Balda Super Baldax
German made folding medium format rangefinder camera. Uses 120 roll film to produce 12 6x6 cm negatives per roll. This is a good-very good quality camera from the 1950s. It's silly small and light for the negative it produces. The lens is a high quality 4 element, 80mm f2.8 (fast for this type of camera).
I own a number of Balda cameras. The designs are all simple and well conceived. Clever in places, but always workman-like.
Although my copy is pretty, it suffers from a common problem. The very clever frame counter (a rare feature for old folding cameras) does not work well. No problem really, I just use the red window to count the frame off the back of the film.
I carry this camera a lot. I love square and I love medium format. Because it's a folder, it drops in to my computer bag easier than most 35mm cameras would. As a bonus, unlike many old folders, it accepts a reasonably available filter size (40.5mm). I bought a 40.5mm to 46mm step up ring and now I share my neutral density filters with my Hexar AF 35mm camera. Since the Baldax has a maximum shutter speed of 1/500th, ND filters come in handy when you want to control DOF in daylight pictures...like this one.
Unfortunately, these cameras have been "discovered" over the last year or so and have about doubled in price to around $250 (as of 11/1/08) on ebay. They don't come up often, so you can look for one patiently or pry mine from my cold, dead fingers.
Ilford FP4+...keeping very still in a dark bar.
Porta 160NC cross-processed in b&w chemicals.
Great job…. Thank you for the information
Andreeas Knij
Photo Video Chicago LLC
246 North Pulaski Road
Chicago Cook, IL 60641
Posted by: andreeas knij | February 06, 2010 at 11:00 PM