From 1946 to 1951 the name Belca did not exist. It was still the Balda Werke, which Max Baldeweg had to give up when he fled to the west and subsequently founded the "new" Balda Werke in Bünde. However the factory in Dresden continued manufacturing cameras as early as 1947, just like they had before the war. In 1951 they changed their name to Belca Werk, and in finally in 1956/57 they were absorbed into VEB Kamera-Werke. The Belca Werk is probably most well known for the very popular Belplasca stereo camera (1954) which have become a legend in its own rite.

BeIfoca I (ca. 1952) VF
Serial no.: 089289
Format:  6 x 9 or 6 x 6 on 120 rollfilm (mask)
Optics: Feinmess Dresden Bonotar 1:4,5  105 mm
Shutter:  Tempor B + 1 sec. => 1/250sec.

The Belfoca I was introduced around 1951 and followed by the Belfoca II in 1954. The Belfoca II often causes some confusion because they were also marked "Welta". The Belfoca I came with a variety of lenses and shutters, and I tend to see the Belfoca I as a medium quality folder, and a workhorse for evry day use. It's a simple no fuzz camera that are capable of taking some nice shots. No double exposure prevention, but shutter release on top of the camera body.

Beltica I (ca. 1952) VF
Serial no.: no serial no.
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film (135)
Optics: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:2.8  50mm
Shutter:  Cludor B +1 sec. => 1/200sec.

The Beltica I camera body is in fact identical with the pre-war Baldina, but whereas Max Baldeweg in the west introced the Baldinette, a Baldina with new designed top and bottomplate, the Belca Werke stuck with the original Baldina body, but added a few improvements of their own. The Beltica I has the release button on top of the camera body just left of the viewfinder, a new wonderful filmcounter and i'll be damned if they didn't alsot include parallax adjustment dial under the simple viewfinder See close-up below. The film advance knob are on the bottom on the right !.  Frankly speaking I think that Belca made a better job of facelifting the pre-war Baldina than Max Baldeweg did. This is a wonderful little, and very compact, 35 mm folder, and one of my absolute favourites when it comes to folder cameras. If perfoms well, it feels good and it looks good. It doesn't pretend to be something that it's not. I own 2 of these little folders, but to be honest I wasn't supposed to have the Beltica with the Tessar, but an eBay seller sent me the wrong camera, and when I received it I couldn't bear to part with it.
 

Beltica 1 1/2 (ca. 1952?) VF
Serial no.: 07362.
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
Optics: Meyer-Optik Trioplan F2.9/50mm
Shutter:  Vebur B + 1sec. => 1/250sec.

Nobody seems to agree on what the correct type designation is for this camera. Some calls it the Model I with folding viewfinder, others call it Beltica II and others like me just don't know. Do you ?. So lets just call it the model 1 1/2 ;-). The fact is that this is an entirely new design compared with the Beltica I shown above, and what a nice design it is too. It is a folding type with aluminum plate struts. The lens has a nice focussing knob. On the camera top with its rounded edges you find the shutter release button, the folding release button and an auto-reset framecounter. Furthermore there are two small knobs which I am sure are meant for mounting an accessory shoe. The viewfinder is a simple foldingtype. On the camera back you find the rewind release knob  AND, yes a parallax correction adjustment lever. The Beltica 1 1/2 also offers double exposure prevention. It is truly very amazing to watch what happens when you press the folding release button. The folding bed and the viewfinder snaps open totally simultaneously !. Please see for yourself by clicking on the link below. This feels like a rugged and solid folder, and you know; I love folders....

Please click on this link, and watch as
the Beltica springs into action in realtime.
Just amazing really......
1,5 mb .avi file