Difference between revisions of "Mikroma"
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[http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mikroma/mikroma.htm User's manual for the Mikroma II] (two files; the first is the manual proper, describing the camera controls; the second more of a guide to photography with it), at [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Orphan Cameras].</ref> It is based on an earlier camera the [[Mikronette]], made when the company was still called '''Optikotechna''', before it was nationalised. | [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/mikroma/mikroma.htm User's manual for the Mikroma II] (two files; the first is the manual proper, describing the camera controls; the second more of a guide to photography with it), at [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Orphan Cameras].</ref> It is based on an earlier camera the [[Mikronette]], made when the company was still called '''Optikotechna''', before it was nationalised. | ||
| − | Film with perforations on one or both edges can be used, giving exposures of 10.5×14.7 or 11.5×14.7 mm respectively.<ref name=Man></ref> The film must be loaded into a supply cassette. | + | Film with perforations on one or both edges can be used, giving exposures of 10.5×14.7 or 11.5×14.7 mm respectively.<ref name=Man></ref> The film must be loaded into a supply cassette. In the camera it is wound into another cassette on the uptake side. The supply cassette can contain up to 90 cm of film, which is sufficient for 50 exposures. |
The camera has a sliding control at the back which advances the film and cocks the shutter when slid to the right, and then releases the shutter when allowed to return.<ref name=EP>[http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C59.html Mikroma] with combined film advance and shutter release, at [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/index.html Early Photography].</ref><ref name=VA>[http://vieilalbum.com/MikromaUS.htm Mikroma] at [http://vieilalbum.com/AccueilUS.htm Le Vieil Album].</ref> | The camera has a sliding control at the back which advances the film and cocks the shutter when slid to the right, and then releases the shutter when allowed to return.<ref name=EP>[http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/site/entry_C59.html Mikroma] with combined film advance and shutter release, at [http://www.earlyphotography.co.uk/index.html Early Photography].</ref><ref name=VA>[http://vieilalbum.com/MikromaUS.htm Mikroma] at [http://vieilalbum.com/AccueilUS.htm Le Vieil Album].</ref> | ||
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The lens is a (fixed) 20 mm f/3.5 Mirar, a coated triplet. It focuses down to 0.6 metre. The shutter is a simple one; a single shutter blade, thrown by a variable spring tension.<ref name=EP></ref> Early cameras have only two marked speeds, 1/50 and 1/100 second, but unmarked, intermediate positions give intermediate speeds.<ref name=EP></ref> Later, the camera was made with more marked speeds: notes on the camera at Le Vieil Album describe an example with speeds 1/25 - 1/200 second, plus 'B'.<ref name=VA></ref> | The lens is a (fixed) 20 mm f/3.5 Mirar, a coated triplet. It focuses down to 0.6 metre. The shutter is a simple one; a single shutter blade, thrown by a variable spring tension.<ref name=EP></ref> Early cameras have only two marked speeds, 1/50 and 1/100 second, but unmarked, intermediate positions give intermediate speeds.<ref name=EP></ref> Later, the camera was made with more marked speeds: notes on the camera at Le Vieil Album describe an example with speeds 1/25 - 1/200 second, plus 'B'.<ref name=VA></ref> | ||
| − | An improved model, the '''Mikroma II''' from the late '50s, has a conventional shutter release button, threaded for a cable release, and more marked shutter speeds; 1/5,1/10,1/25,1/50,1/100,1/200, 1/400 second, plus 'B'. The shutter is synchronised for flash, with a [[PC socket]] on the top plate.<ref name=W>[ | + | An improved model, the '''Mikroma II''' from the late '50s, has a conventional shutter release button, threaded for a cable release, and more marked shutter speeds; 1/5,1/10,1/25,1/50,1/100,1/200, 1/400 second, plus 'B'. The shutter is synchronised for flash, with a [[PC socket]] on the top plate.<ref name=W>[https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=20&inO=441 Mikroma II] cameras in blue, brown and green, sold in the [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=20 twentieth Westlicht Photographica Auction] (now Leitz Photographica Auction), on 1 November 2011. Note the green camera has a different film advance control. All three have speeds 1/5 - 1/400 second. There is also models in brown snake skin.The lot also includes a Stereo-Mikroma with close-up lens pairs for two ranges, and a Meoscop stereo viewer.</ref> |
Two stereo models of this camera, the [[Stereo-Mikroma]] and Stereo-Mikroma II, were made in the 1960s. | Two stereo models of this camera, the [[Stereo-Mikroma]] and Stereo-Mikroma II, were made in the 1960s. | ||
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==Links== | ==Links== | ||
| − | * [ | + | * [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=7&inO=658 Mikroma Police model] serial no 16652, with black lacquer finish, shutter release button, and brilliant finder, sold in the [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=7 seventh Westlicht auction], on 21 May 2005. |
| − | * [ | + | * [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=20130118_1303&inO=588 Mikroma Police] serial no. 16026, sold at the [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.AuctionList?inL=&inC=WLPA&inA=20130118_1303&inWLPAAuctionType=AUCTION 23rd Westlicht auction], on 25 May 2013. |
| − | * [ | + | * [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=18&inO=483 Mikroma II in gold finish] sold in the [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=18 eighteenth Westlicht auction], on 4 December 2010. |
Revision as of 21:42, 28 May 2020
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| Mikroma image by Rick Soloway (Image rights) |
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| Mikroma II image by John Nuttall (Image rights) |
The Mikroma is a tiny viewfinder camera for 16 mm film. It was made from about 1949 by Meopta in Prerov (then in Czechoslovakia; now the Czech Republic). It measures 75×43×40 mm and weighs 230 g (the Mikroma II).[1] It is based on an earlier camera the Mikronette, made when the company was still called Optikotechna, before it was nationalised.
Film with perforations on one or both edges can be used, giving exposures of 10.5×14.7 or 11.5×14.7 mm respectively.[1] The film must be loaded into a supply cassette. In the camera it is wound into another cassette on the uptake side. The supply cassette can contain up to 90 cm of film, which is sufficient for 50 exposures.
The camera has a sliding control at the back which advances the film and cocks the shutter when slid to the right, and then releases the shutter when allowed to return.[2][3]
The lens is a (fixed) 20 mm f/3.5 Mirar, a coated triplet. It focuses down to 0.6 metre. The shutter is a simple one; a single shutter blade, thrown by a variable spring tension.[2] Early cameras have only two marked speeds, 1/50 and 1/100 second, but unmarked, intermediate positions give intermediate speeds.[2] Later, the camera was made with more marked speeds: notes on the camera at Le Vieil Album describe an example with speeds 1/25 - 1/200 second, plus 'B'.[3]
An improved model, the Mikroma II from the late '50s, has a conventional shutter release button, threaded for a cable release, and more marked shutter speeds; 1/5,1/10,1/25,1/50,1/100,1/200, 1/400 second, plus 'B'. The shutter is synchronised for flash, with a PC socket on the top plate.[4]
Two stereo models of this camera, the Stereo-Mikroma and Stereo-Mikroma II, were made in the 1960s.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 User's manual for the Mikroma II (two files; the first is the manual proper, describing the camera controls; the second more of a guide to photography with it), at Orphan Cameras.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mikroma with combined film advance and shutter release, at Early Photography.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mikroma at Le Vieil Album.
- ↑ Mikroma II cameras in blue, brown and green, sold in the twentieth Westlicht Photographica Auction (now Leitz Photographica Auction), on 1 November 2011. Note the green camera has a different film advance control. All three have speeds 1/5 - 1/400 second. There is also models in brown snake skin.The lot also includes a Stereo-Mikroma with close-up lens pairs for two ranges, and a Meoscop stereo viewer.
Links
- Mikroma Police model serial no 16652, with black lacquer finish, shutter release button, and brilliant finder, sold in the seventh Westlicht auction, on 21 May 2005.
- Mikroma Police serial no. 16026, sold at the 23rd Westlicht auction, on 25 May 2013.
- Mikroma II in gold finish sold in the eighteenth Westlicht auction, on 4 December 2010.
