The Beika and Beira are 35mm folding cameras made by Beier in the 1930s. On all the models, the square front standard is mounted on scissor struts, and there is a focusing lever, moving the lens and shutter unit as a whole.
The camera was released in 1931 as the Beika.[1] It has a folding optical viewfinder, and takes 3×4cm exposures on unperforated film, loaded in special cassettes. (When loaded with perforated film, the usable exposure format is about 24×40mm.)[2]
The name was changed to Beira in 1932.[3] The reason for that change is not known for sure, but maybe "Beika" sounded too close to "Leica". The camera was sold by Birnbaum as the Birelle.[2]
The Beira Ia has a tubular viewfinder instead of the folding unit.[4] The camera was further modified ca. 1933 or 1934, for 24×36mm exposure format.[2][5] The new model can take a pair of standard film cassettes, but has no rewind knob.
 
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| Beira II, Cassar 5cm f/2.9 lens, Compur-Rapid shutter. Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. (Image rights) |
In 1935, a coupled-rangefinder version was offered, incorporating the Okula prismatic rangefinder made by Ernst Krauss in Jena.[6] With that equipment, the camera was called Beira Okula or Beira II.[2]
 
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| Beira II, Xenar 5cm f/2.9 lens, Compur shutter. Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. (Image rights) |
The Beira Ia and Beira II[7] versions were also rebadged as the Kreca, sold by Kremp.
 
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| Kreca, tubular viewfinder, Kreca 5cm f/2.9 lens with no serial number, Compur shutter. Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. (Image rights) |
The Beira Okula was still listed in a Beier catalogue dated Spring 1941,[8] then the production of the camera went to a halt during World War II.
Notes[]
Bibliography[]
- Kadlubek, Günther, and Beier, Wolfgang. Kameras um Dresden herum. Beier, Pouva, Welta & Co. Stuttgart: Lindemanns Verlag, 2003.
- 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). Pp.116 and 561.