The Madecine Shop

BEIRETTE VSN 2
PRODUCT ID: SF.100831

OVERVIEW
Beirette was a name applied to a long sequence of compact 35mm viewfinder camera models, made from 1958 to the 1980s in East Germany by Beier. There were also some folding Beirettes, made from 1939, but production apparently disappeared during WWII. Although the name stayed the same, various tweaks in the design were made. Several versions of this camera were sold by Boots, for example the Boots Beirette BL, or branded as Revue for export markets.

The VSN 2 is identical to the VSN except it is black, harder to find, and is made by (or with?) Carl Zeiss Jena. Both models were sold with a very handsome black tasche with red felt interior – Very Commie!

This camera is rare so I have problems finding sufficient information online (apologies). All I can say that it’s has a very nice communist look, and great for experimental photography – pictures can be quite crappy or quite brilliant! Lomo lovers will definitely love this.

To see sample images taken with the Beirette

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NIKO 48MM SKYLIGHT FILTER

Some time ago, a customer requested for a filter to go along with his Canon QL17 GIII. Easy task I thought. I popped by Peninsula but to my surprise, I couldn’t find one! No filter to protect those beautiful lenses isn’t something we’re going to live with!
We hunted every mountain and found some decently coated 48mm filters by an unknown brand Gemko. They made our customers very happy and the limited stocks didn’t last very long. Fortunately, we managed to find a replacement “NIKO”, and through our naked eyes, they look like they have better coating than the earlier Gemkos.

NEW OLD STOCKS IN LIMITED QUANTITIES.
Fits all standard 48mm screw threads.

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MINOX 35GT
PRODUCT ID:SF.100713

OVERVIEW

The Minox 35 GT, introduced in 1981, continued Minox’s successful range of 35mm compact cameras, reputedly the smallest full-frame 35mm cameras ever made. The lens retracts into the camera body when closed, fully opening the cover activates the battery. Exposure is automatic, aperture priority. Different models in the Minox 35 range were identified by shutter release buttons in differing colours: the GT is easily identified by its yellow shutter release button.

The GT improved features of its predecessors, the EL and the GL. It introduced an electronic self-timer, with a flashing LED above the camera’s name. Another improvement on the previous models is the siting of the cable release socket to the side of the shutter release button, to prevent accidental triggering of the shutter.

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IHAGEE EXA 1C
PRODUCT NUMBER: SF.100708

OVERVIEW

The EXA Ic was a late re-edition of Ihagee’s SLR body Exa Ib. It was produced from 1985 to 1987. The “c” expresses that this EXA had been produced by Certo. While most of the Exa’s share their lens mount with the Exakta’s, the Ic has a 42mm screw mount. This enables you to use a wide variety of M42 lenses.

The Exa has a remarkable shutter: there are no curtains, but two rotating cylinders, one of which is fixed to the mirror. When you press the shutter button, the mirror goes up, thus opening the shutter. After the time set the second cylinder rotates to close it again. When you cock the shutter, both cylinders are placed in the original position.

Another interesting feature of this exa is that by half depressing the shutter button, the diaphragm closes. So each time you fire, you get a depth of field preview.

Some sample pictures [1] [2] [3] [4]

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REVUE 35CC
PRODUCT ID: SF.100714

OVERVIEW

A close cousin to the Lomo LC-a and Minox 35, the Revue 35cc is a small, pocketable camera. It has a quirky lens door system that opens and closes by cranking the advance lever. It is easy to use, running on scale focusing and program AE auto-exposure.

Probably manufactured by Chinon (Japan) for Foto-Quelle.

Although a close clone to the Chinon Bellami, there are minor design modifications:
The advance lever is curved vs straight on the Bellami.
The trigger is black on the 35cc vs chrome on the Bellami.
The top of the hood that covers the rewind button has a totally different design.
The leatherette 35cc has a regular grain vs a fine grain faux leather on the Bellami

Revue 35cc on Lomography’s gallery.

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NIKON FM2(n) SLR BODY
PRODUCT ID: SF.101116

OVERVIEW
Some call it “The best camera in the world”, Nikon prides it as “The Traditionalists’ Choice”.

The Nikon FM2n is famous for a few things: Its solid built of a tank, its independence to work without batteries, its smooth and easy film winding mechanism, and many more. Simply put, this classic is a camera that exudes quality.

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NIKON FM SLR BODY (BLACK)
PRODUCT ID: SF.101115

OVERVIEW
A mechanical-shutter version of the FE, considerably lighter and smaller than other Nikon SLR’s, the FM patches some of the key weaknesses found in the Nikkormat bodies FT series cameras, while on the other hand, it measured well against with its original concept and body design; in addition, it offers a enterprising photographer a few advances of its own. The FM has proven to be a very successful camera. It can take you to the heart of 35mm SLR photography in a compact, economical and easy-to-operate format and bring you right to the door step of Nikon SLR system.

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EXAKTA 70-300MM F/4.5-5.8 MACRO MC LENS IN NIKON MOUNT (AI-S)
PRODUCT ID: SF.101124

OVERVIEW

Exakta may not be a familiar brand name in our region but its history well predates Canon and Nikon.
More importantly, this is high quality at low price! Which lens these days have a 9 -blade diaphragm and a barrel this solid? This 70-300mm multi-coated lens may not have the most impressive f/stops but its 9-blade diaphragm is bound to yield creamy bokeh!

Now, back to some Exakta history. Established in 1930′s by the Ihagee Kamerawerk in Dresden, Germany, Exakta was the pioneer in small format photography. It all began in 1933 with the Exakta A – the first single lens reflex for small format roll film creating eight exposures 4 X 6.5cm on 127 format film. In 1936, IHG had designed and manufactured the first of the Kine Exakta models using 35mm perforated film which would ultimately come to make the Exakta name one of the best known and sought after in the world of photography for the next thirty years. The camera featured an interchangeable lens mount enabling a wide range of Zeiss lenses to be fitted including the Primotar f/3.5 50mm and Tessar f/3.5 and f/2.8 50mm. It was one of the first 35mm slrs.

Exakta enjoyed reasonable success in the next decades with several other small and medium format SLRs until the 60′s. Later Exaktas were mainly re-badged Japanese, by manufacturers such as Petri or Cosina.

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