antonandreas
Established
Do you like your folder more than any other camera you own?
If yes, which one and why?
I have a Certo Six that is by far my favorite camera for a few reasons.
1) The X sync
2) Parallax correction
3) The coated f/2.8 Tessar
The Tessar being the most important aspect for me because of the signature it leaves on the image. Very sharp when stopped down, but much softer when wide open which gives beautiful bokeh and a shallow depth of field. The effect is wonderfully dreamy. Considering its somewhat bipolar nature, it is like having two lenses in one.
If yes, which one and why?
I have a Certo Six that is by far my favorite camera for a few reasons.
1) The X sync
2) Parallax correction
3) The coated f/2.8 Tessar
The Tessar being the most important aspect for me because of the signature it leaves on the image. Very sharp when stopped down, but much softer when wide open which gives beautiful bokeh and a shallow depth of field. The effect is wonderfully dreamy. Considering its somewhat bipolar nature, it is like having two lenses in one.
Mablo
Well-known
I'm a BIG fan of Tessar. I love that dreamy signature and sharpness that you described so well.
Solinar
Analog Preferred
An easy question - My most used camera to include digital is my Agfa Super Isolette.
I just love the classic look delivered by the unit focusing Tessar-type Solinar. Next on the list are automat film winding and coupled RF focusing.
Also, with the square 6x6 format there no need to try to hold the camera in a portrait orientation. The negative size allows for cropping under the enlarger for most prints 8x10 and under.
I just love the classic look delivered by the unit focusing Tessar-type Solinar. Next on the list are automat film winding and coupled RF focusing.
Also, with the square 6x6 format there no need to try to hold the camera in a portrait orientation. The negative size allows for cropping under the enlarger for most prints 8x10 and under.
thirteen
Established
I have 2 folders with Tessars - a Zeiss Mess Ikonta 6x9 and a Welta Weltax.
My favorite "folder" (I know I'm cheating a little here) is my Mamiya 6.
I also have a Voigtlander Perkeo II with a Color Skopar - not sure if this is a Tessar- type?
My favorite "folder" (I know I'm cheating a little here) is my Mamiya 6.
I also have a Voigtlander Perkeo II with a Color Skopar - not sure if this is a Tessar- type?
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Not in a million years. I prefer cameras that are faster handling and rigid, e.g. Alpa 12, Graflex XL, Polaroid with adapter back, reflexes...
Unless of course you include 'baby' Linhofs... Ordinary folders are fun but I have some difficulty in regarding them as serious cameras (I have three or four in working order).
Not raining on anyone's parade: just presenting a different viewpoint.
Cheers,
R.
Unless of course you include 'baby' Linhofs... Ordinary folders are fun but I have some difficulty in regarding them as serious cameras (I have three or four in working order).
Not raining on anyone's parade: just presenting a different viewpoint.
Cheers,
R.
steamer
Well-known
I love all my children, they are all good, all have their charms and irritating points, so yes I love my iskra, Super Ikonta 531 A, Super Ikonta C, and Voigtlander Vitessa, but no more so then my various Contax cameras from both Zeiss and Kyocera/Yashica, and the Olys and so on.
Of course the folders are babe magnets, so I try to use them as often as possible. ;-)
Of course the folders are babe magnets, so I try to use them as often as possible. ;-)
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antonandreas
Established
No doubt, I dressed up as a 1950s photojournalist for Halloween and I can not tell you how many conversations were started because of the camera
BTMarcais
Well-known
I had the same idea, but I ended up carrying around a Speed Graphic all day at work...
(and juggling a very wiggly panda for a bit too, when my wife and son came to visit...)
Also a folder (the graphic), but a bit on the big and heavy side.
(we were doing free halloween portraits where I work)
-Brian
(and juggling a very wiggly panda for a bit too, when my wife and son came to visit...
)Also a folder (the graphic), but a bit on the big and heavy side.
(we were doing free halloween portraits where I work)
-Brian
Gary E
Well-known
Well hello Clark, where's Louis?
Seriously, my favorite was my late Balda Baldax. Sure it was peeling all around, but I liked it as it was my father's camera. Then during an overzealous cleaning session, I thought I could get into the coils a little more to smoothen things out a bit by removing the safety screw, then boing..., it fell off the focus mount :bang:
I couldn't get it back on for the life of me. Lesson learned, never screw past the safety screw as it was put there for a reason.
Seriously, my favorite was my late Balda Baldax. Sure it was peeling all around, but I liked it as it was my father's camera. Then during an overzealous cleaning session, I thought I could get into the coils a little more to smoothen things out a bit by removing the safety screw, then boing...
, it fell off the focus mount :bang:I couldn't get it back on for the life of me. Lesson learned, never screw past the safety screw as it was put there for a reason.
P C Headland
Well-known
Yes, my favourite being an Iskra, closely followed by the Certo Six and then a Super Fujica Six.
Roger must have had some bad luck, because all my folders perform very well. I'd not hesitate to put the Certo Six (or Iskra for that matter) up against "proper" cameras.
Roger must have had some bad luck, because all my folders perform very well. I'd not hesitate to put the Certo Six (or Iskra for that matter) up against "proper" cameras.
pstevenin
Established
Yes definetely. My Voigtlander Bessa III 667 is now my prime camera (especially loaded with Delta 3200 exposed at 1600) against M8, Nikon D80 (+ primes only) and ricoh GRD.
Ben Blacket
Established
At some point a folder has been, but I have short love affairs with cameras.
I generally acquire a camera for a specific project or shooting style at the time.
Nothing beats their simplicity, elegance & compactness.
And they force you to take a more considered approach.
I generally acquire a camera for a specific project or shooting style at the time.
Nothing beats their simplicity, elegance & compactness.
And they force you to take a more considered approach.
oftheherd
Veteran
I don't know that any of my folders are favorite cameras. I guess I would ask favorite for what? But I do enjoy using them. Especially my Zeiss Ikon 6x9. Loaded with Fuji color film of choice renders really nice photos. I also enjoy my Welta, Mamiya, and Fuji classic 120 folders. One nice thing is their size. Small and light, but nice big negatives. Especially important over the last few months as I worked through a back problem. Also reduces angst over which and how many lenses to take.
Edit: I might add that I usually have a folder in one of my three 35mm kits. 35mm for the lenses, and folder for the MF negative.
Edit: I might add that I usually have a folder in one of my three 35mm kits. 35mm for the lenses, and folder for the MF negative.
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ruby.monkey
Veteran
I love my Technika 70, but I love my Mamiya RZ67 and Rolleiflex SLX more; so - no.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
My Balda Baldax is a sentimental favorite...but not my favorite camera to shoot with.
Lazy guy likes a built in meter and less to worry about than when using that sort of thing.
Lazy guy likes a built in meter and less to worry about than when using that sort of thing.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Currently I have an old folder (plan on getting one more that is "faster" - something with a 2.8 or 3.5 rather than this slow 6.3 lens - then again, for $40 CDN i wasn't going to complain *LOL*) but it's not my favourite camera at this point in time.
Right now my TLR is my favourite (Rolleiflex T).
There's something about it that I just adore but can't put my finger on what it is. I do know that this is maybe the second camera that I sort of look at as being almost "magical" (in my own mind of course.. I know it's not magical.. *LOL*)
Cheers,
Dave
Right now my TLR is my favourite (Rolleiflex T).
There's something about it that I just adore but can't put my finger on what it is. I do know that this is maybe the second camera that I sort of look at as being almost "magical" (in my own mind of course.. I know it's not magical.. *LOL*)
Cheers,
Dave
Steve M.
Veteran
Based solely on MF image quality, my Bessa II w/ Color Heliar is my favorite camera, followed closely by the Agfa Isolette w/ Apotar lens and the Welta Weltur w/ Xenar. The TLR is just too clumsy to carry around and I haven't used any MF rangefinder cameras, Mamiya included, that compare to the Bessa II's shots.
Based on image quality and ease/quickness of use, the Leica R-5 w/ 50 Summi is hard to beat, as long as I am staying within the enlargement restrictions of 35mm vs MF.
Based on image quality and ease/quickness of use, the Leica R-5 w/ 50 Summi is hard to beat, as long as I am staying within the enlargement restrictions of 35mm vs MF.
oftheherd
Veteran
Well, then, you need to get a Welta Perfekta.
The 6x6 version will fit in a hip pocket like Chippy shows. I don't know about the even more rare 6x9 version.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Well, then, you need to get a Welta Perfekta.
The 6x6 version will fit in a hip pocket like Chippy shows.
Well, sort of. I don't know what size pants you have - the bottom is as flat as any folder, but the top half of the Perfekta is not that slim, almost as big as two folders stacked. You can cram it into a back pocket at a pinch - but that is little more than a solution to get your hands and bag free for a few seconds while you hunt for a filter or the exposure meter...
Sevo
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antonandreas
Established
leads me to asking you antonandreas, is there any finer point you can make as to why the Certo is your fav camera, i was just a little confused is all and actually felt a bit sorry for you when i saw the first reason you stated
in what situations do you actually use flash with the folder? just curious, its not that commonly used as far as ive seen with these nowadays
para correction on the certo is a nice feature, although if its all about features then where do we stop, the new bessa 3, canon or nikon Dslr's. features are nice though and when there on mech camera its that tactile connection we seem to get
Ha, well there is much to address here.
I could wax on about how I love to hold the camera, how it has a weight that is authoritative, how handsome it is, how it takes a common filter size, and how well it handles etc., but I appreciate the three features I mentioned the most. That on top of the fact that I invest my thoughts and feelings into each shot make most of the images I take with this camera very dear to me. Part of the reason I love the camera is the process of making the photo.
Sure my Nikon SLRs have great (and many more) features and are easier to use, but having an affordable medium format camera that does all these very important things is wonderful because I feel medium format is where it is at for picture quality and portability. Besides, the SLRs are not as fun to use.
The x-sync is very key as I built my off camera flash system to go across the board for each of my cameras, except the blasted Ansco Titan which only has m-sync. I need to practice more, but having the ability to make a shot like this is very important to me:
Granted, I burn out my pop's face a bit and the shot is soft (at f/2.8), but I still like the photo a lot.
Anton