abumac
Well-known
I am looking for a folder. What do you think about a Iskra? Is it a good camera? Where could I get a good one?
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
There have been a couple of threads lately about the benefits and pitfalls of Iskra ownership ... search the forums for Iskra. This thead has some good information in it ... http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75727&highlight=Iskra
I like mine but I'm not sure that I would recommend it as a first 6x6 folder ... it's not particularly intuative to shoot with and there are known film advance problems. That said I wouldn't part with it!
I like mine but I'm not sure that I would recommend it as a first 6x6 folder ... it's not particularly intuative to shoot with and there are known film advance problems. That said I wouldn't part with it!
ZeissFan
Veteran
Nearly all folding cameras have benefits and drawbacks.
Most will need to be serviced, and you should expect the shutters will need to be serviced. Some won't.
Agfa: Frozen helicals, holes in bellows. Lightweight construction. Very sturdy arms on the lens door. Apotar (triplet) lens is good. Solinar (four elements) is better.
Kodak: Didn't make too many 6x6 folding cameras. There is the Vollenda 620 6x6 model. It's 620, so you'll want to respool. Sturdy camera. Easy to use. Lens usually is the Kodak Anastigmat (triplet, I think), which is sharp. There also was a line of cameras made only in England -- the Kodak 66 -- that use 120 film.
Zeiss Ikon: Cameras include the Nettar, Ikonta, Mess Ikonta (uncoupled rangefinder) and Super Ikonta (coupled rangefinder). The Nettars usually have the Nettar Anastigmat or the Novar (both are triplets). The Ikonta has either a Novar or Tessar (four elements), as does the Mess Ikonta. The first two Super Ikonta B (530/16 and 532/16 and 533/16) had only a Tessar, while the postwar camera eventually got a coated Tessar. The Super Ikonta III and IV have either a coated Novar or coated Tessar. Usual problems include thickened lens helical grease (usually not frozen like the Agfa) and dirty viewfinders.
I don't have enough experience with Voigtlander to offer opinions, although one author says the lens standard on the Voigtlanders isn't adequately designed.
There also are other manufacturers, but these are the ones that come to mind.
Most will need to be serviced, and you should expect the shutters will need to be serviced. Some won't.
Agfa: Frozen helicals, holes in bellows. Lightweight construction. Very sturdy arms on the lens door. Apotar (triplet) lens is good. Solinar (four elements) is better.
Kodak: Didn't make too many 6x6 folding cameras. There is the Vollenda 620 6x6 model. It's 620, so you'll want to respool. Sturdy camera. Easy to use. Lens usually is the Kodak Anastigmat (triplet, I think), which is sharp. There also was a line of cameras made only in England -- the Kodak 66 -- that use 120 film.
Zeiss Ikon: Cameras include the Nettar, Ikonta, Mess Ikonta (uncoupled rangefinder) and Super Ikonta (coupled rangefinder). The Nettars usually have the Nettar Anastigmat or the Novar (both are triplets). The Ikonta has either a Novar or Tessar (four elements), as does the Mess Ikonta. The first two Super Ikonta B (530/16 and 532/16 and 533/16) had only a Tessar, while the postwar camera eventually got a coated Tessar. The Super Ikonta III and IV have either a coated Novar or coated Tessar. Usual problems include thickened lens helical grease (usually not frozen like the Agfa) and dirty viewfinders.
I don't have enough experience with Voigtlander to offer opinions, although one author says the lens standard on the Voigtlanders isn't adequately designed.
There also are other manufacturers, but these are the ones that come to mind.
dazedgonebye
Veteran
Best place to find an Iskra is from someone on this forum. Someone that has actually shot the thing and can give you an accurate description of its condition.
This applies to any older camera.
The down side is that bit requires monitoring the classifieds and patience.
This applies to any older camera.
The down side is that bit requires monitoring the classifieds and patience.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
Good information on the cameras can be found at http://www.certo6.com - note: information only. I do not recommend buying from him as something gets lost from head to hands in his case...
Ebay item 160344155715 could be quite good if you're lucky (no, I don't know the seller, yada yada)
If you decide on an Iskra (a great but touchy camera) then wait till Fedka has one. See http://www.fedka.com/catalog/ for more information. No matter where you get it, if they claim the film advance works, make them run a roll through it to prove it.
Good luck. If you catch the folder bug, you'll need it I just got a really nice Voigtlander Bessa I - early 50's, 6x9, triplet lens & prontor-s shutter. Ooozes quality... I've owned Graflex, Zeiss, Balda, Agfa, Ansco, FSU (Iskra & Moskva) & others - this one is the best made folder I've ever held & it was considered a lower end model
William
Ebay item 160344155715 could be quite good if you're lucky (no, I don't know the seller, yada yada)
If you decide on an Iskra (a great but touchy camera) then wait till Fedka has one. See http://www.fedka.com/catalog/ for more information. No matter where you get it, if they claim the film advance works, make them run a roll through it to prove it.
Good luck. If you catch the folder bug, you'll need it
I just got a really nice Voigtlander Bessa I - early 50's, 6x9, triplet lens & prontor-s shutter. Ooozes quality... I've owned Graflex, Zeiss, Balda, Agfa, Ansco, FSU (Iskra & Moskva) & others - this one is the best made folder I've ever held & it was considered a lower end model William
Steve M.
Veteran
If you get a good Iskra they have great lenses, but that is a bit of a risk. The Weltas and Zeiss Ikons are sturdy and have very good lenses and excellent build quality. The Super Ikontas also have coupled rangefinders. Try to get one w/ a Tessar. Look for a Welta w/ a Tessar or Schneider lens. My favorites are the Welta Welturs and Agfa Isolettes. I've never had an Isolette w/ a bad bellows, but they aren't up to the standards of the others I mentioned. Just go slowly when folding and unfolding them. The Apotar is an excellent lens. I mean excellent. I also have a Solinar, but I prefer the Apotar for B&W. Many of these have frozen focus on the lenses and will need to be freed up by you or someone else. Buy yourself an accessory rangefinder and you're set to go. The Auction site is a good place to buy, but you want to make sure the seller will take a return, and read carefully to see if they have used the camera and guarantee it works properly. Voigtlander made the Bessa 66 and Perkeo cameras that are 6x6. The Color Skopar is the better lens unless you get lucky. My Bessa 66 has a Heliar lens and it is fantastic. You have LOTS of options.
What I love about the folders, other than the wonderful photos they take and their small size, is that I stand a good chance of fixing them if they break. If my Rolleiflex breaks I don't dare try to fix it. In fact, since I see no quality difference in it and my better folders I am selling it. From now on, if I can't fix it myself I won't own it.
What I love about the folders, other than the wonderful photos they take and their small size, is that I stand a good chance of fixing them if they break. If my Rolleiflex breaks I don't dare try to fix it. In fact, since I see no quality difference in it and my better folders I am selling it. From now on, if I can't fix it myself I won't own it.
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literiter
Well-known
I'd have to agree that the Super Ikonta is a good choice since there seems to be quite a few for sale on the auction site. Prices seem to be a bit more reasonable for the moment.
I use a Super Ikonta "B" 532/16 with a coated Opton lens and it is a great camera. This is not to say that I'm suggesting a Super Ikonta is a better camera than a Iskra, but it may be less costly, and a bit more available.
I use a Super Ikonta "B" 532/16 with a coated Opton lens and it is a great camera. This is not to say that I'm suggesting a Super Ikonta is a better camera than a Iskra, but it may be less costly, and a bit more available.
P C Headland
Well-known
Any old camera purchase is risky!
Of all the old folders, the Iskra certainly ranks as my favourite. It started my folder family. Buy from a respected seller, and you should have a great camera.
Another very capable camera, one that doesn't appear too often in the west, is the Super Fujica Six - there's one right now on ebay (note: no realtionship with seller). This has the advantage that you can tell your camera friends you have a new Fuji folder
Of all the old folders, the Iskra certainly ranks as my favourite. It started my folder family. Buy from a respected seller, and you should have a great camera.
Another very capable camera, one that doesn't appear too often in the west, is the Super Fujica Six - there's one right now on ebay (note: no realtionship with seller). This has the advantage that you can tell your camera friends you have a new Fuji folder
Joao
Negativistic forever
If you find a good working Iskra, you won't regret your choice. Some information in thiswell known link
http://www.reportajes-jmserrano.com/iskra.htm
good Luck
Joao
http://www.reportajes-jmserrano.com/iskra.htm
good Luck
Joao
abumac
Well-known
Zeiss Super Ikonta seems a good camera. But which one? Anf what can you say about the Russian Zeis Moskva?
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hanskerensky
Well-known
The Zeiss Ikonta III (531/16) is one of my favourites.
It has a coupled rangefinder and a good filmadvance-system.
What's more in favour is the fact that it's not so bulky and heavy as i.e. a Moskva.
Try to get one with the Tessar lens. But a Novar-Anastigmat will do to if you stop down the aperture a little.
You can see a "naked" 531/16 here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/sets/72157612669848801/
It has a coupled rangefinder and a good filmadvance-system.
What's more in favour is the fact that it's not so bulky and heavy as i.e. a Moskva.
Try to get one with the Tessar lens. But a Novar-Anastigmat will do to if you stop down the aperture a little.
You can see a "naked" 531/16 here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/29504544@N08/sets/72157612669848801/
dave61
Established
I have an Iskra I that came to America through Fedka. Of 4 folders I have right now, it's the easiest to load and shoot, has sharpest lens and brightest RF/VF. Lacks the silky classic German camera feel, but it's built like a T-37. For less than half the price of a Super Ikonta or Isolette it's a good choice. The Iskra has the best lens of any folder I've owned.
IMHO, the easiest to use/best designed folder I've owned is the folding 1940's-50's 6x6 Mamiya Six. Very solid construction (like all med. format Mamiyas). Good ones are about $250 USD. They're easy to use, once you learn how to load the film.
All folders are limited (fixed lens), slow to operate, idiosyncratic, somewhat fragile, require high levels of competence to turn out good shots. All the same, I can't tell a shot from my 2x3 Speed Graphic (when shot with my 'normal' focal length Heliar, Tessar or Ektar) from similarly cropped shot from the Iskra. The big difference is I can't put a Speed Graphic with 120 rollfilm holder in my pocket, but a 6x6 folder I can.
You may also want to consider a 4.5x6 (16 on 120) folder. They're wallet sized (truly compact), and I prefer the rectangular format.
IMHO, the easiest to use/best designed folder I've owned is the folding 1940's-50's 6x6 Mamiya Six. Very solid construction (like all med. format Mamiyas). Good ones are about $250 USD. They're easy to use, once you learn how to load the film.
All folders are limited (fixed lens), slow to operate, idiosyncratic, somewhat fragile, require high levels of competence to turn out good shots. All the same, I can't tell a shot from my 2x3 Speed Graphic (when shot with my 'normal' focal length Heliar, Tessar or Ektar) from similarly cropped shot from the Iskra. The big difference is I can't put a Speed Graphic with 120 rollfilm holder in my pocket, but a 6x6 folder I can.
You may also want to consider a 4.5x6 (16 on 120) folder. They're wallet sized (truly compact), and I prefer the rectangular format.
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FallisPhoto
Veteran
With any FSU camera, including the Iskra, the quality control left something to be desired. The factories operated on a quota system and sometimes they got a bit rushed. The best advice I can give you on buying an FSU camera is to look at a couple of photos taken with it first. If the photo is good, and the camera wasn't one of those rushed through the factory to make the quota before deadline, it will probably be a VERY good camera. Some are less good though.
Yes, pretty much any old camera will need work. however, it is relatively easy to CLA a German camera, and 90% of the time (with some exceptions, like Isolettes and Records) that's all they need.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
I would say that the Iskra was the best camera ever made in the FSU. Period. Oh, it has it's very serious weaknesses, but it was made with a level of care that surpasses any other camera we have from them. This is probably due to the rumor (I have read it, believe it & have no way to prove it) that the last of the glass confiscated from Zeiss was used to make the lenses for the Iskra.
The best way to buy an FSU camera is to look for one that is heavily brassed and to avoid anything that looks "mint". The "People" had few real choices so when a good working camera fell into their lap, it was grabbed & ran with like the devil himself was chasing them. The mint cameras never worked and went into a box in the corner till the stupid f*cks from the west started waving cash around.
The best way to buy an FSU camera is to look for one that is heavily brassed and to avoid anything that looks "mint". The "People" had few real choices so when a good working camera fell into their lap, it was grabbed & ran with like the devil himself was chasing them. The mint cameras never worked and went into a box in the corner till the stupid f*cks from the west started waving cash around.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Any old camera purchase is risky!
Of all the old folders, the Iskra certainly ranks as my favourite. It started my folder family. Buy from a respected seller, and you should have a great camera.
Another very capable camera, one that doesn't appear too often in the west, is the Super Fujica Six - there's one right now on ebay (note: no realtionship with seller). This has the advantage that you can tell your camera friends you have a new Fuji folder
I haven't had a lot of folders but I must admit my Iskra has stamped itself into my subconscious ... it's almost worth the risk!
It has a lot of character and is incredibly capable.
Eugen Mezei
Well-known
I don't know who this author is, but from my experience I can fully agree with him.
Never ever try to bend the mechanism of the standard on this cameras. It will never go back in the original position. Also be very careful not t bend, kick, etc. it by mistake.
Eugen
FallisPhoto
Veteran
Uh... I'm pretty sure that goes for any type of camera at all, not just Voigtlanders. Bending and/or kicking your camera, no matter what type it is, is pretty much always going to be a bad idea. Well, maybe if it's a Holga.