Difference between revisions of "Meopta"
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| − | '''Meopta''' | + | '''Meopta''' is a Czech-based manufacturer of optical goods, which previously included still and movie cameras, darkroom equipment and projectors. The company still makes telescopes, binoculars and microscopes, as well as optical systems for industrial, medical, aeronautical and military uses.<ref>[http://www.meopta.com/ Meopta website], retrieved June 2012.</ref> |
| − | The company was founded as '''Optikotechna''' in 1933 in Prerov, in what was then Czechoslovakia. It started producing enlargers and darkroom equipment and even its own lenses. During the war, all sorts of optical equipment was being produced for the German military, since the factory found itself in the occupied zone. The first camera was produced in 1939, the Flexette, a 6×6 [[TLR]] that was the startoff for what was to become a long line of TLRs. In 1946 the company was nationalized and renamed '''Meopta'''. After the fall of communism, it was privatized | + | The company was founded as '''Optikotechna''' in 1933 in Prerov, in what was then Czechoslovakia.<ref name=CH>[http://www.meopta.com/en/history-1404041995.html Company history], also on the Meopta website.</ref> Optikotechna used facilities bought from the failing [[Bradac brothers]]' company, and the Bradacs themselves worked as designers for Optikotechna and Meopta.<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p149 (Bradac), 761 (Optikotechna) and 662 (Meopta).</ref> It started producing enlargers and darkroom equipment and even its own lenses. During the war, all sorts of optical equipment was being produced for the German military, since the factory found itself in the occupied zone. The first camera was produced in 1939, the Flexette, a 6×6 [[TLR]] that was the startoff for what was to become a long line of TLRs. In 1946 the company was nationalized and renamed '''Meopta'''. After the fall of communism, it was privatized in 1992. After a period of collaboration with the US company TCI (originally Tyrolit Company, Inc.), makers of optical glass and glass components, TCI became first distributors of Meopta goods in the US, and finally became Meopta USA.<ref name=CH/> |
| − | |||
= Cameras = | = Cameras = | ||
== 120 film == | == 120 film == | ||
=== TLR === | === TLR === | ||
| − | * Kamarad I | + | * Kamarad I (Bradac Brothers) |
| − | * Kamarad II | + | * [[Kamarad II]] (Bradac Brothers) |
| − | * Autoflex | + | * [[Autoflex (Bradac)|Autoflex]] (Bradac brothers, later Optikotechna) |
| − | * Optiflex | + | * Optiflex (Luxurious model, Optikotechna, later Meopta) |
| − | * Flexette | + | * Flexette (Bradac brothers, later Optikotechna) |
| − | * Flexaret I | + | * Flexaret I (Bradac brothers, later Optikotechna) |
| − | * Flexaret II (3 types exist, type 2 is very rare) | + | * [[Flexaret II]] (3 types exist, type 2 with frame counter is very rare, Optikotechna, later Meopta) |
| − | * Flexaret IIa ( | + | * [[Flexaret IIa]] (made as cheaper alternative to III) |
* [[Flexaret III]] | * [[Flexaret III]] | ||
* Flexaret IIIa (same as the III but with a Flash Synchro Shutter) | * Flexaret IIIa (same as the III but with a Flash Synchro Shutter) | ||
| Line 35: | Line 34: | ||
* Flexaret VI (early version in black skin, later version in grey skin) | * Flexaret VI (early version in black skin, later version in grey skin) | ||
* Flexaret Standard (most commonly in black skin but also exists in grey skin) | * Flexaret Standard (most commonly in black skin but also exists in grey skin) | ||
| − | * [[Flexaret VII]] (grey skin only, can also use 6x4.5 | + | * [[Flexaret VII]] (grey skin only, can also use 6x4.5 or 24x24 masks and has double exposure option) |
| + | * Flexaret VIIa (silver distance scale, no double exposure button) | ||
| + | |||
| + | === TLR Prototypes / rare ones === | ||
| + | * Flexaret Astro (based on VI, factory focused to infinity, only B time shutter) | ||
| + | * Flexaret Reporter (for fast shooting) | ||
| + | * Flexaret 12-24 (1970s prototype) | ||
| + | * Flexaret VII (fast advance like Reporter model, possibility to use Praktisix pentaprism) | ||
| + | * Flexaret Vb (bayonet filter mount, dark green skin) | ||
| + | * Flexaret V with exposure meter (with rolleiflex style side focussing) | ||
| + | * Flexaret II for oscillograph (also 3x5 format and counter window for 24 frames) | ||
| + | * Flexaret IV ŠKOLNÍ PŘÍSTROJ (for schools) | ||
| + | * Stereo Flexaret (used by J. Hanzelka) | ||
| + | * Flexarex (interchangeable lenses, 70mm film) | ||
=== Folding === | === Folding === | ||
* Milona | * Milona | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Panoramic=== | ||
| + | *[[Pankopta]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | == 32x45 film == | ||
| + | * Meta | ||
== 35mm == | == 35mm == | ||
=== Interchangeable lens (viewfinder/rangefinder) === | === Interchangeable lens (viewfinder/rangefinder) === | ||
* [[Opema]] I/II | * [[Opema]] I/II | ||
| + | * Optina | ||
=== Fixed lens === | === Fixed lens === | ||
* [[Spektaretta]] (as Optikotechna) | * [[Spektaretta]] (as Optikotechna) | ||
| − | * Optineta | + | * [[Optineta]] |
| − | * Etareta | + | * [[Etareta]] |
| + | * Opema 95 | ||
| + | * Axoma 96 | ||
| + | * Cola (Formerly V. Kolar) | ||
=== Stereo === | === Stereo === | ||
| Line 53: | Line 75: | ||
== 16mm subminiature == | == 16mm subminiature == | ||
| + | |||
* [[Mikronette]] (as Optikotechna) | * [[Mikronette]] (as Optikotechna) | ||
* [[Mikroma]] | * [[Mikroma]] | ||
* [[Mikroma|Mikroma II]] | * [[Mikroma|Mikroma II]] | ||
| − | === | + | |
| + | ===16mm stereo=== | ||
| + | {{Flickr_image | ||
| + | |image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/26450304@N02/4139226691/in/pool-camerawiki | ||
| + | |image= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2616/4139226691_0b259d1086_t.jpg | ||
| + | |image_align= right | ||
| + | |image_text= | ||
| + | |image_by= makopunpun | ||
| + | |image_rights= wp | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | |||
* [[Stereo-Mikroma]] | * [[Stereo-Mikroma]] | ||
* [[Stereo-Mikroma|Stereo-Mikroma II]] | * [[Stereo-Mikroma|Stereo-Mikroma II]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==11.5mm subminiature== | ||
| + | * [[Milox]] | ||
| + | |||
== Large format == | == Large format == | ||
| − | * Magnola (13x18cm) | + | * [[Magnola]] (13x18cm) |
| + | * DFP | ||
= Enlargers = | = Enlargers = | ||
| − | * Agrand | + | * Agrand 10x12,5 |
| + | * Agrand 9x12 | ||
* Axomat Ia | * Axomat Ia | ||
* Axomat II | * Axomat II | ||
| Line 77: | Line 117: | ||
* Magnitarus 13 x 18 | * Magnitarus 13 x 18 | ||
* Magnitarus 10 x 15 | * Magnitarus 10 x 15 | ||
| − | |||
* Magnifax II | * Magnifax II | ||
* Magnifax 3 | * Magnifax 3 | ||
| Line 83: | Line 122: | ||
* Magnifax 4 | * Magnifax 4 | ||
* Meogrand | * Meogrand | ||
| + | * Multifax | ||
| + | * Mignoret | ||
| + | * Mikromax | ||
* Opemus 4 x 4 | * Opemus 4 x 4 | ||
* Opemus 6 x 6 | * Opemus 6 x 6 | ||
| Line 96: | Line 138: | ||
* Proximus | * Proximus | ||
* Proximus 2 | * Proximus 2 | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | ==Notes== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
= Links = | = Links = | ||
| − | * [http://www. | + | * [http://www.meoptahistory.com/ Meopta History] |
* [http://ebgy.free.fr/photo/flexaret.htm An interesting Flexaret and Meopta history in French] | * [http://ebgy.free.fr/photo/flexaret.htm An interesting Flexaret and Meopta history in French] | ||
| − | * [http://www. | + | * [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/index.php?/category/517 Meopta page] at [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/ Collection G. Even's site] (in French) |
| − | + | ||
[[Category: Camera makers]] | [[Category: Camera makers]] | ||
[[Category: Lens makers]] | [[Category: Lens makers]] | ||
| − | [[Category: | + | [[Category: Enlargers]] |
| − | |||
[[Category: Meopta|*]] | [[Category: Meopta|*]] | ||
[[Category: Czechoslovakia]] | [[Category: Czechoslovakia]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:30, 25 January 2024
|
| image by Dries van den Elzen (Image rights) |
Contents |
Meopta is a Czech-based manufacturer of optical goods, which previously included still and movie cameras, darkroom equipment and projectors. The company still makes telescopes, binoculars and microscopes, as well as optical systems for industrial, medical, aeronautical and military uses.[1]
The company was founded as Optikotechna in 1933 in Prerov, in what was then Czechoslovakia.[2] Optikotechna used facilities bought from the failing Bradac brothers' company, and the Bradacs themselves worked as designers for Optikotechna and Meopta.[3] It started producing enlargers and darkroom equipment and even its own lenses. During the war, all sorts of optical equipment was being produced for the German military, since the factory found itself in the occupied zone. The first camera was produced in 1939, the Flexette, a 6×6 TLR that was the startoff for what was to become a long line of TLRs. In 1946 the company was nationalized and renamed Meopta. After the fall of communism, it was privatized in 1992. After a period of collaboration with the US company TCI (originally Tyrolit Company, Inc.), makers of optical glass and glass components, TCI became first distributors of Meopta goods in the US, and finally became Meopta USA.[2]
Cameras
120 film
TLR
- Kamarad I (Bradac Brothers)
- Kamarad II (Bradac Brothers)
- Autoflex (Bradac brothers, later Optikotechna)
- Optiflex (Luxurious model, Optikotechna, later Meopta)
- Flexette (Bradac brothers, later Optikotechna)
- Flexaret I (Bradac brothers, later Optikotechna)
- Flexaret II (3 types exist, type 2 with frame counter is very rare, Optikotechna, later Meopta)
- Flexaret IIa (made as cheaper alternative to III)
- Flexaret III
- Flexaret IIIa (same as the III but with a Flash Synchro Shutter)
- Flexaret IV
- Flexaret IVa (can take 35mm insert)
- Flexaret V
- Flexaret Va (extra winding knob added to rewind 35mm film)
- Flexaret VI (early version in black skin, later version in grey skin)
- Flexaret Standard (most commonly in black skin but also exists in grey skin)
- Flexaret VII (grey skin only, can also use 6x4.5 or 24x24 masks and has double exposure option)
- Flexaret VIIa (silver distance scale, no double exposure button)
TLR Prototypes / rare ones
- Flexaret Astro (based on VI, factory focused to infinity, only B time shutter)
- Flexaret Reporter (for fast shooting)
- Flexaret 12-24 (1970s prototype)
- Flexaret VII (fast advance like Reporter model, possibility to use Praktisix pentaprism)
- Flexaret Vb (bayonet filter mount, dark green skin)
- Flexaret V with exposure meter (with rolleiflex style side focussing)
- Flexaret II for oscillograph (also 3x5 format and counter window for 24 frames)
- Flexaret IV ŠKOLNÍ PŘÍSTROJ (for schools)
- Stereo Flexaret (used by J. Hanzelka)
- Flexarex (interchangeable lenses, 70mm film)
Folding
- Milona
Panoramic
32x45 film
- Meta
35mm
Interchangeable lens (viewfinder/rangefinder)
- Opema I/II
- Optina
Fixed lens
- Spektaretta (as Optikotechna)
- Optineta
- Etareta
- Opema 95
- Axoma 96
- Cola (Formerly V. Kolar)
Stereo
16mm subminiature
- Mikronette (as Optikotechna)
- Mikroma
- Mikroma II
16mm stereo
|
| image by makopunpun (Image rights) |
11.5mm subminiature
Large format
- Magnola (13x18cm)
- DFP
Enlargers
- Agrand 10x12,5
- Agrand 9x12
- Axomat Ia
- Axomat II
- Axomat 3
- Axomat 4
- Axomat 4a
- Axomat 5
- Axomat 5a
- Colombo
- Ideal
- Laborant
- Magnitarus 13 x 18
- Magnitarus 10 x 15
- Magnifax II
- Magnifax 3
- Magnifax 3a
- Magnifax 4
- Meogrand
- Multifax
- Mignoret
- Mikromax
- Opemus 4 x 4
- Opemus 6 x 6
- Opemus IIa
- Opemus III
- Opemus 4
- Opemus 5
- Opemus 6
- Opemus 6a
- Opemus 7
- Opemus Standard
- Opemus Standard 2
- Proximus
- Proximus 2
Notes
- ↑ Meopta website, retrieved June 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Company history, also on the Meopta website.
- ↑ McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p149 (Bradac), 761 (Optikotechna) and 662 (Meopta).
