Difference between revisions of "Mikronette"
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| − | The '''Mikronette''' is a viewfinder camera for 16 mm film, made by '''Optikotechna''' in Prerov, Czechoslovakia | + | The '''Mikronette''' is a viewfinder camera for 16 mm film, made by '''Optikotechna''' in Prerov in the Czech Republic (at that time, in German-occupied Czechoslovakia: because of the occupation, the camera is engraved with the town's German name, Prerau).<ref name=W>[https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.Object?inC=WLPA&inA=16&inO=463 Mikronette] with Schneider 2.5 cm f/3 Kinoplan, sold at the [https://wlpa.auction2000.se/auk/w.ObjectList?inSiteLang=&inC=WLPA&inA=16 sixteenth Westlicht Photographica Auction], on 5 December 2009.</ref> It was made in about 1944,<ref>[https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DFR890776A French Patent 890776] of 1944, ''Appareil photographique à pellicule'', apparently describing the Mikronette, at [http://worldwide.espacenet.com/ Espacenet], the patent search facility of the European Patent Office. Because of the occupation of Czechoslovakia, Optikotechna is described as being in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protectorate_of_Bohemia_and_Moravia Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia]: presumably the patent was granted in these terms because France was also occupied.</ref> and is very clearly the predecessor of the better-known [[Mikroma]] made only a few years later, after Optikotechna had been renamed [[Meopta]]. |
The body of the camera is in fact almost identical to the Mikroma. It has the same curious sliding control at the back to advance the film, but (unlike the early Mikroma) has a separate shutter release button; this has an external thread for a cable release. | The body of the camera is in fact almost identical to the Mikroma. It has the same curious sliding control at the back to advance the film, but (unlike the early Mikroma) has a separate shutter release button; this has an external thread for a cable release. | ||
| − | The lens is a Mirar 20 mm f/3.5, the same lens as on the Mikroma, but interchangeable<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p761.</ref> (presumably a [[C-mount]] cine lens). An example was sold at Westlicht with a [[Schneider]] 2.5 cm f/3 Kinoplan, with helical unit focusing down to 0.6 metre.<ref name=W | + | The lens is a Mirar 20 mm f/3.5, the same lens as on the Mikroma, but interchangeable<ref name=McK>{{McKeown12}} p761.</ref> (presumably a [[C-mount]] cine lens). An example was sold at Westlicht with a [[Schneider]] 2.5 cm f/3 Kinoplan, with helical unit focusing down to 0.6 metre.<ref name=W/> This is the standard lens used on the Schatz & Söhne [[Schatz Sola|Sola]] subminiature camera, for which several other Schneider lenses were available; it seems likely these would also fit the Mikronette.<ref>[http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=4556754 Schatz Sola] sub-miniature camera with Schneider 2.5 cm f/3 Kinoplan (several copies of this lens), 2.5 cm f/2 Xenon, 5 cm f/5.5 Tele-Xenar and 13 cm f/1.5 Xenon; sold at [http://www.christies.com Christie's] in September 2005.</ref> |
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The Mikronette is a viewfinder camera for 16 mm film, made by Optikotechna in Prerov in the Czech Republic (at that time, in German-occupied Czechoslovakia: because of the occupation, the camera is engraved with the town's German name, Prerau).[1] It was made in about 1944,[2] and is very clearly the predecessor of the better-known Mikroma made only a few years later, after Optikotechna had been renamed Meopta.
The body of the camera is in fact almost identical to the Mikroma. It has the same curious sliding control at the back to advance the film, but (unlike the early Mikroma) has a separate shutter release button; this has an external thread for a cable release.
The lens is a Mirar 20 mm f/3.5, the same lens as on the Mikroma, but interchangeable[3] (presumably a C-mount cine lens). An example was sold at Westlicht with a Schneider 2.5 cm f/3 Kinoplan, with helical unit focusing down to 0.6 metre.[1] This is the standard lens used on the Schatz & Söhne Sola subminiature camera, for which several other Schneider lenses were available; it seems likely these would also fit the Mikronette.[4]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mikronette with Schneider 2.5 cm f/3 Kinoplan, sold at the sixteenth Westlicht Photographica Auction, on 5 December 2009.
- ↑ French Patent 890776 of 1944, Appareil photographique à pellicule, apparently describing the Mikronette, at Espacenet, the patent search facility of the European Patent Office. Because of the occupation of Czechoslovakia, Optikotechna is described as being in the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia: presumably the patent was granted in these terms because France was also occupied.
- ↑ 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). p761.
- ↑ Schatz Sola sub-miniature camera with Schneider 2.5 cm f/3 Kinoplan (several copies of this lens), 2.5 cm f/2 Xenon, 5 cm f/5.5 Tele-Xenar and 13 cm f/1.5 Xenon; sold at Christie's in September 2005.
