Balda Baldax Red Windows

[analoged]

I have a Balda Baldax from around 1935 with a nice 7.5cm Tessar in Compur Rapid shutter, best of all its all working perfectly despite its user cosmetics. My question has to do with frame spacing for 6x6, this camera has a total of four red windows with different frame numbers on them. How do I use these?

 

[Godfrey]

...My question has to do with frame spacing for 6x6, this camera has a total of four red windows with different frame numbers on them. How do I use these? ...

My Mamiya Press 23 Super has the multi-format roll film back fitted to it at present. In this back, the film runs from supply spool on the right to take-up spool on the right, and the peephole windows are organized this way:

That indicates that the peephole window in the center of the roll film width, aligned with the lens axis, will show the right numbers for 6x6 framing. The other 'tracks' on the backing paper will show the indices for the 6x4.5 and 6x9(8,7) formats. (since I don't have the 645 and 6x6 inserts for the back, I simply tape over the peephole window sliders so as not to open one of them by mistake and get confused.)

G

 

[analoged]

I wasn't sure if this camera originally came with a 4.5x6 mask. I'm assuming just using the center window for 6x6 should work fine and disregard the others.

 

[Ambro51]

That camera has Some Patina! Love it, show us the Front!

 

[analoged]

Sure thats easy!

 

[analoged]

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[julio1fer]

6x6 window is right in the center of the back.

The ones left and right are for doing 4.5 x 6 with the 6x9 markings.

I have no idea about the upper center window.

 

[analoged]

Thank you Julio! Have a roll of Ultrafine 400 loaded now!

 

[tunalegs]

120 film was originally only marked for eight 6x9 exposures. So to get 12 6x6 frames out of the roll, a camera needed 3 red windows, and you had to wind to specific frame numbers in specific red windows. On your camera, those frame numbers are stamped next to their respective red window. It is interesting that it also has a central red window, which suggests at the time some but not all manufacturers were starting to print numbers for 6x6 on the backing paper.


You'll see this set up on some pre-war TLRs. Early Rolleiflex used 117 film which was marked for 6x6, so only needed one red window, but Altiflex, Reflecta, etc. had three red windows (the only post-war camera I know of with this set up is the very first series of Ricohflex - which I think had them because the design was based off the prewar Reflecta).