Beirette v

Beirette v (1964) image by Süleyman Demir image by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)

Beirette v belongs to the long lasting series of Beirette 35mm film viewfinder cameras, manufactured by Beier in the former East Germany.

Beirette v (1964) shows a new body design, cocking lever without an advance knob, and a rewind crank instead of a knob.

Specifications

• Manufactured by Kamerafabrik Woldemar Beier KG - Freital, former East Germany
• Model: 1964
• Lens: E. Ludwig Meritar 45mm f/2.9, coated
• Aperture: f/2.9 to f/22, setting: dial on the back of the lens, by turning an indented thumb wheel under the lens-shutter barrel
• Focusing: front element focusing, manual, guess the distance; Focus range: 0.6-8m +inf.
• Shutter: Modell II leaf shutter, speeds:1/30,1/60,1/125 +B
• Shutter release: on the front of the camera
• Cable release socket: separate from the main shutter, on top of the lens mount
• Cocking lever: also winds the film, short stroke rapid advance, (does not work without the film in the camera)
• Viewfinder: large and bright, no parallax correction
• Film loading: shutter does not work if no film is in the camera, hinged film pressure plate
• Others: Cold-shoe; Flash PC socket: on the lens-shutter barrel; Tripod socket: 1/4 inch
• Body: metallic; Weight: 411g

History

Beirette series made from 1958 to the 1980s. It was the first camera that came out of the former East Germany that had a rapid advance lever. It is a very compact, little simple camera, and the first thing you notice is the beautifully designed shutter release button placed on the front. There are many models and versions during its very long manufacturing period.

Beirette v (1964) Images by Süleyman Demir (Image rights)

Links

• Beier Camera by Thomas Knorre at Beier-Kamera.de (in German)