Cheap 6x6 folder?
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FishyFish
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My Zeiss Mess-Ikonta 524/16 cost me £40 from a camera fair last year and it’s extremely sharp. It’s an uncoupled rangefinder so takes a little extra work when taking a shot, but does make it very easy to focus (fully coupled rangefinder models tend to be a lot more expensive unfortunately) and the patch is very bright and clear.
steveo_mcg
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If you can get an ikonta 524/16 for reasonable money I'd start there, its an uncoupled rangefinder and shoots 6x6. The 523/16 is basically identical but lacks the rangefinder. The Tessar lens is better but the Novar lens isn't a bad lens by any measure.
In Ikonta speak the first three numbers are the model numbers and the second are the format designation, 16 is 6x6, 2 is 6x9 and A is 4.5 but I don't think they were made after the 30's.
In Ikonta speak the first three numbers are the model numbers and the second are the format designation, 16 is 6x6, 2 is 6x9 and A is 4.5 but I don't think they were made after the 30's.
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An Ensign Selfix 12-20 with Ross Xpres lens should fit the bill, try to get one where the slower shutter speeds still work properly on it. If it needs a service to restore them then it will probably cost around £50 to £70 depending on where you send it, so this model shouldn't be too expensive to service (providing nothing is broken and it's repairable!). All these folding cameras are getting on now (50 or 60+ years old), so quite a few of them need a bit of TLC to get (or keep) them fully working. The bellows usually seem to have survived quite well on the 1950s Ensign Selfixs.
If you put a bit more money to your budget then you might be able to find a good 1960s Yashica 635 TLR in fully working order for around the £80 to £100 mark, and that will give you the ability to see the focus on a viewing screen as well as 6x6 photos.
As with everything, fully research the model and look carefully at any photos and the description in any adverts, and even then, be prepared for disappointment and returning something if it's substantially not as described!
Oh, and do find a copy of the instructions and read them thoroughly before trying to use the camera, some of them have a set order in which the shutter has to be set and primed, otherwise you can permanently damage or jam the shutter! Also, if there's a self-timer fitted then I wouldn't use it, as the mechanism is often gummed up and it can result in the shutter mechanism jamming. Best of luck finding something that suits.
If you put a bit more money to your budget then you might be able to find a good 1960s Yashica 635 TLR in fully working order for around the £80 to £100 mark, and that will give you the ability to see the focus on a viewing screen as well as 6x6 photos.
As with everything, fully research the model and look carefully at any photos and the description in any adverts, and even then, be prepared for disappointment and returning something if it's substantially not as described!
Oh, and do find a copy of the instructions and read them thoroughly before trying to use the camera, some of them have a set order in which the shutter has to be set and primed, otherwise you can permanently damage or jam the shutter! Also, if there's a self-timer fitted then I wouldn't use it, as the mechanism is often gummed up and it can result in the shutter mechanism jamming. Best of luck finding something that suits.
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john.margetts
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Zeiss Ikon Nettars are often underrated Look for a 515/16, 517/16 or a 518/16. With Zeiss Ikon cameras the /16 part means 6x6 pictures (/2 means 6x9 and no slash means 6x4.5). Price? For one in excellent condition, around £20 I would think.
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desf
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Great stuff, thanks to all for the info.
I've been doing a bit of reading but it's great to get real recommendations. The Ensigns 12-20 was one I was certainly looking at.
For some reason I thought the Zeiss Ikon 16 models were 6x4.5? I thought it was the number of shots on a 120 film (12 for 6x6, 16 for 6x4.5)
I've been doing a bit of reading but it's great to get real recommendations. The Ensigns 12-20 was one I was certainly looking at.
For some reason I thought the Zeiss Ikon 16 models were 6x4.5? I thought it was the number of shots on a 120 film (12 for 6x6, 16 for 6x4.5)
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M W Classic seem to have a variety of folders, but also at a variety of prices. Might be worth giving them a call to see what the recommend for longer term use, rather than something that can't be fixed?
http://www.mwclassic.com/page/2/?post_type=product&s=folding
http://www.mwclassic.com/page/2/?post_type=product&s=folding
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desf
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Thanks, yes good idea.
There are a few sites I keep an eye on, they are one but I've never bought from them.
http://www.collectablecameras.com/list.htm is another one but they don't update their list too often these days.
john.margetts
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You would think so, but Zeiss Ikon never did things the easy way.