Beirette SL 100 viewfinder compact camera was designed in co-operation of the Woldemar Beier KG and VEB Fototechnik Freital (formerly Pouva) companies. Its production was started by the latter company in 1972 under designations Pouva SL 100 and Pouva start SL 100 (the latter tying up with the successful Pouva Start camera of 1950s). In 1972 the private Woldemar Beier KG company was transformed into the state owned VEB Kamerafabrik Freital and in 1973, after the VEB Fototechnik Freital was incorporated into the Kamerafabrik Freital, the camera's name was changed into the Beirette SL 100. Production was continued until 1987, when a slightly modernized model, the Beirette SL 100N was introduced.
The Beirette SL 100 is a simple compact camera intended for beginners or children. It is equipped with a Chromar, 52 mm 1:11 two element achromatic lens, which can be manually focused in three settings - for distance ranges 1 to 3 m, 3 to 8 m and 8 m to infinity. The viewfinder is of the simpliest frame type, but closed with panes and so resembling an optical finder.
A simple everset guillotine shutter offers just two speeds of 1/30 s and 1/125 s plus B, while the aperture is fixed 1:11. Shutter speeds are marked with symbols placed by the shutter setting ring - a sun for 1/125 s and a cloud plus lightning for 1/30 s.
The camera uses a standard 50-100 ASA 35mm film loaded into a spool-less SL type cassette and takes 12 pictures of the 24x36 mm size on a SL film. As - typically for the SL-System - there's no rewind possibility, two cassettes have always to be used. The film is advanced with a convenient slider on the camera back, coupled with double exposure safety blocking shutter release button until the film is advanced.
Beirette SL 100 offers a hot shoe for flash sync. Electronic flashes can be used at both shutter speeds, while X-type flashbulbs at 1/30 s only (hence the lightning symbol). The camera is also equipped with a cable release socket and a standard tripod thread.
Specifications:
- Film type: SL
- Frame size: 24x36 mm
- Lens: Chromar, achromatic, 52 mm[1], 1:11
- Angle of view: 45 deg.
- Shutter speeds: 1/30 s and 1/125 s, B
- Exposure: 12 and 14 EV
- Minimal focusing distance: 1 m
- Flash sync with electronic flash: full
- Flash sync with flash bulbs: 1/30 s
- Film advance: manual
- Tripod thread: 1/4"
- Dimensions: ?
- Weight: ?
Notes[]
- ↑ Requires confirmation. 42 mm, 50 mm and 52 mm focal lenghts are mentioned by different web sites.
Sources[]
- Büttner G.: SL-System; VEB Fotokinoverlag, Leipzig, 1974.
- Wurst W.: Fotobuch für alle; VEB Fotokinoverlag, Leipzig, 1979.