Mark Wood
Well-known
I picked up a Franka Solida II at the weekend. It's in lovely condition and seems to be working very well (including the self-timer!). As far as I know, they weren't particularly expensive in their day and it must have been a lower priced model as it has a Pronto 5-speed (if you include B) shutter but it has a useful, uncoupled rangefinder. It also has a double exposure prevention mechanism. The lens is a 75 mm / f3.5 Westar (made by Isco?) and I was wondering if anyone has any experience of its quality as I haven't had a chance to put a film through it yet? (I'm assuming it must be 3 element but I haven't found much information on it as yet.)
Any comments would be of interest!
Any comments would be of interest!
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
mark, did you have any luck on that? I've seen a 45mm westar lens thats a little pricey but may be worth buying in 'leica m39' but I've not found any proof on the net that it will be correctly collimated to a leica
raid
Dad Photographer
Ash: The Solida IIb with rangefinder is highly viewed by people who sell folder cameras. I have one like it with the Schneider Radionar 80mm/2.9 lens Its value is about $150-$175.
Raid
Raid
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
raid. sounds expensive! I better start practicing with the Nettar515 before splashing out that much on another camera ! 
ZeissFan
Veteran
The Radionar is a very average triplet. The Franka is a decent camera, although there is nothing special about it to warrant a price larger than $50.
raid
Dad Photographer
Mike: Juergen Kreckel has a brief write-up on his website on this model. He places it at the same level as the best folders.
Raid
Raid
Laurence
Established
I've had several folders, including the Franka Solida with the so-called "inferior" Enna-Werk lens. It was a 3-element lens and opened up to only f:8 (!) as I recall. I don't think it was even single-coated. I was certainly not expecting much from it, especially in light of having owned the Isolette III with Solinar, and another newer model Solida with a Rodenstock Trinar (3-element).
Well, I was blown away. I took some shots with the Enna-Werk at f:11 and f:16, and the images were consistently sharp and colorful.
So...I am betting that, in those tighter apertures, you'll have a good result with your lens as well.
In the final analysis, it's just such a difference between the "real estate" of the 120 film over 35mm, and with the significant improvement in film emulsions over the years, that even a so-called lesser lens still provides some mind-numbing results.
I think you are going to have a great time with the extremely solid, and yes -- extremely basic -- Solida. Good stuff, and good fun.
Well, I was blown away. I took some shots with the Enna-Werk at f:11 and f:16, and the images were consistently sharp and colorful.
So...I am betting that, in those tighter apertures, you'll have a good result with your lens as well.
In the final analysis, it's just such a difference between the "real estate" of the 120 film over 35mm, and with the significant improvement in film emulsions over the years, that even a so-called lesser lens still provides some mind-numbing results.
I think you are going to have a great time with the extremely solid, and yes -- extremely basic -- Solida. Good stuff, and good fun.