Camera industry in Dresden |
Balda | Certo | Eho-Altissa | Ernemann | Feinmess | Hüttig | ICA | Ihagee | Kochmann | Kerman | KW | Eugen Loeber | Ludwig | Mentor | Mimosa | Pentacon | Richter | Werner | Wünsche | Zeiss Ikon | Zeh |
Camera distributors in Dresden |
Stöckig |
Camera industry in Freital |
Beier | Pouva | Thowe | 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.[1] 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.[2]
35mm film[]
Folding[]
Rigid[]
- Belmira
Half frame[]
120 film[]
Folding[]
Viewfinder[]
Rangefinder[]
Folding TLR[]
- Perfekta (6×6)
- Superfekta (6×9)
- Extra Rapid Aplanat
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
- Vario
Belca[]
After the WW2, the Dresden firm Balda stayed in east Germany and its name changed to Belca-Werk in 1951. It continued for some time to produce folders, and was absorbed into VEB Kamera-Werke Niedersedlitz in 1957. From that time some Belca cameras made by Welta, which was a part of VEB-camera-Werke Niedersedlitz.
- Belfoca I
- Belfoca II
- Belmira
- Beltica II
Advertisements[]
Catalogue by the Japanese retailer Photo News for Welta cameras, April 1936. (Image rights) |
Notes[]
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[]
In English:
In German:
In French:
- Welta page at Collection G. Even's site
- Welta cameras at www.collection-appareils.fr
In Spanish:
- Welta at Historia de Bolsillo by J. Noir