rangefinder coupled folder?

M

meandihagee

Well-known
Local time
10:42 PM
Joined
Nov 7, 2009
Messages
216
are there any? except for the gf670 (that i can't afford)

i've been using an agfa isolette III, but i was wondering if there is a rf with nice bellows and lens that i can focus faster.

10x
 
There are plenty of them - just go through the archives. My favourites are the Bessa RF (the most portable 6x9 coupled RF folder along with its successor, the - overpriced - Bessa II) and (if we include lazy-tongs-mechanics among folders) the Makina 67 (the best lens in a fixed-lens medium format rangefinder).

Sevo
 
I have a Balda Super Baldax myself, I'm not sure how it stands up to other similar folders, but it does let you align the rangefinder yourself pretty easily. I do love it though.
 
Shanghai 203? Dual format, RF coupled. RF coupling does not use external fold out optical wedges so it's simpler to use.

There was also a Mamiya-6 folder from the 1950s.
 
Mamiya 6 Folder

Mamiya 6 Folder

The older Mamiya 6 folder made from post wwII to 1955. Coupled rangefinder, movable film plane focusing for sturdier front standard and flat film mechanism. All had film count and stop. Later models had automated shutter cocking. Many had Zuiko lens, while last models had Mamiya Sekor in Seiko shutter. 6X6
 
kuzano said:
The older Mamiya 6 folder made from post wwII to 1955. Coupled rangefinder, movable film plane focusing for sturdier front standard and flat film mechanism. All had film count and stop. Later models had automated shutter cocking. Many had Zuiko lens, while last models had Mamiya Sekor in Seiko shutter. 6X6
Click to expand...

They are harder to find in working condition these days I think, and sometimes missing the focusing spring. But if you find one in working condition, they are nice.

You really should check the archives. There are a lot mentioned in this same forum. Everything from Japanese to Russian, with comments on their reliability.
 
Does the Plaubel Makina count? I guess it's more of a collapsable than a real folder (like the Mamiya 6 mentioned above- another fine camera, BTW) but I've always wanted one.
 
Don't forget the Welta Welturs, very sturdy, different formats up to 6x9, and moving the whole lens instead of front lens only (Zeiss, Voigtlaender).
I had them all, liked the Welturs best, only wish they had automatic film counter.

wallace
 
Wallace - The whole front lens assembly on my Bessa II moves as one unit during focusing. The Bessa I is a scale focus folder.
 
Holy Mackeral

Holy Mackeral

I got curious since I have a Mamiya 6 folder, so I went looking on ebay. One just sold for $140, and as for parts. It was listed as a non-working shutter. Now granted that may only be a need for lighter fluid, but wow!
 
Black Bessa II with Color-Heliar 105/3.5. Hard to find (I got lucky) but a brilliant camera.

I will be off to Bulgaria for a week tomorrow morning, that Bessa and my M6 will be with me. Packing slide film, this will be big fun!
 
No one has mentioned them yet, and possibly this is with good reason, but there are also the Moskva rangefinders. I wouldn't buy one without taking a peek through the rangefinder first though. If the images in the rangefinder move diagonally, or are not aligned vertically, it will be a truely monumental PITA to fix it.
 
Last edited:
Fuji GS 645 with a 75/3.4 lens, modern accurate TTF meter, field compensating parallax correction and a coupled RF. Extremely sharp optic, the best I've ever seen Modern Photography test. I use to own one when I had a darkroom, it was a great camera.
 
Weltas or course '):

4209203500_e8c48d8338_o.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom