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Changes: Werra

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The '''Werra''' is a series of 35mm [[viewfinder]] or [[rangefinder camera|rangefinder]] cameras manufactured by the [[Carl Zeiss Jena]] factory which was primarily a lens-making plant. The Werra is named after a small German river.
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/166668396/in/pool-camerpadia/ http://static.flickr.com/78/166668396_b50d729379.jpg]
  
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''Werra 1''
  
   
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The cameras offer a high degree of control with a minimum number of levers, knobs or rings. In their simplest incarnations, the
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Werras featured only a shutter release button on the top plate. With it's streamlined styling, one could call the Werras a design camera. Nearly all other controls were incorporated into the lens barrel.
   
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== Twist that lens !==
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The '''Werra''' is a series of 35mm [[viewfinder]] or [[rangefinder]] cameras manufactured by the [[Carl Zeiss Jena]] factory. This is quite special, since it is actually a lens making plant. The Werra is named after a small German river. It offers a high degree of control with a very low nomber of levers, knobs or rings. One could call it a design camera. Looking at the camera house, there's only the shutter button. All other features have been moved to less-visible parts of the camera. This gives the Werra a stylish look. Even the accessory/flash shoe is optional.
 
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The most unique feature of the Werra is the covered ring around the lens barrel. Twisting the ring cocks the shutter and [[film advance|advanced the film]] in one motion. In addition, the lens cap doubles as a [[lens hood|shade]] (compare the pictures below).
   
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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<div>
  
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/166668376/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/50/166668376_62c311fc58_m.jpg]
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| width=250px| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/166668376/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/50/166668376_62c311fc58_m.jpg]
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| width=250px| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/166678301/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/47/166678301_13d32e5561_m.jpg]
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|-
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''Werra 1 with lens cap''
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| ''Werra I with lens cap.''
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| ''Bottom of the Werra I with controls.<br />Note the lens cap doubles as a [[Lens hood|shade]].''
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|-
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| colspan=2 | ''Pictures by Driesvandenelzen. {{with permission}}''
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|}
   
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The Werra uses a central shutter. It has [[flash sync]] at all speeds (B, 1 to 1/750s). It has an X and M setting and a [[self-timer]] V.
   
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== Twist that lens !==
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== Markings on this camera ==
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The lens, a 50/2.8 Tessar, is often marked ''T'' instead of ''Tessar'' and ''Jena'' instead of ''[[Carl Zeiss Jena]]'' because of a conflict between the East- and West-German division of the firm -- though examples of export Werras with both disputed marks do exist.
   
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On the lower left part of the barrel or shutter speed dial, there is a logo, "Q1," meaning "Erste Qualität" or ''first quality''. This was a designation for East-German exports to the West. Models meant for the home market lacked this logo.
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The unique feature of the Werra is the covered ring around the lens barrel. Twisting this ring cocked the shutter and advanced the film in one smooth motion. In addition, the lens cap is alco used as a shade (compare the second and third picture).
  
   
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The lower right side featured the Ernemann tower logo derived from a tower found at Ernemann's camera factory in Dresden.
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<div>
  
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/166678301/in/pool-camerapedia http://static.flickr.com/47/166678301_13d32e5561_m.jpg]
  
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</div>
  
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''Bottom of the Werra1 with controls. Note the lens cap doubles as a shade.''<br>
  
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Since the werra uses a central shutter, one could suppose it has flash sync. at all speeds (B, 1 to 1/750s). It has an X and M setting and even a selftimer V. The framecounter is on the right, on the left you see the rewind lever.
  
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== Marks on this camera ==
  
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The lens, a 50/2.8 Tessar, is marked ''T'' instead of ''Tessar'' and ''Jena'' instead of ''[[Carl Zeiss Jena]]'' because of a conflict between the East- and West-German part of the firm. On the lower left part of the barrel there is a logo Q1, meaning "Erste Qualität" or ''first quality''. This was a designation for East-German exports to the West. Models meant for their home market lacked this logo and were probably marked ''Carl Zeiss Jena'' and ''Tessar''. On the lower right side of the barrel, there's a schematic view of the ''Ernemann'' tower, a tower in a Dresden camera factory quarter.
  
   
 
== Variations and later models ==
  
== Variations and later models ==
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{| class="plainlinks" align="right" width=240px style="text-align: center;"
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Several vaiations and later models were made. There is an olive green variation of the Werra1. Later models have [[Selenium]] cell lightmeters and coupled [[rangefinder]]s. Some of them even have interchangeable lenses, allowing tele- and wide-angle lenses.
  
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemphoto/283175020/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm1.static.flickr.com/100/283175020_ae27088af4_m.jpg]
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|-
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| ''Werra lenses. Picture by SteveMPhoto. {{creative commons}}''
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|}
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Several variations were made. There is an olive green version of the Werra 1. The Werra 2 and Werramatic models have [[selenium]] cell lightmeters. The models Werra III, Werra IV, Werra V and Werramatic have a coupled [[rangefinder]] together with interchangeable lenses, allowing tele- and wide-angle lenses.
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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| width=250px | [http://www.flickr.com/photos/alf_sigaro/292259342/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm1.static.flickr.com/104/292259342_5f34e12b70_m.jpg]
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| width=250px | [http://www.flickr.com/photos/egons/500691064/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/500691064_14a673ac32_m.jpg]
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|-
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| ''Variant with alu film advance ring.<br />Picture by Alf Sigaro. {{creative commons}}''
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| ''Variant with [[Compur]].<br />Picture by Egonbja. {{with permission}}''
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|-
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemphoto/283174917/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/283174917_3fe115528f_m.jpg]
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/mech_for_i/189872798/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/189872798_9d15a973bf_m.jpg]
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|-
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| ''Werramatic with Flektogon lens.<br />Picture by SteveMPhoto. {{creative commons}}''
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| ''Olive green variant.<br />Picture by Mech for I. {{creative commons}}''
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|}
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{| class="plainlinks" align="center" style="text-align: center;"
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewrongdevice/4532342626/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4532342626_6e40798d3c_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewrongdevice/4531751331/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4531751331_3280ec6ee9_m.jpg]
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|-
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| [http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewrongdevice/4531751327/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2740/4531751327_1920b456bf_m.jpg] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewrongdevice/4531762709/in/pool-camerapedia http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/4531762709_8dd416e4b5_m.jpg]
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|-
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| ''Werramatic. Pictures by Laszlo Gerencser. {{with permission}}''
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|}
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== Links ==
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* [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/krg/werra/werra.htm Werra page] in French at [http://pagesperso-orange.fr/krg KRG's website]
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* [http://dirapon.be/Werra.html Werra page] at [http://dirapon.be/ Dirapon website]
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* On [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand :
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=2472 Carl Zeiss Iena Werra 2b]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=10564 Carl Zeiss Iena Werra I (olive)]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=1054 Carl Zeiss Iena Werra Ic]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=41 Carl Zeiss Iena Werra Ie]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=20162 Carl Zeiss Iena Werra III]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=2498 Carl Zeiss Iena Werra III]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=20163 Carl Zeiss Iena Werra IIIE]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=20164 Carl Zeiss Iena Werramat]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=2473 Carl Zeiss Iena Werramat]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=20165 Carl Zeiss Iena Werramat E]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=2474 Carl Zeiss Iena Werramat e]
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** [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=20166 Carl Zeiss Iena Werramatic E]
   
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In English:
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[[Category: 35mm viewfinder]]
  
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* [http://camarasclassicas.blogspot.com/2010/09/werra-design-that-came-from-east.html Werra, the design that came from the east] at [http://camarasclassicas.blogspot.com Classic Cameras] by RaúlM.
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[[Category: 35mm rangefinder]]
  
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[[Category: German 35mm viewfinder]]
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[[Category: German 35mm rangefinder]]
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[[Category: 35mm rangefinder system]]
 
[[Category: East Germany]]
  
[[Category: East Germany]]
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[[Category: Germany]]
  
 
[[Category: W]]
  
[[Category: W]]
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[[Category: Carl Zeiss]]

Revision as of 14:59, 8 April 2012

File:166668396 b50d729379.jpg

The Werra is a series of 35mm viewfinder or rangefinder cameras manufactured by the Carl Zeiss Jena factory which was primarily a lens-making plant. The Werra is named after a small German river.

The cameras offer a high degree of control with a minimum number of levers, knobs or rings. In their simplest incarnations, the Werras featured only a shutter release button on the top plate. With it's streamlined styling, one could call the Werras a design camera. Nearly all other controls were incorporated into the lens barrel.

Twist that lens !

The most unique feature of the Werra is the covered ring around the lens barrel. Twisting the ring cocks the shutter and advanced the film in one motion. In addition, the lens cap doubles as a shade (compare the pictures below).

166668376_62c311fc58_m.jpg 166678301_13d32e5561_m.jpg
Werra I with lens cap. Bottom of the Werra I with controls.
Note the lens cap doubles as a shade.
Pictures by Driesvandenelzen. (Image rights)

The Werra uses a central shutter. It has flash sync at all speeds (B, 1 to 1/750s). It has an X and M setting and a self-timer V.

Markings on this camera

The lens, a 50/2.8 Tessar, is often marked T instead of Tessar and Jena instead of Carl Zeiss Jena because of a conflict between the East- and West-German division of the firm -- though examples of export Werras with both disputed marks do exist.

On the lower left part of the barrel or shutter speed dial, there is a logo, "Q1," meaning "Erste Qualität" or first quality. This was a designation for East-German exports to the West. Models meant for the home market lacked this logo.

The lower right side featured the Ernemann tower logo derived from a tower found at Ernemann's camera factory in Dresden.

Variations and later models

283175020_ae27088af4_m.jpg
Werra lenses. Picture by SteveMPhoto. (Image rights)

Several variations were made. There is an olive green version of the Werra 1. The Werra 2 and Werramatic models have selenium cell lightmeters. The models Werra III, Werra IV, Werra V and Werramatic have a coupled rangefinder together with interchangeable lenses, allowing tele- and wide-angle lenses.

292259342_5f34e12b70_m.jpg 500691064_14a673ac32_m.jpg
Variant with alu film advance ring.
Picture by Alf Sigaro. (Image rights) 		Variant with Compur.
Picture by Egonbja. (Image rights)
283174917_3fe115528f_m.jpg 189872798_9d15a973bf_m.jpg
Werramatic with Flektogon lens.
Picture by SteveMPhoto. (Image rights) 		Olive green variant.
Picture by Mech for I. (Image rights)
4532342626_6e40798d3c_m.jpg 4531751331_3280ec6ee9_m.jpg
4531751327_1920b456bf_m.jpg 4531762709_8dd416e4b5_m.jpg
Werramatic. Pictures by Laszlo Gerencser. (Image rights)

Links

In English:

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