Mess Baldix

[cliveward]

Hi All,

Having given up on digital last year completely I was after a take along camera for capturing interesting things or scenes on my day to day travels that would provide something a bit 'nicer' than my phone and not require lugging my GW690III around every day.

After a bit of research on here and elsewhere I stumbled across folding 6x6 cameras and the Mess Baldix in particular.

The camera has duly arrived and this is what the price of 3 rolls of scanned and developed film gets you:

The camera was a bit tattier when it arrived, but a bit of fiddling and cleaning had the viewfinder and rangefinder cleaned and indeed the rangefinder mirror glued back in place.

I shall see how it performs and then if the results are promising I'll get an expert to adjust the rangefinder properly and check the shutter which was a little bit lazy at first.

I've just cheated for now and set the rangefinder dial correct at 4ft for portraits with shallow DOF and I'll use the distance scale on the lens for everything else.

It's certainly very portable so fingers crossed.


Cheers





Clive

 

[charjohncarter]

I have 4 6x6 folders, and my Balda Hapo 66e is my favorite. It is a cheap model but to me a sleeper, I'm sure you will enjoy your new camera as much as I've enjoyed the Hapo.


Reala by John Carter, on Flickr

I take it to Mexico on vacation, so easy to travel with.

 

[citizen99]

A folder in good condition with at least a triplet lens can give excellent results at the apertures used in daylight conditions, whilst just slipping into the pocket 🙂

 

[cliveward]

Well I've spent a couple of days running a test roll through the camera to see how or even if it's working properly. Some boring stuff in the garden to check the framing of the viewfinder and some 'hopefully' more interesting photos today on a quick bike ride with my Son.

I do have to say it was a bit of a revelation to be able to carry a medium format camera in my pocket and barely notice it.

The first day in the garden was a bit 'tentative' and I babied it, checking fastidiously with a meter, etc. Today I didn't even bother with a meter and just best guessed and paid more attention to trying see 'square' if that makes sense. I even dropped the camera at one point. Luckily onto grass and no harm done.

Well I say no harm done but when I unloaded the film was a little loose. Not wider than the spool loose, but a little spongy, compared to the exposed rolls from the GW690III which are absolutely solid.

Fingers crossed for favourable results.


Cheers





Clive

 

[cliveward]

Hi All,

Well it all seems to work OK. I got a slight fogging from that first loose roll on the last frame or two but subsequent rolls have come out much tighter.

20970012 by nvscopes, on Flickr

20970009 by nvscopes, on Flickr


Cheers





Clive

 

[charjohncarter]

Amazing how sharp these cameras can be. I have a Agfa Isolette II with a middle quality lens that is really sharp too. The Balda with the RF (uncoupled in my model) is a joy. I'm nervous using '50 cameras but the Balda is tough and reliable.