Folding Bessa 6x9 Pics

[Krosya]

Hello All,
A little while back I had posted a thread about folders and meanwhile I got me a Bessa, folding Voigtlander, all black from 1930's, 6x9 format. It's a beautiful camera, with a somewhat small window for a rangfinder (it has a coupled one) and a lefthanded shutter release. Lens is Skopar, uncoated of course. Well, so How does it perform? It took me a little time, actually, very little to get used to it. Yes, I would prefer a bigger and brighter rangefinder, but.... well that how they made it, so, thats what I have to work with. While, I only got to scan a few negs, here is one, and I'll add more as they come. Film is Fuji 400 colour print film. Scanned on Epson 2450 flatbed. Sorry for the dust . PS. See it at full scale to see details that Skopar can deliver. MInd you - its scanned on a flatbed at 600dpi. Imagine this at full scale... Who says that old folders can't deliver?
Any comments?
Thanks,
George

 

[sf]

That's impressive. I have not seen much from that camera, but I like it. I had my eye on the one with the Heliar lens, but dropped out of the race at the last moment.

Some day, I want a folder.

 

[Silva Lining]

Lovely Shot Krosya, I love the Skopar Lens on the old folding Bessas, although everyone raves about the Heliar, I think the Skopar is a great perfomer too. I have got 2 Bessa RF's one a Skopar and the other a non working (yet) Helomar. Both were received in a pretty bad way with torn bellows and misalligned rangefinders. Fixed the Skopar though and took this pic locally.

 

[dazedgonebye]

Very nice. You can't take much away from that shot.
I'm antsy for my Moskva 5 to come back with its new bellows and CLA.

 

[Krosya]

More Bessa Pics

More Bessa Pics

Here is couple more pics taken with this Bessa 6x9 Folder. Don't forget to see them at full size.

George

 

[tron]

Krosya, did you take these hand held ?

Here is couple more pics taken with this Bessa 6x9 Folder. Don't forget to see them at full size.

George

 

[Krosya]

Krosya, did you take these hand held ?

Yes sir. All hand held. Fuji print film and scanned on a Epson Flatbed scanner, at 300 dpi. Didn't even clean up negs too much - you can see little dust here and there.

George

 

[Laurence]

Lovely Shot Krosya, I love the Skopar Lens on the old folding Bessas, although everyone raves about the Heliar, I think the Skopar is a great perfomer too. I have got 2 Bessa RF's one a Skopar and the other a non working (yet) Helomar. Both were received in a pretty bad way with torn bellows and misalligned rangefinders. Fixed the Skopar though and took this pic locally.

The detail in the background trees...to die for. 😱

 

[nico]

Interesting so much that I'd like to buy one folder but what about film?
Bye
Nico

 

[ChrisN]

I'm impressed! Those second two shots are amazing!

 

[Silva Lining]

Interesting so much that I'd like to buy one folder but what about film?
Bye
Nico

Go for it!

Film is 120 and is freely available. Most users have their own favourite brand, and I tend to use Fuji Acros 100 or Kodak TMax.

 

[nico]

Go for it!

Film is 120 and is freely available. Most users have their own favourite brand, and I tend to use Fuji Acros 100 or Kodak TMax.

Sorry for the silly question but 120 film is the one for 6x6 camera?
thanks.
N.

 

[thafred]

Wow..Impressing Pictures!! someday I´ll have a 6x9 folder too (can you post a pic of the Camera?) ...those Voigtländers were the Best in terms of build quality back then I´ve heard...is that right? ...the Skopar makes very nice Pictures!

Since I´m lacking a scanner for 6x6 I havent shot with my folders much...looks like I should consider getting one ;-)

Sorry for the silly question but 120 film is the one for 6x6 camera?
thanks.
N.

Hi Nico, Yes 120 Film is for 6x6 but it depends on the Mask behind the Lens if you use it as 6x4.5, 6x6 or 6x9 and all Films have the different format Numbers printed on the Paperback (so you can wind with looking at the Red window)

Cheers

 

[thafred]

One question: are the Bellows of your Folder ok? or did you have to repair them?

My isolettes bellow is full of pinholes but my Rodenstock folder with leather bellows is ok....what are the bessas bellows made of?

 

[Krosya]

Wow..Impressing Pictures!! someday I´ll have a 6x9 folder too (can you post a pic of the Camera?) ...those Voigtländers were the Best in terms of build quality back then I´ve heard...is that right? ...the Skopar makes very nice Pictures!

Since I´m lacking a scanner for 6x6 I havent shot with my folders much...looks like I should consider getting one ;-)



Hi Nico, Yes 120 Film is for 6x6 but it depends on the Mask behind the Lens if you use it as 6x4.5, 6x6 or 6x9 and all Films have the different format Numbers printed on the Paperback (so you can wind with looking at the Red window)

Cheers

Hi,
Thank you. Here are photos of cameras. Both bessa 6x9. Well, all black one is sold, I have Black and Brown one left. Brown is addition by me to replace wornout leathette. Plus I did Full CLA on lens, shutter and RF. Bellows are in great condition. Most Bessas I have seen have good bellows. Whats more of a problem typically with these is struts and Rf's. Bellows seem to be made of some kind of paper with rubberized base. But not leather I think.
George

 

[Krosya]

More Bessa 6x9 Photos

More Bessa 6x9 Photos

Hi All,
Just thought I would share some more photos with you, that I took with my Voigtlander Bessa 6x9 Folder. I went to the zoo a couple of weekends ago and I had my Bessa with me. It's very nice to have a 6x9 camera that fits in a pocket. Of course I got all sorts of odd looks when I unfolded the camera, but what do I care? I enjoy it. Next to all those digital P&S cameras, or even SLRs it looks really cool. Anyway, here are a few pics that I ended up with. Film was Fuji Provia 100 slides. Exposure was sort of guessed by sunny 16 rule. Keep in mind that Skopar lens is uncoated and no lens hood is used. Film scanned on an Epson flatbed 2450 at 300dpi. Dont forget to see them full size.

What do you think? Can camera from 1937 still do a good job? hehe. 😉

George

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Wow, sharp sharp sharp! Great exposures as well, esp. for guessing with slide film.

 

[portia]

My Bessa II pic

My Bessa II pic

As long as we are sharing 6x9 pics, here is a photo I took with my Bessa II 6x9(Skopar lens) using Fuji Neopan Acres 100 film.
It's taken at the Natural Bridges park in Santa Cruz, CA.

 

[jan normandale]

totally OT.... Portia, nice to see you sticking your head up out of the weeds. If I recall you also used a Mamiya 6 RF.

 

[Krosya]

As long as we are sharing 6x9 pics, here is a photo I took with my Bessa II 6x9(Skopar lens) using Fuji Neopan Acres 100 film.
It's taken at the Natural Bridges park in Santa Cruz, CA.

I love it - great photo and great lens performance. I'm sure some people never expect a folder to perform this well. Yet, here is a proof.
Could you post more with this camera? Also, do you remember specifics - app. and shutter speed settings? I'm guessing it was on a tripod?

Thanks,
George