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BEIRAX II
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 11:16 am
by anthonym-3
I have bought a circa 1957/58 BEIR BEIRAX II E. LUDWIG 105 mm 4.5 MERITAR TEMPOR SHUTTER. I am not familiar with BEIR LUDWIG or TEMPOR. I'm aware that it is not on a par with my VOIGTLANDER BESSA and AGFA BILLY COMPUR however it appears to be well built. Does anyone have an opinion or review?
Re: BEIRAX II
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 11:57 am
by titrisol
Re: BEIRAX II
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 1:14 pm
by alexvaras
Same here, I never had it in hands but it seems well built. Congrats on you new old camera and share some photos made with it
Re: BEIRAX II
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2020 3:54 pm
by anthonym-3
I tried to post photos got a notice that file was too large. I'll have my daughter fix the problem. At 80 I am not a computer whiz.
Re: BEIRAX II
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 12:08 pm
by melek
I think a Tempor shutter is the East German equivalent of the Prontor.
Re: BEIRAX II
Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:19 pm
by anthonym-3
Mike, I have read that it is possibly an EAST GERMAN COMPUR equivalent. It is an odd duck. I have seen a reference to a 1930's BEIRAX with the same serial number as my 1957/58 model. Are you familiar with the lens quality? It is a 105 mm 4.5 E. LUDWIG MERITAR.
Re: BEIRAX II
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 7:58 am
by titrisol
Camerapedia says that this was a DDR Zeiss shutter
https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Tempor
Re: BEIRAX II
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 10:59 am
by anthonym-3
Thank you, I had read opinions regarding both but nothing absolute. It may be because of the fact that it was manufactured in communist EAST GERMANY and reliable information may have been difficult to get. One site says PRONTOR another COMPUR. Which would you say is the better more reliable? Also do you know how good the lens might be? It is a coated E. LUDWIG 105 mm 4.5 MERITAR.
Re: BEIRAX II
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2020 12:58 pm
by titrisol
Yup, DDR=East Germany
They both should be fine, the ones I have from pre and post=war cameras (Federal Germany) have rarely failed, albeit needing a cleaning once every 20 yrs.
The lens, I have never seen before, I expect you'll need a shade though
anthonym-3 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 10:59 am
Thank you, I had read opinions regarding both but nothing absolute. It may be because of the fact that it was manufactured in communist EAST GERMANY and reliable information may have been difficult to get. One site says PRONTOR another COMPUR. Which would you say is the better more reliable? Also do you know how good the lens might be? It is a coated E. LUDWIG 105 mm 4.5 MERITAR.
Re: BEIRAX II
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2020 6:39 am
by GrahamS
The Tempor shutter was made by VEB Zeiss Ikon Dresden. I have used a Tempor shutter occasionally and have never had any problem, even when it hasn't been cleaned or serviced for aeons. The Prontor was made by the Gauthier company based in Calmbach. The Compur was made by F. Deckel, based in München.