Bencini Koroll "S" Medium format

[david baugh]

You don't come across many Italian made cameras..I came across a Ferrania recently. The subject of this post is the Bencini Korrol S a very simple but tough little medium format camera that can shoot 6x6 or 4.5x6 images. A ferrari of the camera world it is not more like a Fiat 126 ( if you're as old as me).

Anyway I have used it and have just uploaded a mini review with a few sample images, hope it's of interest.
If you just want to skip to the images the time stamp is 5:28

 

[Donald Qualls]

I have a Bencini Koroll 24S -- makes 24 3x4 images on 120. That's vertical orientation, half of a 6x6 frame, masked to 4cm high (presumably to fit a 2x2 slide frame). Not quite the same as a half-frame 127; a few mm narrower. Image quality isn't bad for what it is...

 

[AgX]

You don't come across many Italian made cameras.

And we talk about them even less.
Good you brought up this topic.

 

[miha]

Thank you for this. I imagine many blurry shots to come out of the camera not just because of guestimate focusing but also because of 1/50s and 90mm lens.

 

[removed account4]

hi David

I had 2 Bencini's at one point they were fun cameras
I loved the futuristic cast aluminum design !
I always wanted a Comet III, but you know the story.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Cool little camera... of course, I now want one.

 

[david baugh]

Thanks for the comments much appreciated.

I do have a couple of other Bencini cameras, a Comet S which uses 127 film and a Koroll II. Maybe a review soon.

hi David

I always wanted a Comet III, but you know the story.

Yes I do, they come up for sale occasionally , however the one I found recently was a tad on the expensive side. Ultra quirky though.

 

[AgX]

I think I only got one italian camera, and that was about all that I came across so far.

 

[Tel]

I like shooting 127 so I've picked up a Comet S and a couple of Ferrania Rondine cameras over the years. I like the half-frame format of the Comet and the lens is actually not bad. The Rondines are another story--the viewfinder distorts the image so badly it's almost useless for framing. Must dig out that Comet and shoot with it....127 Day is coming soon.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Here are a couple from my Bencini Koroll 24-S -- that's 24 frames 3x4 on 120:



Delta 100, HC-110 F

 

[moggi1964]

I would love to have one of the Ducati cameras but they are as expensive as their motorbikes and almost as pretty. Look how compact it is!

Link at: http://www.submin.com/35mm/collection/ducati/cameras/sognocollaboratore.htm

 

[blockend]

At the other end of the Italian camera spectrum from the Korrol is the Korbell 6 x 9 as used by Mario Giacomelli:
Something Mario Giacomelli always said; "I'm Not a Photographer". (anatomyfilms.com)

 

[AgX]

It is "Kobell"