120 folder door location

[btgc]

Having my first folder in hands I realized some of folders when unfolded have door at bottom like ZI 524/16 or at side like ZI 524/2 or 521/2 aka Ercona or Hapo 66.

Those cameras having unfolding support on front door, probably are supposed to be used with self-timer (or to make nicer 'camera and coffee mug' shots 50 years later), squared 6x6 frames don't change composition but rectangular formats like 6x9 are supposed to be used vertically?

btw how do you feel about ergonomics using folders with door on side? On this models bellows aren't protected by door from bottom except by lower strut. If door is on side opposite to release button then door can lie on palm but say, Hapo 66 has door on same side where shutter release resides.

Which pros and cons of each door placement do you see and have experienced?

 

[Solinar]

It's usually a 6 x 9 or 35mm folder that has a sideways opening platform.

On a Voigtlander Bessa II the clam shell / front platform swings out to the left of the camera - which places the shutter release on the left side in a very awkward position. This awkwardness is made worse by having the shutter release mounted to the clam shell door.

I really tried to like the Bessa II - but one has to rewire their right-handed brain for both the shutter release on the left side and the top mounted focus dial - that is also on the left.

On my lesser regarded Agfa Record - the clam shell opens to the right - which places the shutter release to the right - which is my preference.

Here is the miniature beast below.

Best Regards,

 

[ZeissFan]

From a user standpoint, the camera can be easier to hold if the lens bed folds down like most (but not all) 6x6 cameras do.

I'm sure it was possible to make a 6x9 with a lens bed that folds down, but the real issue would be to not allow the lens to extend past the lens bed. To ensure that didn't happen, the camera maker would have had to make the camera much taller, but then you would have to figure out what to do with all that wasted space with the body, particularly inside the film chamber.

From a user standpoint, I've never had a problem handling the 6x9 folders. And I love that large negative.

 

[Scrambler]

Broadly speaking, the folding cameras have lenses that are approximately symmetrical, and that therefore sit at their focal length from the film plane. This means around 75mm for 645 cameras, about 80mm for 6x6 and around 105mm for the 6x9s. The other factor is the shape of the bellows.

You can chose any location you want with the square format, but for the rectangular formats you tend to find the door hinges to the side, probably due to the location of the lens needing to be closer (645) or further (6x9) than 80mm.

Fwiw, I have three folders: 645, 6x6 and 6x9 and all hinge to the side. And the two smaller formats have the shutter release on the left, though one has a left hinging door, and one a right. The larger format is a folding Brownie and the release is at the shutter.