elaydad
Member
what are the best MF folders with coupled rangefinders and "auto"film advance
what are the best MF folders with coupled rangefinders and "auto"film advance . thanks
what are the best MF folders with coupled rangefinders and "auto"film advance . thanks
furcafe
Veteran
I believe the general consensus is that the Zeiss Ikon Super Ikontas & Agfa Super Isolettes (a.k.a. Ansco Super Speedexes) are the "best" overall in terms of lens performance, etc. Not sure what you mean by "auto" film advance, but AFAIK the Super Isolettes are the only ones w/true Rolleiflex Automat-style loading, i.e., no need to use a red window or even line up the double-arrow on the film, just get the film started on the take-up spool, close the back, & wind on until the advance stops (camera makes little holes in the film & "counts" them to bring the 1st frame up).
elaydad said:
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FrankS
Registered User
Once the original bellows is replaced on the Fuji GS645, I believe it is the best. I had a Zeiss super ikonta, but it is just too heavy to have the folding to a compact size ability to be of benefit.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
What furcafe said. Those are not cheap and quite rare, and, as I found out later, those features are not key to enjoying MF folders. 
furcafe
Veteran
My mistake in forgetting about the GS645. It's definitely the most modern folder (Fuji later made an autofocus version) w/a great lens & certainly a wonderful option if you like the vertical 645 format. Can't think of many other modern MF folders @ all except the rare & expensive Plaubel Makinas (which are really collapsible, not folders, like the Mamiya 6, etc.). As far as the Super Ikontas being heavy, the later models (III & IV) were considerably lighter, but they were only in 6x6 format.
For a good overview of the many classic folders, you might want to visit Jurgen Kreckel's web site:
http://www.certo6.com/cameras.html
For a good overview of the many classic folders, you might want to visit Jurgen Kreckel's web site:
http://www.certo6.com/cameras.html
FrankS said:
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KoNickon
Nick Merritt
Yes, in terms of "auto" film advance, I'm thinking the only ones that would fit the bill are the late autofocus, auto advance Fujis.
FrankS
Registered User
I think that by "auto" film advance the org. poster meant that the shutter cocking and film advance are coupled.
Finder
Veteran
The best is the Mamiya 6 and Mamiya 6MF.
Meleica
Well-known
cmedin
Well-known
If we're going to count the Mamiya 6 I'd like to toss the GA645 in there too. Neither is really a folder, but the lenses collapse.
elaydad
Member
sorry ment
elaydad
Member
sorry by auto film advance , I meant no need to use the red window,I have an old ZI super A with coated lens great pictures but sooo slow and I have a hard time seeing the numbers in the red window, again thants all
Abbazz
6x9 and be there!
elaydad said:
I think the Mamiya Six Automat is the most advanced of all classic folders (excluding the Fuji GS645). It has coupled film advance and shutter cocking, so there is no need to cock the shutter on the lens after winding the film. One just loads the film and align it with a mark, then the film advance mechanism automatically stops for each exposure when the right amount of film has been wound. There is also an auto resetting exposure counter. There is a red window as well, but it would only be needed in case of the film advance mechanism not working properly.
The lens on my sample is a very good Mamiya-Sekor 75/3.5, which is coated. There is also a coupled rangefinder. Rather uniquely, focusing is achieved by moving the film plane and not the lens. Truly a superb camera!
Here's a picture of this little known camera:
The film advance knob with exposure counter:
The film guides/film pressure plate assembly moves back and forth when focusing:
Cheers!
Abbazz
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elaydad
Member
the mamiya six looks very impressive is the mamiya lens better than the older olympus zuiko , how accurate is the "odd" focusing system and any problem loading film? thank you Abbazz
LUX ET VERITAS
LUX ET VERITAS
Abbazz
6x9 and be there!
elaydad said:
You're welcome.
This film plane focusing system is very accurate and much sturdier than other systems relying on delicate folding cams to transmit lens movement to the rangefinder (like the Bessa II or Super Isolette). Image quality is also sensibly better than folders equipped with a front element focusing lens (like the Super Ikonta).
According to some reports on the web, the weak point on these Mamiya Six folders seems to be the film advance system. I have two of these cameras, one plain Mamiya Six-IV (which features the automatic film advance mechanism, but not the coupled shutter cocking) and one more recent Mamiya Six Automat 2. Neither camera has ever developed a film advance problem but 2 is hardly a significant statistical sample. The film advance mechanism would be a difficult repair (read: costly), and not to be done by any self-taught folder repair wizard, like there are so many on the web. There are indeed many people offering their services on the web to repair old folders, as long as it's only changing the bellows, cleaning the shutter and adjusting the rangefinder, but it takes a qualified camera repair person to replace the small gears in a Mamiya Six film advance gear train.
Loading film is very straightforward. The film pressure plate slides out of the camera to clear the film path for loading. Once the film is properly loaded, the film pressure plate is put back in place to hold the film against the film guides. At first, I was always forgetting to put the pressure plate back after loading film. Before buying a Mamiya Six used, always make sure that the film pressure plate is in the camera, because it is almost impossible to find a separate pressure plate for sale and I guess it would cost as much as a whole camera.
The Mamiya lens doesn't seem better optically than the much more common Zuiko 75/3.5, but it has better flare resistance due to its more advanced coating.
Cheers!
Abbazz
oftheherd
Veteran
Abbazz - I have a (luckily cheapy purchased) copy of the Zuiko lens variety, that is appently incomplete. The film plane is capable of moving in and out, but actually only moves out with the cams that are moved by the focus wheel. It was not attached to anything that would move it back. Were there springs to allow it to come back or what?
Abbazz
6x9 and be there!
oftheherd said:
On my Mamiya Six, the film plane is moved by the focus wheel in both directions through a rack and pinion mechanism without the help of any spring. Maybe the gears are damaged on your camera?
Cheers!
Abbazz
P C Headland
Well-known
Other folders with automatic film advance (no red windows) are the Iskra, which automatically senses the start of the film, and the Certo Six which has a lever wind.
I prefer both of these over the Super Ikontas.
I prefer both of these over the Super Ikontas.
Solinar
Analog Preferred
The Agfa Super Isolette that was also branded as the Ansco Super Speedex have been mentioned.
The Automat-style film loading of these two are the best that I've seen. Both are fitted with a unit focus, Tessar-formula, Agfa Solinar lens. The two feature together makes for an expensive acquistion.
On the budget end, the alternative would be the scale-focus, Voigtlander Perkeo II. It is a bit more fiddly to load - but after the first frame is manually selected - the film winder stops automatically each successive frame after that.
The Perkeo II is the smallest 6x6 camera in this group. It is very petite.
The Automat-style film loading of these two are the best that I've seen. Both are fitted with a unit focus, Tessar-formula, Agfa Solinar lens. The two feature together makes for an expensive acquistion.
On the budget end, the alternative would be the scale-focus, Voigtlander Perkeo II. It is a bit more fiddly to load - but after the first frame is manually selected - the film winder stops automatically each successive frame after that.
The Perkeo II is the smallest 6x6 camera in this group. It is very petite.
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noci
Established
hmmm, makes me wonder whether the Mamiya and late Super Ikonta III share parts... looking at the M. pics and the Ikonta 531/16 sitting on my desk, there is more than a passing resemblance. Did Zeiss and Mamiya have some sort of shared development deal?