Folders - to Fold or not to Fold?

[Krosya]

Hello, everyone.
I'm sort of new here. Been reading a while and now posting.
I wanted to get everyone's opinion - in this digital age, is it worth the trouble to get into old folding cameras, i.e. Agfa, Voightlander Bessa, etc. I have one now - got it for kicks - it's a russian Iskra. Nice camera, everything works, including it's frame counter/film advance. Lens is good too. Actually, I like it enough to want to get more folders. So, whats worth looking at? I did look at www.certo6.com and it's Jurgen's fault ( wink , wink) for me even getting the Iskra. But than again - he is "an interested party" - as he sells/fixes them. Any real users out there? ANy advice?
Thanks,
George :bang:

 

[wlewisiii]

The Iskra, really, is one of the best of them already. Others may be prettier, but for photo quality, it's at the top of the list. Otherwise, you might enjoy looking at the many various Zeiss models, though they will be more expensive.

William

 

[AGN]

Welcome George,

I owned and enjoyed a Vitessa N and a Retina IIIC for several years. The quality was great and the photos were super.

Enjoy, Art

 

[Krosya]

I was doing more reading on the net and found some interesting cameras - Telka III and Ensign. One is french, and the other - english. Almost none of ensign on ebay and ZERO telkas . Anyone here actually has one? Or knows anything? From a couple of sites I found - both seem to be a very nice cameras. 😕
thanks,
George

 

[dazedgonebye]

From my brief and troubled experience....
Unless you are handy with fixing the things, bottom feeding on ebay can be frustrating.

At this point, I'm thinking I will identify the camera I want, then ask Certo6 if he has/can aquire one. Once he's had it, I think I can be confident of it.

The lens on my Moskva-5 is nice...that's the only part of it that is nice at the moment. I've seen excellent shots from the Moskvas and the Iskras.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Kodak Retina IIIc gives a fast 50/2 lens. Very sharp. The IIc is also good, slower lens at 50/2.8. Both are well worth consideration.

 

[dazedgonebye]

I can jump in with another recommendation for the Retina IIa. It is a fun little shooter and very compact.

 

[wlewisiii]

If we're adding in the little guys, I can recommend the Agfa Karat series (lots of lens/shutter combos. All good, some better than others.) and the Zeiss Contessa 35. The Contessa is a glorious little jewel of a camera with a marvellous Tessar T 45/2.8 lens. Mr. Gandy has a good page on it here: http://www.cameraquest.com/contessa.htm

William

 

[Gerry M]

another vote for the Retina IIA. Sharp and fast lens. compact and user friendly.

 

[Krosya]

Hello everyone,
Kodak retina IIa - it's a 35mm right?
I was thinking of a MF camera that's a folder. For 35mm I'm pretty happy with what I got for the moment, but to get into MF has always been a challenge and folders seem a cool way to do it. Plus I love that old time craftsmanship - thay just don't make them like that anymore.
Anyone with Bessa 6x9 out there? Or Weltas, Certo, Balda? Thoughts/experience?
George

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Yes, usually has a 50mm F2 Schneider Xenon; also seen with Rodenstock lenses.

 

[Kim Coxon]

I have an Ensign Selfix 820 and it is simply superb. The 30"x 24" print on the wall of my lounge is from it and my mother in law was so impressed, she has one on her wall as well. Not many on "that" place but quite a few from UK camera dealers. Ffordes have a couple at the moment https://secure.ffordes.com/Shop/Store/Itemdet.asp?Type=secd&sub=0&Code=CO&SubCode=&id=38453&promo=0 and my local shop had one of the smaller one in last week. It lasted about 2 days.

Kim

I was doing more reading on the net and found some interesting cameras - Telka III and Ensign. One is french, and the other - english. Almost none of ensign on ebay and ZERO telkas . Anyone here actually has one? Or knows anything? From a couple of sites I found - both seem to be a very nice cameras. 😕
thanks,
George

 

[dazedgonebye]

Hello everyone,
Kodak retina IIa - it's a 35mm right?
I was thinking of a MF camera that's a folder. For 35mm I'm pretty happy with what I got for the moment, but to get into MF has always been a challenge and folders seem a cool way to do it. Plus I love that old time craftsmanship - thay just don't make them like that anymore.
Anyone with Bessa 6x9 out there? Or Weltas, Certo, Balda? Thoughts/experience?
George

My Balda seems well made. The film counter is nice. It loads and winds easily. I've only gotten back one roll from it and it looked very bad. At this point though, I don't know if the rangefinder is off or if my folder handholding simply needs help. I've certainly seen good shots from baldas by other people.
In any case, I can recommend them for size, build and general handiness.

 

[RML]

I've recently started to collect some folders to fill up a shelf in our living room. I've got 4 right now, with another on the way. The biggest problem is to find the proper film. 120 film will often not fit so you either have to find 620 film, shave off some of the film spool's sides or convert your folder to take 120 film. I've found some 620 film at B&H last weekend in NYC but at $8 (excl. tax), I find it not worth it. I better start to think about how to shave off those spools or how to convert the film chambers to take 120 film.

 

[projectbluebird]

I recently bought an agfa 6x9 folder, as I wanted the larger format as cheaply as I could. I also happened to get it from Jurgen, as his enthusiam is infectious. 😛

I can certainly see how they can become an addiction! I am still STILL! amazed at the compactness of the old folders, My agfa is hardly bigger than my leica, it is truely a "pocket" camera.

All of the technical plusses and minuses (or is that minusi?) aside, I have to admit my fascination with the older all mechanical cameras. besides, pushing the button and watching the bellows unfold and lock is truely a wonderful thing. Without power no less!

 

[Richard Black]

I have a Moskva 5, Agfa Isollette, and a Fujica GS645 and use them all. The Fujica is a modern camera with r/f focus and built-in lightmeter. I had mine serviced by CameraWiz and it is a darling. I love these old things and use them frequently. Some of my best photos are from my folders.

 

[berci]

Hey George,

I have got an Ercona II, 6x9cm folding with a 105mm lens, takes beautiful pictures and almost a pocket camera when folded.

Picture of Ercona II

 

[Bill K.]

My first camera (I still have it) was a 35 mm fording Baldinette. I got as a gift from my parents in the mid 50's. This was my main and only shooter untill the late 60's when I purchased my Pentax Spotmatic.

The Baldinette survived many years of service, including a dunk in the French River and fished out using a borrowed fishing pole with a large hook. I did the repairs myself and it's in good working order.

Over the years I have aquired it's big brother, a 120 Baldalux, a Retina IIIc, a Kodak Tourist and a pristine Polaroid 160 for which no film is available.

I love my folders because they represent (to me at least) an era where craftmanship and quality were more important than mass production. That, and the fact that they look like "real cameras' that required a little knowledge and skill to operate.

Sorry for my nostalgic ramblings, but my main shooter now is a Bessa R with the CV 35/2.5. I like this camera, again, because it's all mechanical (a real camera) and produces excellent results.

Best regards to all,

Bill K.

 

[Rob]

Hello, everyone.
I'm sort of new here. Been reading a while and now posting.
I wanted to get everyone's opinion - in this digital age, is it worth the trouble to get into old folding cameras, i.e. Agfa, Voightlander Bessa, etc. I have one now - got it for kicks - it's a russian Iskra. Nice camera, everything works, including it's frame counter/film advance. Lens is good too. Actually, I like it enough to want to get more folders. So, whats worth looking at? I did look at www.certo6.com and it's Jurgen's fault ( wink , wink) for me even getting the Iskra. But than again - he is "an interested party" - as he sells/fixes them. Any real users out there? ANy advice?
Thanks,
George :bang:

They are fun to fixup and not that hard to do. They take huge negatives also.
Agfa Isolettes are nice with Apotar/solinar lenses. They look neat on display too.
Even in the digital age its fun to shoot B&W film in these..

 

[dazedgonebye]

Because I'm not one to be fixing these things, I just sent my Moskva-5 to Jurgen for a CLA and bellows replacement.
I think it's worth the investment. It's fun to shoot with and a 6x9 negative is too cool to pass up.