Super Ikonta III vs Balda Super Baldax?

[analogpics]

Hey friends, i've been doing some research on folders and basically, i'm looking for the smallest/lightest one i can find that still has decent lens and good rf/vf. The Super Ikonta III and Balda Super Baldax seem to be good choices so i was wondering if anyone has had experience with both? Or maybe a third choice you want to recommend? 😉 Would love to hear what you guys think! Thanks!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Both are too complicated and old to win the lottery without paying heavy price, IMO.

Smallest/Lightest a.k.a. Nettar for me. Scale focusing isn't a problem, but if it is, external, cheap RF does the job well. Not overpriced, easy to service, fine on scan/prints cameras.

 

[Brian Legge]

I have a strong preference for the Super Ikonta (though I've only used the SI IV). At least for me, the advancing for the Baldax was easy to mess up. The Super Baldax was also a bit more prone for the shutter assembly to rotate in place, messing up its alignment with the shutter activation (at which point close focus activated the shutter or caused it to fire while cocking it). It also seemed like the Baldax was more prone to shutter / film plan alignment issues when opened. I always had to double check to make sure it opened and aligned properly.

That said, the Baldax was a very nice when everything was working. The lens may have been a bit softer wide open but optically they seemed similar stopped down. Granted, this is comparing it with the Tessar (which is found on some IIIs).

Super Baldax:




Super Ikonta IV:

 

[analogpics]

I saw this thread from 2008:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66466

i vaguely remember hearing about the Super Zenobia SR (zeiss clone) a while back....so that could be another option since i'm not opposed to 645. But yeah, i'm kinda thinking as far as the ikonta vs baldax...seems like the ikontas will be easier to keep in tip top shape though i am curious about the baldax and the half stop faster lens 😉

Oh, forgot to add that i mostly shoot portraits and the like so would prefer coupled RF

 

[B-9]

Super Baldax is a powder cake camera,

If the bellows are not shot,

And the shutter is not dead (good luck finding parts, they don't exist!)

Then the strut system will probably give you a headache.

Frame spacing is a real issue with these as well!

My advice, run from the Balda...

I've owned two, one I spent 300$ on overhauling without success.
Which brings me to a repairmen I wouldn't recommend....

Both suffered fungus, haze, and damaged shutter blades. Neither had good bellows, and they do not like to fold out nicely, it always took a second try to get the front standard to pop into is correct position.

The odds of finding a good one are that of winning the powerball...

 

[analogpics]

Sounds like i keep hearing the same thing about the Baldax...so as of right now, leaning to a Super Ikonta III (with the tessar) and a zenobia SR if i can find one just more out of curiosity 😀

 

[Darinwc]

I have both the Super Ikonta III and Super Baldax. They are both capable cameras. The Baldax is a touch smaller but the difference is negligible. I have the Baldanar which I think is a 3 element lens. Not sure. But it seems sharp enough for me. The Baldax focuses the whole lens, whereas the Ikonta only moves the front element. This is supposed to mean the Baldax is better at close distances, but I havent notced a difference. The Baldax had a very nice focusing tab.
But the camera opens to the side, and that impedes your right hand getting a good grip. And the film advance is on the left side. This makes it a bit more of a hassle.

 

[Darinwc]

The Ikonta III is a bit nicer to use. On both camerasframe spacing can be iffy.. it helps to stick an inch of tape on the backing. But the advance is a bit more straightforward on the Ikonta.
The camera folds down, allowing a nice firm grip on the sides. The shutter+focussing mechanism of the Ikonta is harder to service than the Baldax. But if working, the thin toothed wheels of the Ikonta are surprisingly convienient.
One thing that I noticed about the Ikonta, the bellows are very close to the outside edges of the film. And they actually impede a little on the edge making a soft effect. I can only use 55mm or 54mm square on the Ikonta. I dont have this problem with the Baldax.

Overall, I would pick the Ikonta III over the Baldax, but I wouldnt turn down a nice Baldax for a good price. And I would rather have a Baldax than a Super Ikonta A.
Here are some Ikonta examples. I had to adjust the rangefinder which had gotten out of alignment. The above examples are from the Baldax on expired film. Both have capable lenses.

 

[Brian Legge]

If we're taking classic folders over all, definitely keep an eye out for a Super Speedex. Ergonomically, I prefer the smaller folders but much preferred the results from my Super Speedex:

Super Speedex:

 

[Darinwc]

i did not have the problems Devin had with the Baldax. Everything works on mine. The lens springs into action perfectly. The shutters are compurs and prontors.. the same as in most every camera of the day. So parts for the shutter should be easy to find. (though I am not a repairman) But the Zeiss is just, well, better.

 

[analogpics]

hmm, the baldax is still tempting, but am kinda still gravitating to the super ikonta for now, just since they seem to have less probs....overall? And probably easier to find parts for the super ikontas i assume. We shall see 😀

 

[bluesun267]

I used to have a Super Ikonta III w/ Tessar and selling it is my second biggest gear regret 🙁 That being said, it had unreliable frame spacing. I was able to switch out the back door for one with a red window (from a Nettar I believe) and then disabled the frame counting mechanism inside. Worked perfectly that way. The Voigtlander Perkeo II w/ color-skopar is also awesome and is probably the smallest of them all.

One fave from the Super Ikonta:
Monument Valley, Early Morning by Timoleon Wilkins, on Flickr

 

[GaryLH]

If u don't mind guesimating (zone/scale focusing), voitlander perkeo ii all the way. Even though I have a had and used a lot of different 6x6 folders including the Zeiss supper ikonta IV, perkeo is the one I like to use the most.

I don't shoot film any longer, but when I did, it was voltlander bessa II, perkeo II, or Fuji gf670.

Between your two choices, I would go for the Zeiss w/ Tessar lens.

Good luck
Gary

 

[Brian Legge]

Assume the Perkeos frame counter is dead or unreliablable. Or later k from r one with it removed already. It's a great camera and lens combo if you can get away with scale focus or using a shoe mount finder.

 

[GaryLH]

Assume the Perkeos frame counter is dead or unreliablable. Or later k from r one with it removed already. It's a great camera and lens combo if you can get away with scale focus or using a shoe mount finder.

I believe u mean shoes mounted range finder, correct? I started out using a shoe mounted rf, but over time got good enough to do w/o.

Gary

 

[analogpics]

Yeah, i looked at the perkeo's too! Just wish they came with a coupled-rf hehe 😉 really intriguing though

 

[kuzano]

The Perkeo II tops the list on this question, primarily because of the Color Skopar lens. Also the upscale shutter to 1/500th.

Consider the film count to be dead. If not it soon will be with use.

That's OK with me.... just gut the count works out and use the ruby window.

I'd have suggested the PERKEO I, but then you'd compromise the lens and shutter to the Vaskar and Prontor.

Three Perkeo II's and three dead or soon-dead film counts. The best move I made was to take out the count/stop mechanism and had a dead-on daily shooter in 6X6, smallest and lightest.

 

[sevo]

The Perkeo II tops the list on this question, primarily because of the Color Skopar lens.

Well, and then there is the Heliar version of the Bessa 66...

 

[GaryLH]

Well, and then there is the Heliar version of the Bessa 66...

I believe that combo is pretty rare in the US. I personally have only seen one ad for such about 5-6 years ago and it was in so-so condition. I would have loved to have at min. Gotten a play w/ one.

Gary

 

[analogpics]

I'm not entirely sure why, i feel like i want to try the baldax now haha...will let you guys know what i end up getting 😛