Perhaps the movie equipment from the Soviet Union is well known and popular in the world, but in the COMECON member countries, the Czechoslovakian equipment were the only alternative having near quality to those made in the Western and Eastern counterparts. Meopta was not an exception among these…
Some movie cameras (made at the Brno factory):
A (or a) stands for Admira,
Supra for Super,
Newton for Newton-type non-reflex,
2X8 mm for Double 8,
2X8 mm Super for Double Super 8 (DS8).
a EL 8
Amateur movie camera for 2×8 mm film.
Lens: Variodyaliscope 1.8/8.5-34 mm Zoom
Drive: electric motor
Counter: contact-type
Speed: 18 and 24 fps
Viewfinder: optical, direct vision
Automatic aperture setting
Year of production: 1960
A8 G
Amateur movie camera for 2×8 mm film.
Lens: Mirar 2.8/12.5 mm
Drive: spring-loaded
Counter: contact-type
Speed: 16 fps
Viewfinder: Galilean
Semi-automatic aperture setting by aid of built-in CdS exposure meter
Film sensitivity: ASA 12-200
Weight: 1.32 kg
Year of production: 1964
A8 GO
Amateur movie camera for 2×8 mm film.
Lens: Mirar 2.8/12.5 mm
Drive: spring-loaded
Counter: contact-type
Speed: 16 fps
Viewfinder: Galilean
Weight: 1.20 kg
Years of production: 1968-73
A8 G2
Amateur movie camera for 2×8 mm film.
Lens: Mirar 2.8/12.5 mm
Drive: spring-loaded
Counter: contact-type
Speed: 16 fps
Viewfinder: Galilean
Automatic aperture setting by aid of built-in CdS exposure meter
Film sensitivity: ASA 12-200
Weight: 1.32 kg
Year of production: 1966
A8 GO SUPRA
Amateur movie camera for 2×8 mm Super film.
Lens: Mirar 2.8/12.5 mm
Frontal attachments: Mirar 0.65x (Wide angle), Openar 2.4x (Tele)
Drive: spring-loaded
Counter: contact-type
Speed: 18 fps, single frame
Viewfinder: Galilean
Manual exposure control
Film sensitivity: ASA 12-400
Year of production: 1968
A8 G1 SUPRA
Amateur movie camera for 2×8 mm Super film.
Lens: Mirar 2.8/12.5 mm
Frontal attachments: Mirar – 0.65x (Wide angle), Openar – 2.4x (Tele)
Drive: spring-loaded
Counter: contact-type
Speed: 18 fps, single frame
Viewfinder: Galilean
Manual exposure control
Film sensitivity: ASA 25-400
Year of production: 1968
A8 G2 SUPRA
Amateur movie camera for 2×8 mm Super film.
Lens: Mirar 2.8/12.5 mm
Frontal attachments: Mirar 0.65x (Wide angle), Openar 2.4x (Tele)
Drive: spring-loaded
Counter: contact-type
Speed: 18 fps, single frame
Viewfinder: Galilean
Automatic aperture setting by aid of built-in exposure meter
Film sensitivity: ASA 12-400
Years of production: 1968-71
A8 L1 SUPRA
Amateur movie camera for 2×8 mm Super film.
Lens: Mirar 2.8/12.5 mm
Drive: electric motor
Counter: contact-type
Speed: 12, 18, 24 fps, single frame
Viewfinder: Galilean
Semi-automatic aperture setting by aid of built-in exposure meter
Film sensitivity: ASA 25-400
Year of production: 1971
A8 L2 SUPRA
Amateur movie camera for 2×8 mm Super film.
Lens: Mirar 2.8/13 mm
Drive: electric motor
Counter: contact-type
Speed: 12, 18, 24 fps, single frame
Viewfinder: Galilean
Automatic aperture setting by aid of built-in exposure meter
Film sensitivity: ASA 12-400
Year of productions: 1971-72
A8 G and L series have 130° focal-plane shutter and they don’t have beam-splitter reflex system, so the exposure time is about 1/50 @ 18 fps.
They use common accessories like Mirar 0.65x Meopta (wide-angle) and Openar 2.4x (telephoto) lens attachments, as well as Mask and Title accessories. Due to non-coupled viewfinder, focusing with the Openar 2.4x requires self estimation.
L1 and L2 cameras have AA battery powered three-speed, folding handle and trigger on the body.
Czechoslovakia was producing professional movie cameras such as FTP ARK-1 35, ERK-1 35, TK-1 35 and TK-4 35/16 made by “Filmový průmysl” (means Film industry), located at the Barrandov Studios, Prague, as well as Šlechta VII and Cinéphon made by the firm “Josef Šlechta”, Prague.
Some 8mm movie projectors (made at the Hynčice factory):
The lamp codes are belonged to the ANSI classification.
MEOLUX I
Amateur silent movie projector
for Standard and Super 8 film
Lens: Corrigon 1.3/25 mm
Film spool: 120 m
Light source: electric lamp 8V/50W (CXR)
Speed: 18 and 25 fps
Year of production: 1969
MEOLUX II
Amateur silent movie projector
for Standard and Super 8 film
Lens: Corrigon 1.3/20 or 1.2/15 mm
Film spool: 120 m
Light source: electric lamp 8 V/50 W (CXR)
Speed: 18 and 25 fps
Weight: 4.75 kg
Years of production: 1972-77
MEOS
Amateur silent movie projector
for Standard and Super 8 film
Lens: Corrigon 1.2/15 mm
Film spool: 120 m
Light source: halogen lamp with dichroic mirror 12 V/75 W (EFN)
Speed: 18 fps
Year of production: 1978
MEOS DUO
Amateur silent movie projector
for Standard and Super 8 film
Lens: Corrigon 1.2/15 mm
Film spool: 120 m
Light source: halogen lamp with dichroic mirror 12 V/100 W (EFP)
Speed: 4-6, 16-24 fps (variable by rheostat)
Years of production: 1977-86
KP 8-2 SUPER
Cassette-type movie projector
for Super 8 film with max. capacity of 15 m
Lens: Corrigon 1.4/12.5 mm
Lighting system: halogen lamp with spherical reflector 12 V/100 W (EFP), two-lens condenser
Cooling: by blower
Drive: electric motor 220 V/50 Hz
Maximum input: 150 W
Weight: 6.15 kg
Years of production: 1976-80
Some 16mm movie projectors (made at the Přerov factory):
The lamp codes are belonged to the ANSI classification.
MEOCLUB 16 AUTOMATIC
Lens: Meostigmat 1/50 mm
Light source: 220 V, 1000 W
Speed: 25 and 18 fps
Drive: asynchronous motor, 220 V/40 W, 2800 r.p.m.
Film threading: automatic and manual
Spool capacity: 600 m
Sound: optical and magnetic
Amplifier: 15 W, transistorized
Year of production: 1968
MEOCLUB 16 AUTOMATIC S
Lens: Meostigmat 1/50 mm
Light source: 220 V, 1000 W
Speed: 25 and 18 fps
Drive: asynchronous motor, 220 V/40 W, 2800 r.p.m.
Film threading: automatic and manual
Spool capacity: 600 m
Sound: optical and magnetic
Amplifier: 15 W, transistorized
Year of production: 1968
MEOCLUB 16 AUTOMATIC H
Lens: Meostigmat 7/50 mm
Light source: halogen 24 V, 250 W (ELC)
Speed: 25 and 18 fps
Drive: asynchronous motor, 220 V/40 W, 2800 r.p.m.
Film threading: automatic and manual
Spool capacity: 600 m
Sound: optical and magnetic
Amplifier: 15 W, transistorized
Year of production: 1970
MEOCLUB 16 electronic
Lens: Meostigmat 1/50 mm
Light source: halogen 24 V, 250 W (ELC)
Speed: 25 and 18 fps
Drive: asynchronous motor, 220 V/40 W, 2800 r.p.m.
Film threading: automatic and manual
Spool capacity: 600 m
Sound: optical and magnetic
Amplifier: 15 W, transistorized
Loudspeaker system: 1.5 W/8 Ohm built-in, 6 W/8 Ohm front cover, 20 W/4 Ohm external box
Weight: 17.5 kg
Years of production: 1980-84
MEOCLUB 16 AS 2
Lens: Meostigmat 1/50 mm
Light source: halogen 24 V, 250 W (ELC)
Speed: 25 fps
Drive: asynchronous motor, 220 V/40 W, 2800 r.p.m.
Film threading: automatic and manual
Spool capacity: 600 m
Sound: optical and magnetic
Amplifier: 15 W, transistorized
Weight: 17.8 kg
Years of production: 1982-84
MEOCLUB 16 electronic 2
Lens: Meostigmat 1/50 mm
Light source: halogen 24 V, 250 W
Speed: 25 and 18 fps
Drive: asynchronous motor, 220 V/40 W, 2800 r.p.m.
Film threading: automatic and manual
Spool capacity: 600 m
Sound: optical and magnetic plus magnetic recording
Amplifier: 15 W, transistorized
Loudspeaker system: 1.5 W/8 Ohm built-in, 6 W/8 Ohm front cover, 20 W/4 Ohm external box
Weight: 17.5 kg
Years of production: 1984 only
The sound speed of meopta 16mm projectors was changed from 24 fps to 25 fps later.
meopta was also manufacturing professional line of 16 mm, 35mm and 70/35 mm cinema projectors at the Přerov factory with success.
For more information please visit the Meopta Story page.
This post is dedicated to the beautiful Czech and Slovak women!
Most of the pictures are courtesy of Mr. Patrik Burša, Manager, Meopta-optika, s.r.o., Přerov – © 2011
say yes 2 analog 