Photo Porst was a German photo chain and mail order company. In its history, the company from Nuremberg offered cameras from various manufacturers under the name. There were cameras under the Porst, Hapo, Edixa and Carena brands.
But not only the name “Porst” was used for these special cameras. Another brand name used by Photo Porst was “Carena”. This mark was used for a variety of cameras that came from different parts of the world. As already mentioned, some of the cameras sold under this name were from countries like the Soviet Union, East Germany and various countries in the Far East. The quality of these cameras was often similar or identical to the original products, only now they were offered at a lower price, thanks to Photo Porst’s negotiation strategy.
The Carena brand thus offered an alternative for photographers looking for cameras without having to pay a high price. It also became a strategy that allowed Photo Porst to compete in a highly competitive market and strengthen their customer loyalty. Customers knew they would get good quality at a reduced price under the Carena brand.
It is important to emphasize that while such strategies created a win-win situation for retailers and consumers, they often left original manufacturers in a difficult position. They were faced with the dilemma of either lowering their prices to compete with private label, or continuing to offer their products at a higher price, which could potentially lead to a drop in sales.
Use of the cameras
Can the cameras still be used today? The answer of course always depends on the model and especially whether film material for the analogue camera is still available. In most cases, the Carena cameras can still be used. With cameras for the 35mm format and the 110 format, there is still fresh film material that you can buy.
