Which Zeiss Ikon Folder ? ? ? :)

Hi Dave - I have 4 folders - each have their +'s and -'s but at the end of the day I love each one!
- my first was a Franka Solida III - 6x6 - uncoupled rangefinder - coated Schneider lens
- then I got a Welta Weltax 6x6 - no rangefinder - coated Tessar lens - a really well-made camera - no depth of field scale (make your own)
- then I got a Voigtlander Perkeo II 6x6 - no rangefinder - coated Color Skopar lens - smallest of the bunch - auto film advance - very well made
- then I got a Zeiss Mess Ikonta 6x9 - huge negs - coated Tessar - uncoupled rangefinder - priciest of the bunch
I also got a Voigtlander rangefinder that can sit on the camera accessory thingy.

I got them all from Jurgen aka Certo6. His site has a wealth of info on folders. Great guy to deal with.
http://www.certo6.com/
I get my processing done at The Image Lounge in Markham - know the place?

If you want to see them/try them just let me know and we'll arrange something.

All the best
Dave
 
Thanks again folks :)

Dave, I'm processing my own negs right now so thanks for the tip re: Image Lounge

The folder does not HAVE to be a Zeiss Ikon but the Zeiss one's I've seen are not only functional but sexy looking too .. the "Mac" of the camera world perhaps? :)

I currently have an old Braun Norca III folder. No rangefinder. Scale focusing. 6x6 or 6x9 but with a slow 105mm lens(f6.3)

Cheers,
Dave
 
If I buy another folder, it will be a 6x4.5 Ikonta or 6x6 Mess Ikonta with Tessar & Compur. I'd want something more compact than my Bessa but lighter & less fragile than the Super Ikontas are at this point. An uncoupled RF is a nice thing; I only wish Zeiss had made a 6x4.5 Mess Ikonta as that would have been the best of all possibilities to me.

William
 
dcsang said:
There's something strangely sexy about folders.
Ya, I know, call me weird, but I think they've got this awesome allure that makes them, well, sexy.

That said, I was wondering, as I browse the umpteen ebay auctions out there for Zeiss Ikon folders, which Zeiss Ikon folder would be recommended for a folder neophyte/fetishist?

I mean, there's the 6x4.5, the 6x6, the 6x9 etc. etc. but which one is the one that folks seem to feel would offer the "best bang for the buck"?
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Just don't get the Ercona with the Tempor shutter. Tempors are junk. That said, the Prontor-S version is a nice camera. Another thing to consider is that the 6x4.5 format is close enough to the 35mm format that it is kind of disappointing if you are expecting a dramatic difference. Personally, I prefer the 6x9 format cameras. You only get 8 photos, but WHOA! If you do everything right, and if your camera is working like it should, the photos will knock your socks off -- especially if you're used to shooting 35mm or small format digital cameras.

Charles
 
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If small size is what you'd prefer I would suggest either a 6x4.5 Super Ikonta or Voigtländer Perkeo E (6x6, but w/ uncoupled rangefinder). If image quality/larger negs are higher in priority then go for a 6x9 Super Ikonta with an Opton-Tessar T-coated lens.
 
Dave, a tip as you're trawling the 'bay. One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure the lens is still parallel with the body when unfolded. I have a very nice prewar Bessa that is unusable because it won't quite unfold all the way. Of course, that was plainly visible in the auction photos once I knew to look for it.

I have since noticed more examples of this, and it seems to affect Voigtländer more than other makes for some reason. Must be the strut design they were using.
 
Classic camera author Ivor Mantanle says in his book that the lens standard is inadequate. Being the owner of a couple of Bessa folders, I can understand what he means.

The yoke that holds the lens/shutter assembly of metal that is too soft. Additionally, on some models, the struts can be easily nudged out of position.

The Agfa Isolettes have struts that firmly snap into position -- among the best that I've seen. Of course, Agfa folders have their own problems (plastic bellows that develop pinholes and frozen helicals).
 
The seller "camera$" is appropriately named, as the emphasis is on him removing your dollars from your wallet and as many as possible. His prices are just slightly less than "kevinscameras" and "arsenal" -- but not by much. Generally, "camera$" is about twice the going eBay rate, while the other two are 2 1/2 to 3 times as much.
 
Was wondering if anyone had suggestions on my fogging issue with the Super Ikonta 532/16. I've shot 4 rolls now (3 Tmax, 1 Tri-X) and they've all come out fogged: first 4 frames or so are opaque, next 3 barely visible, the remaining 3-4 are fine. I don't think it's my loading technique: I've shot plenty with a TLR (which requires a lot more of the leader to be exposed) and developed plenty of 35mm, and never once had this problem.
 
Thanks again guys, I'll avoid those particular auctions and keep in mind that the lens remain parallel when extended.

Cheers,
Dave
 
I have a Super Ikonta III from ebay with case. Very mint conditions 145 Euro. It is a really great camera. I like it.
 
ethics_gradient said:
Was wondering if anyone had suggestions on my fogging issue with the Super Ikonta 532/16. I've shot 4 rolls now (3 Tmax, 1 Tri-X) and they've all come out fogged: first 4 frames or so are opaque, next 3 barely visible, the remaining 3-4 are fine. I don't think it's my loading technique: I've shot plenty with a TLR (which requires a lot more of the leader to be exposed) and developed plenty of 35mm, and never once had this problem.
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Strange phenonema. Are the spaces between frames fogged too ?
 
dcsang said:
Out of curiosity, has anyone bought anything from this Ebayer?
http://stores.shop.ebay.ca/Fine-Cameras-and-Watches__W0QQ_armrsZ1

He's got some "ok" prices and "ok" looking cameras but it seems no one's buying.

Curious,
Dave
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I had a terrible experience with this "fine" cameras and watches. When I was a beginner in vintage cameras, I bought a Contax from them. They claim it works good. But after I received it and tested it with film, I found a fatal mechanical problem. They refused to take it back. Aafter sevral emails, no any respondence!!! They are really "fine" enough!!!
 
I second the 518/16 Nettars. I have two, both of them cost me under $10 each. The only big thing wrong with both them was the black paint was chipping off of the inside of the back door, which was easily re-painted. I did eventually end up taking the double exposure prevention mechanism out of both of them because on one of them, it had worn from use to a point that you could accidently trip it with the shutter button while the shutter was uncocked, then you either had to screw in a cable release, or wind the film to the next frame. This was taken with one (and cropped):
Mpls 2.jpg
 
chippy said:
with all due respect to yourself and Mr Mantanle, a blanket statement like that saying the struts on the bessa are 'too soft' or 'inadequate' is a complete load of rot to put it mildly
[...]
so long as it is treated with care it will continue to work flawlessly
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Mike (ZeissFan) was clearly writing in response to my post, which just as clearly stated that we are talking about a prewar Bessa that is otherwise in very nice condition. I can assure you there is no sign of "abuse" on this camera.

Furthermore, I find you are making quite a few blanket statements yourself.
 
Sigh.

chippy said:
i suggest i am making quite the opposite to blanket statements by not taking one or two examples of "a bessa" and suggesting that they (all bessa and voigtlander), without any form of abuse get damaged or bent struts.
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Neither Mike nor I made any such statement. That is simply your reading -- influenced, I must assume, by Mike's choice of screen name. I suggest you visit his excellent website or peruse his postings on many different camera types in this forum before you accuse him of bias.

chippy said:
how you would know if your bessa camera was not ever dropped while the front bed was open in the past 70 years [...]
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Absence of other damage that is inevitably associated with such a drop.

chippy said:
if the struts on the bessa were inadequate then it begs the question why so many were sold over such a long period and rated highly, not to mention how many are still working perfectly now 70 years later!
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I suggest you read the post more closely. We're talking about the yoke, not the struts. Voigtländer clearly changed the material for the yoke, I'm sure they had a reason.

chippy said:
[...]that amusing thought provoking choice of three folders sitting on bar, which one would you pick? (i thought that was fun actually) in that example they were unmatched camera from different decades! one camera of your choice was pre-war (30's), one could have been from a few different decades and the last could only be from the late 50's....
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That was a joke, in keeping with the humorous tone in which this thread was started. In case you ever read the OP, you might have noticed that.

We now return to your regularly scheduled thread of useful suggestions for Dave's first 120 folder.
 
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