A folder on a budget....Witch maker/model?

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vegard_dino

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Hello all.

I have got the medium format under my skin now:)
I now have a larger TLR in medium, but it is a bit large to carry on the outdoors trip I do. I do like to bring a camera with me then to. When I go fishing, hunting and hiking.

So, a compact , folding 120 camera must be a ideal?
But, if having a budget on 200$, CAN I find a ok camera?
What model, maker to look for?
 
Alright I'm joining you on this one. :)
TLRs are not too practical for my travels as well, particularly the focusing can be a bit fiddly at times.
 
I have two ... A Balda Baldix that I paid less than $200 for and a Voigtländer Perkeo II that was in the $260 range. That said, I sent both in for a thorough CLA as both had slow shutter speeds and gritty mechanisms. That cost an additional $150-200 apiece.

If you buy a vintage age camera and expect to put it to regular use, it is best to
a) get the best example you can find of whatever brand and model, and
b) budget for a thorough cleaning and service.

Both of my classic folders are now superb shooting cameras, each with its own distinct character. These cameras are barely larger than a Leica CL when folded and make wonderful photos.

G
 
Zeiss Nettar 515..bought one couple of years ago in Dresden. Uncoated f4.5 lens and it produces great photos from that glass. Slips into your pocket speeds to 1/150sec. and 16 exposures on 120 film. Grrreat! and it didn't cost a leg.
 
Thanks for the tips.
Yes, these folders do get small and handy. And, from what I have seen, they do produce some great photos.
 
If you don't need a rangefinder and if 6x4.5 is workable, I'd recommend the Zenobia. They tend to be cheap (~$75), have nice rigid bodies and produce great images.
 
Any of the non-rangefinder equiped cameras should be in your range. Agfa/Ansco's are nice, but usually have bellows and frozen focusing issues, unless they've been recently serviced. Zeiss made some great folders in different formats (6x4.5,6x6, 6x9) that could fit the bill. Balda, Certo, Solida, and Voigtlander would round out the German makes. Mamiya, Minolta, and Petri were some of the Japanese brands with folders.

PF
 
My super clean Voigtlander Perkeo isn't seeing much use since I bought a Zeiss Super Ikonta B...

I think these can be had for under USD200, and they have very sturdy RF's to boot too.

Just the other week I bought a very nice Ensign Auto-Range 200 from the Classifieds here, so it might be a good idea to put up a Wanted ad, they're free...
 
Not much mention of Welta. They are fine cameras and don't usually suffer from age problems like others, except sometimes from the very thin leather they used coming loose. The 6x6 can be very small. Try to get a 645/6x6 with the 645 insert, but without it(most) you will enjoy them.

I also have a Zeiss 6x9 that takes really great photos. It is probably lighter than the Weltas I have. Fuji 6x6 folders are also nice.

I carry either a Welta or the Zeiss in my two 35mm kits so when I want more negative, I can use one of them.
 
The Zeiss folders are of excellent quality, even the humble Nettars (which are below the Ikontas in features). I'd go with a postwar one, because those will have coated lenses. The better ones have Tessar lenses, but the Novar lens (a three element design) will yield really good results if stopped down to f8 or smaller. The Nettars use the red window, so there's no auto-stop mechanism to break. I recommend in particular the so-called "Signal" Nettar, which has a red telltale in the finder to indicate you need to wind on to the next frame. The Nettars were all zone focus, but that's easy enough to use. You should be able to get a nice Nettar for well under $100.

Another one that's a step up from the Nettars, because it has an uncoupled rangefinder, is the Mess-Ikonta. Expect to spend closer to $200 for one of those.

These cameras are available as 6x6 or 6x9, so you should decide which format you want. I believe the 6x9s were only that -- that is, no 6x6 masks were available.

If you want one with 6x6 or 6x9 capability, look at the Moskva-4 or Moskva-5. Fine cameras, with coupled rangefinder, based on the Super Ikonta. They can be had for $100 or less in decent shape.
 
Regarding the price range, I did get a fully working Super Ikonta B 6x6 from eBay for a bit over $200 a couple of years ago. It's the older version from the 30's with an uncoated Tessar lens, but it takes superb photos. And it has auto frame stop so it does not rely on the ruby window, albeit only 11 frames on a 120 roll, not 12.
 
Hello and thank you all for the tips.
I will putt in a add and se what comes up. Maybe I am lucky here.
It is the 6x6 I will go for, I am getting a slide projector for that format.
 
My Ikonta M (Mess Ikonta, or 524/16) is a fine performer. Cost me all of $35. The shutter wasn't working, but that was an easy fix, as the catch lever was just a little bent out of shape from 60 years of use. Cleaned the lens, escapement, and delay while I was at it, and it works great. Luckily I didn't have to take the top off, as the view and rangefinders just needed their outer windows cleaned. It's a nice jacket-pocketable camera with a good double-exposure preventer so you know when to wind on to the next frame. Although that can easily be defeated if you want to.

PF
 
Voigtländer Rollfilm or Bessa made in the late 20th and early 30th will go for this even with the faster 4,5 or maybe 3,5 Skopar lenses.

http://www.foto-krueger.com/

These guys from Germany have very resonable prices an ebay shop to and are open for negociations ;-)
 
My budget was much less so for $25 I picked up a nice clean Zeiss Nettar with a 4 speed shutter, B and 1/25~1/200 and a 3 element 75 mm f6.3 Novar.

Slow lens but nice compact camera. Only 18oz. with film.
 
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