Founded 1923 as Freitaler Kamerindustrie Beier & Co by Waldeamr Beier in Freital, near Dresden; became Kamera-fabrik Woldemar Beier Fretal in 1934; after second world war entire factory plant moved to Soviet Union, only recommencing camera manufacture in 1949; nationalised in 1972 as VEB Kamerafabrik Freital; merged initially with Karl-Pouva Kamerfabrik and Ludwig Optisches Werk Weixdorf in mid 1970s before finally merging with VEB Pentacon in 1976.