6x6 folder, what's worth buying?

sirch

sirch

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In an idle moment I dug out my old folder thinking it might be fun to put a roll through and a bit of a relief from carting the Bronica around. It was one of the first cameras I owned, bought from a scouts auction for pocket money and used by a much younger me to get my photography badge, amongst other things. Anyway, I haven't looked at it for years and on close inspection the lens is covered in small scratches and whilst it might give some "interesting" effects I don't think the results would be great in anything but the best lighting conditions.

Given that the one I have probably isn't up to much I thought I might purchase another 6x6 folder, just for fun but after a quick look on ebay it seems that they have gone up a bit in price and if I am going to spend more than about £20 I thought I really ought to know what I am getting into. So what's worth buying? Kodak 66, Ziess Ikon, Ensign?
 
Ensign 12-20 or 16-20?
 
sirch said:
on close inspection the lens is covered in small scratches and whilst it might give some "interesting" effects I don't think the results would be great in anything but the best lighting conditions.
Click to expand...

scratches?
www.lensrentals.com

Front Element Scratches

We had a chance to make a pretty fun demonstration today, and here it is. As most of you know, we’re very finicky about our gear. We don’t like even tiny scratches on front elements or dust in a lens (although a bit of that is inevitable). We’re like you. We want the lens to [...]
www.lensrentals.com
 
If you've got cash to burn then the super ikonta is fantastic, either that or the mess ikonta 524 is an excellent camera.
 
excalibur2 said:
scratches?
www.lensrentals.com

Front Element Scratches

We had a chance to make a pretty fun demonstration today, and here it is. As most of you know, we’re very finicky about our gear. We don’t like even tiny scratches on front elements or dust in a lens (although a bit of that is inevitable). We’re like you. We want the lens to [...]
www.lensrentals.com
Click to expand...
I've seen exampes like that elsewhere and in the right conditions wide open you can get away with it but stopped down with the light to the side, as I said "interesting" effects...
 
I can only vouch for the one I've used, which is a Zeiss Mess-Ikonta 524/16. Its an uncoupled rangefinder and makes lovely photos. The lens is lovely and sharp.

My Flickr gallery is here if you want to look at what I've managed to get out of it:

www.flickr.com

Zeiss Mess-Ikonta 524/16

Explore this photo album by fishyfish_arcade on Flickr!
www.flickr.com www.flickr.com
 
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Someone in Japan is looking for £90 (plus £10 postage) for a Zeiss Mess Ikonta case!

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions, I've set up searches on the Ensign and the Zeiss, see what comes up. There is an Ensign with a missing shutter button for £20 which almost feels with a punt on.
 
The biggest problem with all folders of mature age is the fragility of the bellows, they are all past their sell by date, and most have pinholes at best.
I have quite a few but only a couple with light tight bellows. Non folders of that age fare far better. though I have a near perfect Ensign Selfix 16-20 with albada finder and Ross Xpress lens.
 
Ive found 1950s Ensign Selfix cameras usually seem to be OK bellows wise, unless they've suffered physical damage. It's the slow shutter speeds that tend to suffer, and sometimes the lens needs recalibrating to give focus at the stated lengths.

There's also the 1950s Voigtlander Perkeo, which is about the smallest 6x6 folder you'll find. It gives nice sharp results, but I find the viewfinder is quite small. If size doesn't matter, then the Ensign Selfix 820 with Ross Xpres lens is worth considering as it has inbuilt fold out mask 'shutters' that convert it to 6x6, and you get the luxury of 6x9 too. Hope this is useful.
 
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I've got a couple of Zeiss Ikontas, not the super rangefinder versions, by the way. They are well made. I've got versions with Compur shutters and, best of all, Tessar lenses. But then the Nettars and Nettar lenses are great as well, outstanding in fact.

The good points seem to be the leather(?) bellows, I've never had one with bad bellows, and the focussing which always has been smooth. By the way of comparison, I had a 6x9 Agfa which had an almost competely gummed up focussing mechanism. None of Ikontas or, indeed, Nettars seem to have this problem.

I would say to stick to 6x6 camera to start with, Good shots with a folding 6x9 are quite difficult to achieve, or so I have found.

I have limited experience with Ensigns. The build quality is outstanding. I'm not sure the about the shutters, just based on a couple of examples.
 
Thought I'd put a roll through the Balda Baldix (the folder I have) just to see how it went, I might not need another after all :facepalm:

ContactSheet by Chris H, on Flickr


Still considering something else, some of these are way-off exposure wise. I had already tested the shutter and found that it sticks below about 1/30 so I kept above that but some are very under exposed and I was metering with a modern meter. I might try to measure the actual shutter speeds.
 
Would a CLA on what you have be cheaper than a fresh complete camera? If you do go for a new one, there's a reasonable chance that it'll have the same issues/features that your current one has but with yours being CLA, it should be good for a few years.
 
Nod said:
Would a CLA on what you have be cheaper than a fresh complete camera? If you do go for a new one, there's a reasonable chance that it'll have the same issues/features that your current one has but with yours being CLA, it should be good for a few years.
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Possibly, the thought had occurred to me but the jury is still out...
 
With the Zeiss Ikontas (and this might apply to other folders as well), there could be several different lenses. My late Dad's Ikonta 524/16 has the Novar Anastigmat, which is fine, but I'd much rather it was a Tessar. Can't sell it on though, obvs!

I did look for an Ensign 8-20 (6x9 negs) a little while ago; the BIN prices are daft, but I was "watching" a nice looking one, and fleabay reminded me of it... after it had been sold for a very reasonable price. Of course if I'd bid it would no doubt have shot up!
 
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