Intro & Questions

[graywolf]

Hi, I am a new member here.

I have been thinking about getting a roll film 6x6. Over the holidays I got to thinking about going back to B&W darkroom work, I always liked doing it.

I have a Crown Graphic that I love, but the ancient 4x5 enlarger I have is to heavy for me to haul it in and out of the bathroom on a regular basis, and it is so worn out that it is not much worthwhile.

Then I remembered that I also have an Omega B22 enlarger that was given to me a few years back. That started me thinking about maybe getting a 6x6 folder to play with. In my searching the web about them I found this forum. I signed up and while waiting approval have read most of the old posts on it.

Then thinking about which camera I would like to have, I've about decided that it would be a Balda Super Baldax with a Synchro-Compur shutter. I guess about any lens they fitted into that expensive shutter would do fine. I remember the Super Baldax from catalogs when I was a kid, and always liked the looks of it, although I remember them as being quite a bit cheaper than the other cameras with a coupled rangefinder.

My understanding, from reading the posts about them herein, is that they are about the smallest and lightest coupled rangefinder 6x6 folder that is generally available.

So, I have a couple of questions.

The first would be to ask what I would generally have to expect to pay for one.

The next is that I see a lot of articles about them on the web, and the cameras in those articles seem to all be in super nice shape. Why is that, a lot of them just wound up sitting in drawers for 50 years, or is there something wrong with them so the owners put them up and never used them?

And finally, how hard will it be to find a nice one at a reasonable price?

Anything, I should be especially careful to watch out for with these cameras?

 

[RFH]

Welcome to RFF. I don't know about Baldas specifically, but in general you should watch out for leaky bellows and whether the shutter speeds are correct. And when extended the lens must be parallel to the film plane, not wobbly. If there are minor mechanical issues, working on old folders is not the hardest thing in the world, as they are very simple compared to modern cameras.
I hope you find it and create some great images. Show us some when you do.

 

[Requin]

manfredschmidt.com has a 4.5x6 Baldax for $140. (And some other Baldas).Hope that helps.

 

[graywolf]

Thank you for the Manfredschidt link. I have saved it. Nothing for me there at the moment. I noticed that he has an almost mint Bessa RF listed, for you 6x9 fans.

 

[graywolf]

Welcome to RFF. I don't know about Baldas specifically, but in general you should watch out for leaky bellows and whether the shutter speeds are correct. And when extended the lens must be parallel to the film plane, not wobbly. If there are minor mechanical issues, working on old folders is not the hardest thing in the world, as they are very simple compared to modern cameras.
I hope you find it and create some great images. Show us some when you do.

Thanks RFH, I did not mention that I am a pretty good camera tech. Nor, did I mention that I, because of location, pretty much have to buy mail order which makes it kind of hard to inspect the camera before buying. I just bought a Kodak Duo 620, I think they are real neat, that is going back because it arrived broken due to poor packing.

From which, I learned something for my shipping costs: 1-- Make sure that the shipper puts a couple of rubber bands around the camera so it can not come open and flop around in the mail. 2-- Make sure the seller includes the take up spool, 620 spools are going for more than $10 on eBay.

 

[oftheherd]

Welcome to RFF. As I am sure you know or will learn, there are a lot of good folders out there. To include some of the non-RF. Weltas are one brand that is a favorite of mine.

I don't know anything about Baldas other than what I have read here on RFF. They seem to be well respected and enjoyed by all who have them. The only RF folder I have it a Moskva. Those are really good when they work right. They don't always.

Anyway, good luck in your search, and hope to see some of your results.

 

[Ezzie]

Have a look at Jurgen Kreckel's site. There's a fair bit of information to be had on many different folders, Balda included. He refurbishes and sells folders daily. He has a very good reputation, and my dealings with him have been very pleasureable. In fact I just ordered an Ikonta 521/16 from him. I went for small and light. 😉

Http://www.certo6.com

 

[graywolf]

Well I just bought a Hapo 66E on eBay. My thinking was like this, "I have never actually seen a Balda in the flesh, I certainly have not ever held one, much less used one, so why don't I get a down scale one first and see if I like it?"

The Hapo 66E is a rebadged Balda Baldix, an uncoupled range finder 6x6 similar to the Agfa Isolette III, the Voitlander Perkeo IIIE, etc. I figure that if I really like it I can take my time finding the Super Baldax, and keep the Hapo as a backup. If I don't like it I am only out $100 less what ever I can sell it for.

That left me funds to order a 6x6 lens & negative carrier for my enlarger, and a few rolls of film. Of course, as everyone knows, all this working depends on the sellers being honest in their descriptions, such is the world of eBay.

 

[graywolf]

No sooner do I spend my money on a lesser camera and what pops up on eBay a couple of hours later? You guessed it.

Oh well, the interest is not so much the camera but getting back into B&W darkroom work. The difference allowed me to set the enlarger up for 6x6. Maybe next month a real clean Super Baldax with a synchro-compur shutter will show up again.