What mf RF folder should I get?

[jnoir]

Other good ones with uncoupled RF are the better Franka Solidas, available in 6x6 and 6x9. Look for the Schneider Radionar on the 6x6 and the Rodenstock Trinar on the 6x9-- these are the best lenses that Franka used and are very very good.

Actually, the Solida is the 6x6 model (some even dual format) while the Bonafix / Rolfix (the former also sold as Hapo 5 in Germany, the latter sold by Montgomery Wards in the US) is the name for the 6x9 model (also dual format)

 

[Godfrey]

the Baldar looks nice thanks G

The Baltar 75/2.9 is quite nice for a relatively fast, three element lens. It has that pretty "softly sharp" look that I like a lot.

Additional: I just noticed when looking at a photo of the Kodak Retina II in someone's hands that the Balda Baldix is only barely larger than that. It's amazing they managed to squeeze 6x6 format into such a small space.

 

[FrankS]

My Retina lla, Perkeo ll, and Leica CL without a lens are all about the same size.

 

[PMCC]

To be fair, the Agfa Isolette III is a fine camera.

+1. Solinar in Synchro-Compur.

 

[GaryLH]

My Retina lla, Perkeo ll, and Leica CL without a lens are all about the same size.

The solida is also the same size as the Perkeo..

Gary

 

[oftheherd]

U are absolutely right. Bad memory on my part I am afraid. Getting old. It was the voigtlander bagheil I was thinking of. Here are some iPhone shots of the mechanism. Excuse the temp light leak fix 🙁. Still looking around for proper size new spacer for it.

Gary

Ah, yes, I remember I have heard of those and that they are really great. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[GaryLH]

Dedicated to plate cameras

Dedicated to plate cameras

Ah, yes, I remember I have heard of those and that they are really great. Thanks for the clarification.

http://www.apug.org/forums/forum192/

Just in case anyone is interested, this is a great source on info about plate cameras on the apug forum site.

Gary

 

[nosmok]

Actually, the Solida is the 6x6 model (some even dual format) while the Bonafix / Rolfix (the former also sold as Hapo 5 in Germany, the latter sold by Montgomery Wards in the US) is the name for the 6x9 model (also dual format)

Oops, my bad! It is indeed the Rolfix in 6x9. Still a great camera.

--nosmok

 

[graywolf]

The Kodak-Nagel-Werk did produce a lots medium format cameras, but the only one that is closet to what you are looking for would be the Regent II.

It is a roll film folder that uses 620 film on a 6x9cm format. It has a coupled rangefinder and uses Schneider Xenar f:3,5/10,5 cm lens. The lens is not interchangable. The camera was introduced in 1939 and only lasted a year in production.

The camera is considered a rare collectable, so it's not really what you are looking for

From the same plant, but a little less rare would be a Kodak Duo Series II camera. A roll film camera camera using 620 film but on a 4,5x6 cm format. Lenses range from a Kodak Anastigmat 4,5/7,5 cm to a Zeiss Tessar either f:4,5 or 3,5 both 7,5 cm.

The Kodak Duo is easily found on ebay, but is expensive.

Good luck on your camera quest!

The Duo RF is probably as close to the Retina as any roll film camera (They were after all made in the same factory). However, it is fairly rare and fairly expensive. The non-range finder version, like Amelia Earhart had, on the other hand is easy to find and cheap (you can find nice ones for $50), add $100 to have it serviced and it is a nice camera. However, respooling 120 to 620 gets old in a hurry.

I have a non-RF version of the Duo-Six20 series 2, so I am not just saying what I have heard.

I also have an Iskra. This Russian made camera may be one of the most sophisticated 6x6 folders ever made. The lens is awe inspiring. Here the problems are that it seems to be hard to find one in perfect working order (parts are non-available), and they are surprisingly heavy. However, almost all the coupled RF folders are heavy.

On the other hand, I would suggest you look at the non-coupled RF folders. Several are actually pocketable. My Hapo 66e (a rebadged Balda Baldix RF) is the the one I am most likely to carry.

 

[jeanba3000]

I like my Mamiya 6 Automatic 2

Sturdy & heavy piece of metal, like Zeiss Ikonta III/IV's design

Good Mamiya Sekor f/3,5 75 mm lens (not as sharp as my Rolleiflex's Planar and a little more subject to flare, lens hood required)

Coupled shutter cocking to automatic film advance, that means it automatically stops at each view, you still wind manually of course 😉

Coupled rangefinder with one of the widest eye hole (sorry, not sure if it's the right name for this part, my english is not very good) among 50's folding cameras. No parallax correction, but I don't know if any other folding cameras has it.

The special thing about this camera is that the focus is done by moving the film plane instead of the lens, so the film loading is a bit more complex with a removable pressure plate, and you focus with your right thumb on a wheel on the back, very easy to use. Distance scale with depth of field indication upon the right top of the camera, mine is in feet.

 

[Jake06]

My Mamiya Six is perfect for me, genius focusing mechanism and beautiful lens, albeit slightly soft in the corners. Here's an image of mine plus an image from it:

 

[68degrees]

Gorgeous cameras!

 

[citizen99]

My Mamiya Six is perfect for me, genius focusing mechanism and beautiful lens, albeit slightly soft in the corners. Here's an image of mine plus an image from it:

That's *nice* !

 

[citizen99]

I find the Agfas a notch lower in quality to the cameras I mentioned.

To be fair, the Agfa Isolette III is a fine camera. Its only design problem is the original bellows, which can be fixed. Admittedly, the Perkeo is more handsome, the overall quality of the finish much more beautiful. It is even a bit smaller and the body has a more sturdy feel to it than the Agfa, but I would say that where it counts most - the rigidness of the folding mechanism - the Agfa is a little bit ahead of the Perkeo. Also the film transport/frame counting mechanism of the Perkeo II is known to be flimsy and indeed it broke down on my example after half a dozen of rolls.
I also have to remark that the Solinar of my Isolette III is quite sharp, indeed the slides I take with my Perkeo II/Color Skopar appear a bit soft and lacking in contrast in comparison. In the end, this might of course be due to individual sample variation in the lenses (infinity is adjusted correctly on both cameras), so your mileage may vary. So, to sum it up, when I travel and need a compact, reliable and sharp camera for 6x6 slides, the Agfa is the camera I take along while the Perkeo has to stay at home.

Whatever camera you buy, I would recommend to look for a folder with a Compur Rapid or Synchro Compur shutter, these usually have a full range of shutter speeds from 1 s up to 1/500 s. IMO these are very good and reliable shutters, and a lot of camera technicians still know how to service them.
The second variety of shutters that are usually found on West German post WWII folders are Prontor/Pronto shutters, and I must admit I have a personal adversion against them. The varieties that are found on the MF folders usually end at 1/300 s or 1/250 s (in reality this translates to 1/150 s), which leaves you with only one single usable shutter speed if you really want sharp results, as I find the next available shutter speed (1/100 s = in reality 1/60 s) already to be at or past the limit for handheld shooting.

And, if you wanted 6x9 of that vintage, there's the very similar Agfa Record III. I have one, and it is neat, solid and compact, I really like it. As with the Isolettes, you would probably need the bellows to have been replaced, also the old Agfa grease.

 

[venchka]

Conversely. For $5.00, or less, you might find a 6x9 Rolex 20 folder at a garage sale. Like I did. No worries about rangefinder-fixed lens. No worries about aperture or shutter speed-fixed aperture & fixed 1/50 sec. shutter speed. Run a few rolls of 120 or 620 film through it. It takes both. Find out for yourself if a medium format folder is right for you.

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Rollex_20

Wayne