Hapo 66E variations

[graywolf]

At first it looks like there was only one spec on those cameras. But looking more closely at photos of them on the web, I see at least three variations. I have not seen anyone mentioning the variations however.

1. The one I have coming has a 4.5 lens, and I am not sure of the shutter.

2. Most of them seem to have the 3.5 lens with a B, 25, 50, 100, 200 shutter.

3. But some of them have the 3.5 with a B plus 1 -- 300 shutter.

The names on the lenses change too.

But from 1953 to 1961 I guess you would have to expect changes. It would be interesting to know what other variations there might be.

 

[kuzano]

I don't know all the variants....

I don't know all the variants....

But I do know the Hapo 66E was a department store branded camera built for the Hans Porscht department stores in Europe, much like Konica, Mamiya and others built cameras and branded them for Sears.

The 66E I had was the Enna Werke lens (forgot shutter) and was actually a Balda Baldax built by Balda. The Enna lens was sharp and contrasty, and the Uncoupled rangefinder was very accurate, but you manually transferred the focus distance to the lens.

The Balda Baldax I now have (uncoupled range finder) is identical to the Hapo 66e.

When I was playing around with these folders, I found the Hapo/Balda variants to use a variety of lenses. The other folder that came with a variety of lenses were the Franka lines, using Rodenstock Trinar, Enna and others. There was even a period of time when the shortage of lenses for folders caused the Japanese to use German lenses and shutters on some Japanese folders. I've had a couple of these. I've read documentation to this effect. Therefore, it would seem that there is no real definitive plan to the lenses used during manufacture, or by customer ordering.

Voigtlander folders offered about five different lenses concurrently over a 15-20 year span, and Agfa generally used 4 to 5 lens/shutter combinations over time. This all in folders.

Most folders offered three to four lens and at least two shutter varieties. High end lenses were often 4 or 5 element, like Solinars, Heliars, Skopars, while the consumer or low end models were usually three element, like Helomar, Voightar, Vaskar, etc. Low end shutters were often Prontor variations, while high end shutters were often Compur and Compur Rapid. Prontors often were 300 or less on maximum shutter speeds, while the better shutters often offered 400 to 500 shutter speeds.

The variety of lenses could be found on identical bodies and just the luck of the draw by this late date in what variations you come across.

 

[graywolf]

Yes, most folders had several lens options. But I had never seen references to different versions of the Hapo 66E, which I understand was a rebranded for the store Balda Mess Baldix (Balda RF Baldix in English). Now the Baldix clearly came with variations in lenses and shutters, depending upon the price point. But I only realized that there were variations in the Hapo by looking closely at photos here on RFF and other sites, none of the posts that I have read mentioned that, so I was under the impression that they all had the simple 5 speed shutter and the 75/3.5 lens. Now I wonder what other versions there might be other than the ones I have identified.

 

[charjohncarter]

Or maybe they have been modified. Mine is the f3.5 with five setting shutter (Pronto). Like you I looked all over the net and really could find very little on these. All I know is that it is a great camera.

 

[hanskerensky]

My Hapo (Hans Porst) 66E has the basic Gauthier Pronto shutter and an Enna Haponar 1:3,5 75mm lens.

That shutter/lens combination can be seen here :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/4290900715/in/set-72157623250502294/

I also made testfilms to compare the Haponar lens with the Ennagon lens. The differences were minimal. The result can be seen here :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/4611931235/in/set-72157623250502294/

 

[graywolf]

Well, mine has not arrived yet, and the seller is not communicating, sigh! Blowing up one of the photos in PS allowed my to see that it has the basic B, 25, 50, 100, 200 Pronto shutter. The lens is a Haponar 4.5/75. Would it be a safe bet that that is a cheaper lens than the 3.5/75?

 

[graywolf]

Well, the Hapo 66E finally got here. The postal sevice's fault it seems nine days from Oregon to North Carolina according to the postmark.

 

[hanskerensky]

Nice looking Hapo !

Did you check it out already ?

 

[Thomas78]

It looks like a nice, small folder.

I am quite curious what image quality you will get from the Haponar lens.

 

[graywolf]

It seems the automatic frame counter does not work (it can be used with the red window if that is not fixable). The rangefinder is off by a lot. Hopefully I will be able to fix both of those problems. I wasted a roll of Arista EDU Ultra 100 checking (a $2.29 waste, but I will rewind it and use it for more tests).

There are more photos of the camera, if anyone wants to see them, on my "Subject to Change" blog reachable from the link in my sig.

 

[graywolf]

Well, I've got the frame counter counting, and the RF is on at infinity and 1 meter. Now to shoot some pictures and see how the thing is working.

 

[graywolf]

Ah, forgot about this thread. I have only shot one roll of film to test the camera, here is a photo from my blog

and a link to the article if you want to see more
ttp://graywolfphoto.com/journal/?p=962

 

[hanskerensky]

Nice photo and i like your blog Tom !