GaryLH
Veteran
Bessa IIi is made by Fuji for the voigtlander brand. It is marketed as gf670 by Fuji.
Gary
What mf RF folder should I get?
- Thread starter 68degrees
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 54
- Views 4K
Bessa IIi is made by Fuji for the voigtlander brand. It is marketed as gf670 by Fuji.
Gary
roboflick
Well-known
I have a beautiful serviced Iskra for sale in the classifieds. It's a dream camera, but I have an Agfa super isolette, so I can't keep both
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/pho...php/product/37135/title/iskra-low-price/cat/4
Nik
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/pho...php/product/37135/title/iskra-low-price/cat/4
Nik
z.bruce.li
Established
At $400-500 range, the Super Isolette and Super Ikonta III/IV are the best 6x6 folders. At half of that, Iskra 5 in good shape is definitely the logical choice. Somewhere in between, there is also the old Mamiya Six folders I really like.
Krosya
Konicaze
I went though a long stage when I tried lots of vintage folders. What I ended up with - 2 Weltas Weltur - one 6x6 and one 6x9. Great, reliable cameras in my experience. Check it out.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Cosina licenses the Voigtländer brnad name from its German owners. The story I heard was that Mr. Kobayashi (president of Cosina) was interested to produce a modern, medium format, folding film camera for the Voigtländer brand and approached Fuji with the idea. The Bessa III and GF670, and their wide-angle variants, are a collaborative development project, with Fuji doing the manufacturing.
Mine has "Made in Japan" engraved on the body. I don't think Fuji has production facilities for this type of camera in China, all of the Fuji medium format cameras that I've seen have been manufactured in Japan.
GaryLH
Veteran
My gf670 also says "made in Japan". I have also heard that story someplace as well..
Gary
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I just posted this in the 120 folder forum, but I thought the OP on this thread would like to see results from a '55 Balda Baldix 6x6 folder ... scale focus only, but very small and light. Not quite as substantial as the Voigtländer Perkeo II, but still a fine camera...
Balda Baldix, Ilford XP2 Super
The Baltar 75mm lens has a lovely feel to its rendering. There was quite a bit of overcast flare in this photo from shooting into the morning sun, which lent it a very atmospheric quality.
G
Balda Baldix, Ilford XP2 Super
The Baltar 75mm lens has a lovely feel to its rendering. There was quite a bit of overcast flare in this photo from shooting into the morning sun, which lent it a very atmospheric quality.
G
jajong
Established
Did anybody mention the Mess Ikonta (524/16)? It's fairly small for a 6x6, and has a (uncoupled) rangefinder.
Cheers, Jan
Cheers, Jan
OlliL
Well-known
Want to add:
The Super-Baldax has a coupled rangefinder and is the same otherwise.
There's also another model, with an uncoupled RF, sold in Germany under the name "Hapo 66E" (don't know the Balda model).
There's a Super-Baldax on Apug atm, no connection to the seller.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
There's another listed on EBay.
joeswe
Well-known
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.
thegman
Veteran
I think if you don't mind spending the money, the GF670 is an outstanding camera, Hasselblad image quality in something as portable as a Leica with a medium size lens. My brother had one, and it's quite something. I tried to get one, but the price was too good to be true, and ended up having to send it back.
In the end I ended up with a Zeiss Super Ikonta III, no interchangeable lenses, but very small, coupled RF, and a lovely Tessar lens. I love it, it's my favourite camera right now, I expected it to be a bit rickety with age, but it feels fantastic.
I got it from certo6.com, Jurgen Kreckel who runs that site was very helpful and got the camera to me very quickly.
I think an Iskra or a Agfa Super Isolette would be great for you too. If you don't mind a bit more modern, there is Mamiya 6, 7, Plaubel Makina, and of course the GF670. Used prices can be pretty good on the GF670, but make sure you buy somewhere reputable.
In the end I ended up with a Zeiss Super Ikonta III, no interchangeable lenses, but very small, coupled RF, and a lovely Tessar lens. I love it, it's my favourite camera right now, I expected it to be a bit rickety with age, but it feels fantastic.
I got it from certo6.com, Jurgen Kreckel who runs that site was very helpful and got the camera to me very quickly.
I think an Iskra or a Agfa Super Isolette would be great for you too. If you don't mind a bit more modern, there is Mamiya 6, 7, Plaubel Makina, and of course the GF670. Used prices can be pretty good on the GF670, but make sure you buy somewhere reputable.
citizen99
Well-known
As several people have already pointed out, you won't find interchangeable lenses in a classic folder, you would need to go to one of 'system' types which are at best 'partly collapsibles' rather than pocketable 'folders'. There are of course the interchangeable lens versions of the Fuji 'Texas Leica', but they don't fold at all.
Do I perhaps infer a liking for 68 degrees Field of View from your Forum name ? 😉. I have played around with a f=65mm Angulon in old trackbed folders, which gives pretty close to that FOV on the '9' dimension of 6x9, but it's more a 'proof of concept' than what would suit most peoples' purposes. You wouldn't get a Super Angulon or similar lens on to anything that folds to fit a normal jacket/vest pocket.
Last edited:
68degrees
Well-known
The 68 degrees fov thing I hadnt thought of that.... hmmmm. 😀Actually my name comes from the water temperature I use for B&W film developing. It just popped into my head when I signed up and was prompted to create a screen name. haha. I think because Ive been thinking about the water temperature here (south florida) has been so warm out of the well that I've had to actually add cold water from the fridge to get the bath right.
oftheherd
Veteran
Are you thinking of another than the Recomar? I have three, and I'm going to feel awfully stupid when I get home tonight if I find they have bayonet lens mounts (in fact, I was just fondling them all this morning). Nor does the manual Picture taking with the Kodak Recomar Nos. 18 and 33 (available from the Butkiss site) mention that. It does mention suppementary lenses to acheive 18 cm, 23 cm, and 11cm wide (for the 9x12). I haven't seen them, but have found series VI supplementary lenses for long, wide, and close-up work. As an aside, the Recomar 18 would be a better fit for the OP, since it is a 6x9. I have seen it fitted with a RF, as are two of the Recomar 33s that I have.
I forget now the other plate folding cameras that had interchangable lenses other than the Bee Bee (also a German made camera imported to the US as the Bee Bee). I think both the 9x12 and the 6x9 had two lenses each besides the normal lens. I check ebay from time to time but have yet to find one. The Bee Bee lenses did not bayonet in, but fit into curved flanges top and bottom. The top one had a wire spring to help hold the lens in place, as well as a tabbed wheel on top to lock the lens in.
A 6x9 plate folder might be small enough for the OP, but adding an auxillery RF would increase its size some. Then, unless you can find a roll film holder, you need to use cut film.
68degrees
Well-known
the Baldar looks nice thanks GI just posted this in the 120 folder forum, but I thought the OP on this thread would like to see results from a '55 Balda Baldix 6x6 folder ... scale focus only, but very small and light. Not quite as substantial as the Voigtländer Perkeo II, but still a fine camera...
Balda Baldix, Ilford XP2 Super
The Baltar 75mm lens has a lovely feel to its rendering. There was quite a bit of overcast flare in this photo from shooting into the morning sun, which lent it a very atmospheric quality.
G
GaryLH
Veteran
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
Attachments
kuzano
Veteran
Hapo 66E Made by Balda
Hapo 66E Made by Balda
The Hapo 66E was made by Balda and branded for Hans Porsht (hence the HA PO) Stores, much like Sears used many manufacturers for their camera's and had branded Sear. Mamiya 35 MM was on such mfr for sears brand. Sears, quite obviously, never made their own cameras to my knowledge.
I had a Hapo 66E bought from Jurgen Krenckel (Certo66). Excellent 6X6 with Enna Werke lens and uncoupled rangefinder, which Implies it was a Balda Baldax.???
Hapo 66E Made by Balda
The Hapo 66E was made by Balda and branded for Hans Porsht (hence the HA PO) Stores, much like Sears used many manufacturers for their camera's and had branded Sear. Mamiya 35 MM was on such mfr for sears brand. Sears, quite obviously, never made their own cameras to my knowledge.
I had a Hapo 66E bought from Jurgen Krenckel (Certo66). Excellent 6X6 with Enna Werke lens and uncoupled rangefinder, which Implies it was a Balda Baldax.???
nosmok
Established
My favorites have been mentioned already-- the Welturs and the Hapo 66. My Hapo cost me 15 bucks and it's become my MF carry-around choice. Only 4 speeds on the shutter, and uncoupled RF, but I can't really handhold anything faster than 1/25th reliably anyway. Great Enna lens. Auto film advance is GREAT, much nicer than you realize if you're coming from the red window world. Another scale-focus keeper with auto advance is the Kodak Monitor 620. Get one with an Anastigmat Special "Lumenized" lens and be blown away. You can even use 220 film in one! Bellows are an issue though.
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.
Or you can get that Ensign Autorange 820 on evilBay right now for only 5700 USD. A true bargain.
--nosmok
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.
Or you can get that Ensign Autorange 820 on evilBay right now for only 5700 USD. A true bargain.
--nosmok
68degrees
Well-known
wow this has been great fellas. My head is really spinning now! I will be digesting all this for a while. Lots of choices. Me likey.
Similar threads
- Article
