35mm Balda Foler

[SteveH]

All,
In my travels today I stumbled upon an old Balda Folding 35mm camera with a Rodenstock 50mm lens. The camera is in remarkable shape, still has its carrying case, etc. The $15 asking price was right too . In addition, it seems to be a hell of a hunk of metal.
I've been hunting the net, but does anyone have some info on this creature ? Is it possible to interchange lenses at all ?
Time to order up some efke 35mm....

 

[Donald Qualls]

You probably have the best lens sold on that, assuming it's a Jubilette or Baldina. I have a Jubilette with Baltar triplet, which is pretty much useless at f/5.6 or wider. In theory, you can put any 50 mm lens in a compatible shutter on there, by removing the retaining ring, dropping the shutter off, and installing the other. Between rolls, obviously...

BTW, I'd recommend trying Fomapan 100 -- I like it a lot, and it's cheaper than Efke.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Hi Steve,

I have found this site to be a wealth of information.......Matts Classic Cameras: Rangefinders and Compacts.
He's a super guy and the links Matt provides give all sorts of cool info. Just rebuilt the lenses on a 120 Baldalux & 120 Baldix. You have to get a certain mind set, at least I do, when I switch from my usual Nikon SLR's to a folder. Great fun. Very Zen.

Mike

 

[SteveH]

Guys,
Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware that they made fomapan 100 in 35mm...I use it in 4x5, but now I'll have to order some up in 35mm.
Thanks for the link, Im going to give it a shot.

Regards,

 

[elekm]

Balda was a camera manufacturer, and there were quite a few models from well before World War II on through to the 1970s with the CE 35 -- a Minox-like camera.

So for that reason, it's difficult to say which model camera you have.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Guys,
Thanks for the info. I wasn't aware that they made fomapan 100 in 35mm...I use it in 4x5, but now I'll have to order some up in 35mm.

I've used it in 9x12 cm, 4x5, and I have a number of rolls in 120 (though so far I've only used any of that by cutting down to 828). It's good stuff in any format; I might have to check if Freestyle carries it (under their "Arista .EDU Ultra" label) in 35 mm bulk rolls...