Small ,light medium format camera

It does sound like a folder is the way to go. I have two which are very nice, and would probably fit the bill for you. First is an Agfa Isolette, which is fairly small and light, shoots 6x6 and has a very nice lens. The other one I use is a Bessa 466- talk about small! The lens is very low contrast, but produces gorgeous b&w negatives- and it does both 6x6 and 6x4.5

If you can wait 6 months or so, the new Fuji/Bessa folder should come down in price a bit- and then there will be the early adopters who just have to have it, and then get bored with it and sell it off. I expect to start seeing a few of these lightly used on the market by Christmas.
 
I believe the OP said smaller and lighter than a modern Mamiya 6 - so I'm not sure why everyone's suggesting TLRs, which are neither small nor particularly light.

I encountered this problem - wanting a small 6x6 camera - last year, and as mentioned in some replies, the answer was a folding camera. They're typically about the same size as a Leica M when folded except about an inch taller.

My criterion was usability, so I needed a folder with all that a modern photographer considers essential. A modern folder like a Mamiya or Plaubel was out of my price range, so it had to be an older one.

I'd make a list of what you require from your folding camera. My requirements were:

• Small
• Comfortable
• Reliable
• Wide range of shutter speeds
• Wide range of apertures
• High-quality lens
• Bright, accurate viewfinder framing (i.e. a rangefinder
or at least brightlines with parallax correction marks)
• Fast to shoot (i.e. has a film advance mechanism -
not the usual slow rewind knob and red window)
• Built-in light meter

Playing with the folders in my local camera shop, it was disheartening to find how bad folders are and how few met the above rather basic requirements - most are poorly designed, uncomfortable to use and about as modern as a flint axe! For example, why are their viewfinders so small and squinty compared with excellent - and cheaper - 35mm cameras from the same era, and why do so few (even the expensive ones aimed at pros) have film advance mechanisms like their 35mm brethren? I guess portable medium format cameras just weren't sexy after the War, so manufacturers put their innovations into the 35mm format. Anyway, I digress...

I crossed "built-in lightmeter" off my list as such folders are astronomically priced (collectors...! :bang:)

My short list was:

• Iskra
• Certo 6
• Agfa Super Isolette
• Zeiss Super Ikonta

These all met my requirements, and have excellent f2.8 lenses (the last three have Zeiss ones), fast 1/500 s shutters and can fire electronic flashguns.

This website http://www.certo6.com has a lot of info on folders.

I first bought an Iskra. Big mistake... imagine a camera made by a blacksmith. Good specifications on paper - but the build quality was crude, crude, crude - and it was painful to use (knurling on the focus ring was so sharp it took the skin off my fingers!). :eek:

I then bought a Certo 6. It took a bit of hunting to find a decent one, but I'm really pleased with it. I had to chop it about to make it truly usable (sorry collectors!). For more details on my modified Certo 6, see http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65609

Lastly, these folding cameras are about 50 years old, so if you want reliability and peace of mind, it's worth getting it professionally serviced - when taking photos, you don't want to worry about the shutter jamming or incorrect shutter speeds, or find that you've developed a light leak.
 
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My smallest 6x6 is an Agfa Isolette III. It's smaller and lighter than an Iskra or an Agfa Super Isolette. In fact, it's size is comparable to a 35mm RF and probably lighter.

However, it's rangefinder is not coupled to the lens and film advance is achieved by monitoring a ruby window, so it's not a fast solution. But if your copy is working, it's a simple camera without a lot to go wrong. The Super Isolette is a bit bigger with a coupled rangefinder and a automated film advance, but more rare and pricey.

Of course, you'd have to get one that's been through a CLA with a bellows replacement and the gunk cleaned out of the shutter. My copy has a 75mm Solinar which is pretty decent. I often shoot 400 and 800 speed to keep it stopped down for max DOF and sharpness. It works well for me.
 
Balda Super Baldax.
Very small and light great f2.8 lens.
All the quirks you should expect in a 50+ year old folding camera.
 
Thanks for all the replies, everyone.

I have the Mamiya 645 Pro TL, and it's pretty big. The Rolleicords sound like a good idea, but I'm really looking for something similar in size and use to a rangefinder or slr, and I already have a Yashica tlr.

So, it looks to me that I'll be looking into a folder of some sort. My list of what I'm looking for is pretty similar to RichC's, and I realize that I'm probably not going to get one with everything I want, which is OK.

So the quest will begin...
 
I would recommend a modern RF folder like the Plaubel Makina. It folds relatively small but is not as light as a Rollieflex or even the My6. I have a Tamrac 1-1/2" strap on my Makina where I dont notice the weight. It has outstanding optics.

I also shoot 'blad but is not convenient for overseas travel, great a camera as it is.
 
I got into folders pricesly because I wanted the bigger negative but still an easy to carry camera. I used an Iskra as my prime travel camera.

My first choice in folders would be an Iskra (neither of mine are crudely made, and both operate nice and smoothly), since IMHO, it has the best viewfinder of any of the older folders, and a great lens. Make sure the film advance mechanism is working properly.

A Certo Six is also a fine camera, but the viewfinder is smaller, and you need to make sure the RF is serviceable (the mirrors degrade). Lovely camera, great lens - maybe even better than the Iskra - and well built. It has a 40.5mm filter thread which comes in handy. One annoyance is that on my tripods at least, the focus lever fouls the tripod plate.

Other options to consider are Zeiss Super Ikonta III or IV, Mamiya 6 (the older folder) or Super Fujica 6. The latter is probably the lightest of the bunch.
 
This is perhaps going a bit far down the inflexibility route, but have you considered going super old school and looking at an Agfa Click?

You won't be shooting any action, low light (at least without a tripod and spare time) or shallow depth of field stuff, but the Click is a 6x6, can be had for a song, doesn't need to be focused and is quite light. I'm given to understand that it can take "surprisingly" sharp photos too.

I have the Clack, its 6x9 predecessor. While boxy, it's feather light and relatively compact. Shot one roll of film with it, but haven't developed yet.
 
I'm open to anything. I actually enjoy the old cameras. While I like nice, sharp negatives, I also enjoy more "romantic" or "soft" focus ones. It's fun to use an old or cheap camera and get a pleasing photo from it.

The camera I'm looking for specifically at this moment is one that has a 6X6 negative, and I can carry with me on trips ( usually abroad ). And I hate using a tripod, despite the fact that I've had one for around 22 years...
 
jpa66 said:
So, it looks to me that I'll be looking into a folder of some sort. My list of what I'm looking for is pretty similar to RichC's, and I realize that I'm probably not going to get one with everything I want, which is OK.

So the quest will begin...
Click to expand...

what is your budget? an important consideration.

your right no one folder will have every feature you want, its matter of whether you can get along with whatever quirks the one you choose has. the super baldax are renowned for quirky (turning the knob one way then the other and film spacing problems) and problematic (often fail) film wind systems or you just remove it and get on with using it (you can just use the back red window like Steve does).

none of the classic folders with lightmeter are worth the trouble IMHO, not because of the fabled collectors but because they are old selenium meters that usually dont work or not particularly accurate now anyway, much better off with a modern small VC meter or something similar that you can put in the cold shoe, hang from a strap or put in your pocket, they will work better in low light or difficult situations.

only one from the short list of RichC is available with f2.8, (the certo 6) it has its own quirks, smallish viewfinder etc, the S/Ikonta, Iskra and S/Isolette are actually all f3.5. out of those I like the S/Isolette the most, the lens produces the nicest and sharpest results out of most all 6x6 with coupled rangefinder to me, of course the other still produce good results too.

if you want a classic 6x6 folder (without getting the new bessa III) with the most features then the last of the folding Mamiya-6 fits the bill (Mamiya 6 Automatic, Model 2), it has a coated tessar type lens (Sekor) that so far to me seems as good as the Solinar on the Isolette (maybe better, i need to do a direct comparison). the lens is fixed in position unlike the S/Ikonta or some others which helps it with sharpness and quality across the whole range (close to infinity), it moves the film plane instead of the lens for accurate focusing, which also allows this camera to be focused while it is closed! which is very handy! has the auto frame counting/wind mechanism and double exposure prevention. It also automatically cocks the shutter as you wind on to the next frame, none of the other old c/RF folders will do this. the viewfinder is by far the largest (even compared to RichC altered viewfinder on the certo6) with bright lines reflected for composition and parallax.

if you dont mind doing without the bells an whistles but want bomb proof quality (as much as that can be in a folding camera) then the old Welta Weltur with uncoated 2.8 Tessar or Xenar, not much can go wrong with them, sturdy, quality built, returns to infinity auto as you close it (many others you have to manually set to infinity first), use the red window to wind on, but hey, i am not shooting a wedding with it and it not that hard to do.

without a a coupled RF the choices are much greater (and cheaper), the Perkeo is a favourite of mine (sssmall and nice c/Scopar lens) but there are others i like as well.
 
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Three suggestions here.

Three suggestions here.

I've bought used and sold a bunch of old folders. regarding your inquiry, here are just three that come to mind.

Smallest 6x6, Perkeo with the color skopar lens and 1/500 to 1, bulb shutter. Truly small... images will surprise you. Regarding bellows. I've probably had 10 to 12 of these and never a light leak. Made by Voigtlander and I've never had a light leak on ANY Voigtlander.

Second smallest, Balda Super Baldax..uncoupled rangefinder, film count and a great lens. Sturdy and just a bit thicker in the middle than the Perkeo. (The Perkeo is a fantastic jacket pocket size.)

Mamiya folding six... the Autosix... made in 54 or 55. Incredible Zuiko lens... sturdiest front standard, since the focus mechanism is at the film plane. Accurate, when adjusted right, coupled rangefinder. But a bit heavy. This camera however is a $300 to $600 camera in good shape, and quite worth the lower to middle end of that scale.

All 6 square, and all worthy of consideration as serious image grabbers. The Mamiya is the most contemporary of the lot in terms of automation, double exposure prevention, and film count/stop mechanisms.

I need to get the rangefinder mirror back in my Autosix and shoot some film.
 
My budget can be up to 2 hundred dollars, with less being better. I could probably go higher, but I'd rather not right now. I'd rather get one that's affordable, then figure out if a folder's for me and go from there ( and I'm looking for a 20mm for my canon :rolleyes: ).

I really don't need all the bells and whistles, but being able to attach some kind of meter would be nice, instead of always using the sunny 16 rule ( which works adequately for me ). I'm not too keen on bringing my light meter out every time I shoot, much less reading the damn thing!
 
kuzano said:
Second smallest, Balda Super Baldax..uncoupled rangefinder, film count and a great lens. Sturdy and just a bit thicker in the middle than the Perkeo. (The Perkeo is a fantastic jacket pocket size.)
Click to expand...


The SUPER Baldax has a coupled finder. The MESS baldax, almost identical in all dimensions, does not.
My film counter is unreliable, making the red window the way to go. Still, the thing is shockingly small/light (about 75% of an Isrka) and the lens is very good. 40.5mm filter size is a real plus too.
 
I carry a Hasselblad SWC on a strap all the time and it is smaller than a Mamiya 6. It is really easy to focus down to 2 ft 6 in (my arm extended to my fingertip) to any other distance in daylight. The depth of field is quite generous. For any other low light or closer distance I have a small tape measure in my pocket. The limits it has compared to others is made up in other ways that it's hard to understand until you shoot with it. It challenges the way you shoot. I know there is a lot of negative things about this camera but i look at it as a fun challenge. If I wanted easy I would grab a P+S
 
Gumby said:
No, Schneider Xenar (4 element/3 group Tessar formula) was offered on IV and V models. The III model came in both Triotar and Xenar.
Click to expand...

In that case, then I'd go with a 'cord with a Xenar or a Tessar (same formula, I think.)
Thanks for setting me straight.Ed.
Vic
 
Hi,
I'd like to follow up RichC's response. My pre World War II Zeiss Super Ikonta B was one of the best cameras I ever photographed with until the cement started leaking out of the f 2.8 Tessar lens and gumming up the shutter. After two trips to the repair shop I gave up and moved on to a Rolleiflex MX and my first Leica. I hope the postwar Zeiss Super Ikonta Bs, IIIs, and IVs have a more durable cement between the elements of their Tessars! This experience leads me to think that while a three element (uncemented) lens is less well corrected than a four element one, it might be more durable over many years than a tessar type lens. The 75 mm f 4.5 Zeiss Triotar on my Rolleicord Ia was quite sharp, at least at f 8 and f 11. While the Rolleicords and f 3.5 Rolleiflexes from that era are certainly bulkier than a 120 folding camera, they provide a lot of bring home the pictures capability for their size, weight, and cost. Here's wishing you good success in your quest.
JustPlainBill
 
My father-in-law has picked up an old Rolleicord and given it to me recently. It's untested, and he's not sure what model it is. I'll be playing around with it soon.

JP

PS. Bill: I'm from Pittsburgh and actually went to high school in your neck of the woods, at GCC in Greensburg, so I just wanted to say hello to a fellow Western PA'er :)
 
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