Bargain Folder Recommendations

rcphoto · Aug 7, 2023

Its been over a year since my last camera purchase and have started spending more time on two wheeled transportation. Kinda looking at getting a folder but I'm unwilling to spend big money. Anyone got some good recommendations? I have 3 qualifications:

-Under $100
-120 format (not interested in anything that requires respooling)
-Prefer 6x6 or 6x7 so I can print full frame (my enlarger can only handle up to 6x7)

Thanks in advance for the input.

****Please move this post if in the wrong category.

ntenny · Aug 7, 2023

I like the 6x6 Nettars a lot, and they generally go at a pretty low price point. The bellows usually don’t need much attention, the lenses are triplets but respectable, and they’re robustly built. Squinty viewfinders, but that’s true of most folders.

-NT

Nicholas Lindan · Aug 7, 2023

Another vote for the Zeiss Nettar. You can get them with either a f6.3 or f4.5 lens and shutters ranging from simple 3 or 4 speed units up to a Prontor with a full set of speeds.

Paul Howell · Aug 7, 2023

If you can live with scale focus and rewinding 120 on to 620 spools, Kodak Tourist. The Tourist was made with number of lens and shutters, the mid range has a shutter with a top speed of 1/400th of a second, 4 element lens, the body is aluminum pretty light. The bellows tend to hold up.

Dirb9 · Aug 8, 2023

Most versions of the Olympus Six are under $100, the shutters are pretty reliable and some have a fast Zuiko f/2.8 lens. The Moskva 5 has a mask to shoot 6x6, but the 105mm is somewhat long in that format.

6x7 didn't really get popular as a format until the 1970s, well past the golden era of folders. I think the only folding 6x7s out there are the Fuji/Voigtlander GF670 and the Makina, both are pretty pricey.

polka · Aug 8, 2023

From old folders needing to watch the film transport through a red window, there are no 6x7, because the paper backing of 120 rolls have only marks for 6x9, 6x6 and 6x4.5.

If you want a telemeter (rangefinder style), Zeiss super ikonta are OK but more expensive than Moskva (soviet faithful copies) which are rather fair : good lenses, good compur-like (moment) shutters, super ikonta style telemeter. good built.

Some find the Galilee type viewfinders horrible but IMO, all old Galilee finders are (even the first Leica Barnack's).

I have a Moskva 2 with a 4.5 Industar lens and a Moskva 5 with a 3.5 Industar lens. Both give fine pictures (6x9).

POLKa

Buzz-01 · Aug 8, 2023

When on a super tight budget, get yourself a Nettar! Bought mine for less than the price of a roll of film, about a year ago. That was excessively cheap, but depending on where you live, you should be able to pick one up well below $100. Good quality and excellent performance.

Zone focus, so try and find a Watameter to go with it and you're good to go!

neilt3 · Aug 8, 2023

I've got a Moscow 5 and it gives good results and is nice to use .
I have the mask as well for 6x6 .
If you want 6x7 negatives just shoot 6x9 on crop in the enlarger , assuming the negative holder you have fits over 6x7 .
Or else scan the negatives and have printed .

blee1996 · Aug 8, 2023

At your budget, most likely you will have zone focus 6x6 folder with triplet lens. Zone focus is easy, but do make sure the shutter is reasonably accurate.

- Yet another vote for Zeiss Nettar with a Novar f/4.5 lens
- Alternatives will be Voigtlander Bessa I with Vaskar lens, Agfa Isolette with Apotar/Agnar lens, Franka Solida with Radionar

Another totally different category is 6x6 tube cameras, such as the Agfa Isola with Agnar f/6.3 lens. They can be as compact as folders, yet producing similar quality photos if both have triplet lens.

JPD · Aug 8, 2023

An early post-war Ikonta with a coated Tessar can be found for little money.

The East German Ercona is a sturdy 6x9 camera, and it can take 6x6 if it has the mask. 6x9 can be cropped to 6x7. The Tessar is excellent and the Novonar triplet isn't bad either, from what I have seen.

rcphoto · Aug 8, 2023

Thanks for input all. I’ll follow up with what I end up with.

takilmaboxer · Aug 8, 2023

Keep your eyes out for the 1950s Zeiss 523/16 with a coated Tessar lens. The best lens of the line, same as the ones on the Super Ikonta. I own three of these, paid $20 for one with a misfolded but functional bellows; $50 for one that works well, and $100 for one that looked brand new. The same camera was issued with the f/3.5 Novar and I have one of those as well.

GregY · Aug 8, 2023

Perkeo ll w Color Skopar is a great choice

xya · Aug 8, 2023

GregY said:
Perkeo ll w Color Skopar is a great choice

I would second that one, the smallest 6x6 I have seen yet. For more information https://www.120folder.com/voigtlaender_perkeo_II.htm and there are more cameras on my site...

JPD · Aug 8, 2023

GregY said:
Perkeo ll w Color Skopar is a great choice

Yes, but they are hard to find at bargain prices since they became very popular, but you can have luck. I was lucky to find a Voigtländer E-Bessa with Heliar in very good condition and a mint 1939 Rolleiflex for low Buy it now-prices on Ebay. Not every day you find an unused-looking 80-plus year old pro camera that on top of that works perfectly, for only 60 Euros. Paid about the same for the Bessa.

MattKing · Aug 8, 2023

My 6x6 Baby Bessa has served me well. Of course, it is one of the best laid out cameras ever for left handed photographers.

Dustin McAmera · Aug 9, 2023

My favourite 120-film folder is a Certo Super Sport Dolly. It comes in different levels of specification. The best ones have a rangefinder (it's a split-image RF, and took me a little getting used-to). Mine has an f/2.8 Tessar. It has a removable mask in the film compartment, and there are masks for square format and for 4.5x6. I had to buy a couple of dead cameras to end up with both masks.

If you get an Agfa, I'd get one with an Apotar every time rather than an Agnar. In any case, watch out for stuck focus on Agfa folders.

Andrew O'Neill · Aug 9, 2023

Lots of Mamiya-Six folders out there. I got mine a few years ago for just over a hundred US from an ebay seller in Japan. I just used it extensively in Japan this Summer.

Rolleiflexible · Aug 9, 2023

I can vouch for the Hapo 66e, if you come across one. It was a Balda (a fine maker of folders) and sold as a house brand for Hans Porst photo shops in Germany. They tend to sell cheap because no one knows them — I picked mine up on eBay for well under $100.

Hapo 66-E

This site is dedicated to folding cameras for 120 film. It's run by Reinhard Blanck

www.120folder.com

Of course the Balda cameras are great if you can locate one under $100. But the Hapo is a sleeper, easier to find cheaply. I am attaching an impromptu portrait taken with my Hapo to give a sense of what the camera is capable of making.

rcphoto · Aug 9, 2023

Rolleiflexible said:
I can vouch for the Hapo 66e, if you come across one. It was a Balda (a fine maker of folders) and sold as a house brand for Hans Porst photo shops in Germany. They tend to sell cheap because no one knows them — I picked mine up on eBay for well under $100.

Hapo 66-E

This site is dedicated to folding cameras for 120 film. It's run by Reinhard Blanck

www.120folder.com

Of course the Balda cameras are great if you can locate one under $100. But the Hapo is a sleeper, easier to find cheaply. I am attaching an impromptu portrait taken with my Hapo to give a sense of what the camera is capable of making.

Nice shot. Thank you for the advice

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