The reason for that change is not known for sure, but maybe "Beika" sounded too close to "Leica". However, there seem to be no proof that the camera ever sold as Beika. The camera was sold by Birnbaum as the Birelle.[3]

The base model, produced from 1931 to ca. 1933 has a folding optical viewfinder, and takes 3×4cm images on unperforated film, which has to be loaded into special cassettes. (When loaded with perforated film, the usable exposure format is about 24×40mm.)[3]. Simple three-element lenses (like Trinar or Trioplan) have front element focussing. For all other lenses there is a focusing lever, moving the lens and shutter unit as a whole.

The following lenses and shutters were available (list based on sightings, may not be complete):

49131080111_fc38d8a433_m.jpg 49131304187_d535ec2f8e_m.jpg
49131126361_deb362bee6_m.jpg 49131317927_a6d953e1a1_m.jpg
Beira Ia rebadged as Kreca, tubular viewfinder,
Kreca 5cm f/2.9 lens with no serial number, Compur shutter.
Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. (Image rights)

Beira Ia and Beira II

From c.1933 or 1934 there were some adjustments and the camera was named Beira Ia. It now has a tubular viewfinder instead of the folding unit.[4] The camera was further modified: Instead of the rubber wheel of the base model, the typical sprocketed wheel for perforated 35 mm film was implemented and the image window resized to 24×36mm exposure format.[3][5] The new model can take a pair of standard film cassettes, but still has no rewind knob.

The Beira Ia and Beira II[6] versions were also rebadged as the Kreca, sold by Kremp. In 1935 the Beira II was launched, a coupled-rangefinder version, incorporating the Okula prismatic rangefinder made by Ernst Krauss in Jena.[7] With that equipment, the camera was also called Beira Okula.[3]The Beira Okula was still listed in a Beier catalogue dated Spring 1941,[8] then the production of the camera went to a halt during World War II.

For the later models the following lenses and shutters were available (list based on sightings, may not be complete):

49128732986_2fdd341f44_m.jpg 49128745031_7a8e7db101_m.jpg
Beira II, Cassar 5cm f/2.9 lens, Compur-Rapid shutter.
Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. (Image rights)
49128939762_52eaf7c46b_m.jpg 49128768511_115431ca52_m.jpg
49128963402_70e44d3b3f_m.jpg 49128975297_857fffea86_m.jpg
Beira II, Xenar 5cm f/2.9 lens, Compur shutter.
Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. (Image rights)




Notes

  1. ↑ Kadlubek and Beier, pp.43–4.
  2. ↑ Kadlubek and Beier, p.47.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 McKeown, p.116.
  4. ↑ Kadlubek and Beier, pp.47–8.
  5. ↑ Kadlubek and Beier, p.48.
  6. ↑ McKeown, p.561.
  7. ↑ Kadlubek and Beier, p.49.
  8. ↑ Kadlubek and Beier, p.60.

Bibliography

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