Welta

Welta was a German camera maker based in Freital near Dresden. It was founded by Walter Waurich and Theodor Weber in 1914 as Weeka-Kamera-Werk and became Welta-Kamera-Werk in 1919. It made a number of medium-priced folders before World War II, and its camera production was quite comparable to Balda and Certo. It also introduced two folding TLRs, the 6×6 Perfekta and the 6×9 Superfekta, which did not sell too well.

After the war, Welta continued production as a state company (VEB Welta-Kamera-Werk), with a range evolved from the prewar models. It absorbed Kamera-Werk Tharandt (the former Richter) in 1950. It became a part of the large VEB Kamera- und Kinowerk Dresden in 1959, a state owned conglomerate of East-German cameramakers that was to become VEB Pentacon in 1964.

35mm film

Folding

• Watson

• Welti

• Weltini

• Weltix

Rigid

• Belmira

Half frame

• Penti

120 film

Folding

Viewfinder

• Garant (6×9)
• Weltax (6×6)
• Perle (4.5×6, 6×6 or 6×9)
• Symbol (6×9)
• Trio (6×9)

Rangefinder

• Solida (6×9)
• Weltur (4.5×6, 6×6 or 6×9)

Folding TLR

• Perfekta (6×6)
• Superfekta (6×9)

Normal TLR

• Reflecta, actually made by Richter, later continued by Welta as Reflekta.
• Reflekta II
• Reflekta III
• Weltaflex
• Peerflekta, Peerflekta II

127 film

• Gucki (3×4)
• Gucki (4×6.5)

129 film

• Perle (5×8)

116 film

• Perle (6.5×11)

Film plates

• Rak
• Tux
• Watson

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Catalogue by the Japanese retailer Photo News for Welta cameras, April 1936. (Image rights)

Bibliography

• 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).
• Photo News Sha. Catalogue of Welta cameras, dated April 1936. Document reproduced in this Flickr album by Rebollo_fr.

Links

• Welta at Frank Petermann's site
• Company history at dresdner-kameras.de
• Welta page at Collection G. Even's site
• Welta cameras at www.collection-appareils.fr
• Welta section at Retrography.com by Simon Simonsen, Denmark