MEOPTA 16mm CAMERAS
The company that we know today as Meopta, U.S.A. started out in 1933 as a technical, optical enterprise --
appropriately named Optikotechna -- making lenses in Czechoslovakia. Due to the situation in Europe at that time,
it soon found itself working for the military. Throughout the lenghty War, and the even longer Post-war instablility,
it made major changes to its production -- and even its name. Today it focuses on civilian products. For several
years in its chaotic life, it made a 16mm subminiature cameras -- in several variations..
There appears to be some debate about which was the first Mikroma camera and when it was originally made. Most sources say the first Mikroma appeared in 1949, but some suggest dates back to 1946. We may never know for sure, but Czechoslovakia was in a sorry state at the end of WWII. Another confusing thing about this camera is that some people think it is an SLR. But while it is shaped like a single lens reflex, it is really just a viewfinder camera -- the "pentaprism" is a plane viewfinder. But even though it is "just" a viewfinder camera, it is very stylish, well made, with nice features. It produces images about 11mm x 15mm in size on single perforated 16mm film -- but it can use double-perforated film, as well. It requires one set of perforations to advance the film.
Just like many other cameras of the era -- regardless of the Country -- the Mikroma evolved over time. On the original model, there is a small lever on the rear of the camera that advances the film -- and cocks the shutter -- when pushed to the right. The same lever takes the picture when it is pressed to the left. The original model had shutter speeds of 1/50 & 1/100, while later models have speeds of 1/25-1/200. It came with a 20mm f3.5-16, focusing lens. A black police model was make with a special waist-level finder. The shutter release, shutter cocking and film advance functions were all built into one small lever on the top of the camera. Pushing it once took the picture. Pushing it again advanced the film and cocked the shutter. In later models, these functions would be split out.
A stereo version of the Mikroma II. It had two 25mm f 3.5 lens with a single central viewfinder.
There might have been two camera models called the Mikronette. Some sources state that this camera appeared in the 1940's and that it was a predecessor to the Mikroma. Others list the 1960's. In either case, this camera was similar to the Mikroma series. Perhaps it was made for export.
Since this one takes 35mm film, you'll have to check out the 35mm film section.
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