Moto-Uno
Moto-Uno
^If I see anymore of this I'm gonna want it back !
Brian Legge
Veteran
I gave up on classic 6x9s. Between lower lens resolution, film flatness issues, front standards that weren't flat... I jumped ship to the Medalist II. Nowhere close to as compact but the quality increase was worth it.
Your answer probably depends on what you want to get out of a 6x6 folder more than anything else. Is there a specific look? A larger, higher resolution negative? A depth of field?
Your answer probably depends on what you want to get out of a 6x6 folder more than anything else. Is there a specific look? A larger, higher resolution negative? A depth of field?
Nokton48
Veteran
Yes I know! $300 is a steal.
There is one on Ebay right now for $1900
That's more like what I remember from selling these at CCG
ww2photog
Established
Voigtlander Berghiel is a great 6x9, Heliar lens, Rada 120 film back.
It was good enough for Brassai !
It was good enough for Brassai !
Robert Lai
Well-known
In another post, I also recommended getting a Kodak Medalist II and having it overhauled and converted to 120 film by Ken Ruth of Bald Mountain. It is a heavy, bulky beast, but with unbeatable image quality.
My Bessa RF is far lighter, and more fragile feeling. However, it folds up compactly. Thus the Bessa RF is usually the one going out with me.
With any of these cameras, tripods are highly recommended. Their shutter releases are not as smooth as that on your Leica M3. When trying to release the shutter, there is a very good chance of shaking the camera.
My Bessa RF is far lighter, and more fragile feeling. However, it folds up compactly. Thus the Bessa RF is usually the one going out with me.
With any of these cameras, tripods are highly recommended. Their shutter releases are not as smooth as that on your Leica M3. When trying to release the shutter, there is a very good chance of shaking the camera.
Pioneer
Veteran
My three favorite 6x9 folders are the Voigtlander Bessa II, the Kodak Monitor 620 (I re-roll 120 film onto 620 spools) and the Agfa Record III.
The Bessa II seems a bit "lefthanded" because of certain design quirks, but the Color Heliar lens is divine.
The Kodak Monitor 620 requires that I re-roll 120 film onto 620 film spools but, again, the Kodak Anistigmat (Tessar Style) is sharp as a tack and the film back seems to hold the film especially flat.
The Agfa Record III is just a terrific camera and the Solinar is another sharp, contrasty tessar style lens. The bellows seem to be a bit higher quality than the ones found on the 6x6 cameras but the focus helicoid was originally lubricated with a grease that is now almost certainly set into a green cement unless it has been replaced by someone.
No 6x9 folder, no matter how nice, will provide quality photographs unless the bellows supports are perfectly straight and aligned. I have found this to actually be more of a problem with folders of all types than lens or film flatness problems. If you get a good one treat it nicely to keep it that way.
The Bessa II seems a bit "lefthanded" because of certain design quirks, but the Color Heliar lens is divine.
The Kodak Monitor 620 requires that I re-roll 120 film onto 620 film spools but, again, the Kodak Anistigmat (Tessar Style) is sharp as a tack and the film back seems to hold the film especially flat.
The Agfa Record III is just a terrific camera and the Solinar is another sharp, contrasty tessar style lens. The bellows seem to be a bit higher quality than the ones found on the 6x6 cameras but the focus helicoid was originally lubricated with a grease that is now almost certainly set into a green cement unless it has been replaced by someone.
No 6x9 folder, no matter how nice, will provide quality photographs unless the bellows supports are perfectly straight and aligned. I have found this to actually be more of a problem with folders of all types than lens or film flatness problems. If you get a good one treat it nicely to keep it that way.