Best Budget 6x9 Folder Camera

uniqua97 · Dec 28, 2009

Hi All,

I would like to shoot in 6x9 but mamiya rz, rb or fuji fixed lens GW series are too big for me.

I decided to use a folder, but could you help me to decide which folder camera is best for this purpose?

I have budget upto $400.

Thanks,

cloneroom · Dec 28, 2009

It would be worth looking on ebay or local camera store for a FUJIFILM GA645 Zi camera. If your lucky you can pick them up for around that price. I have had several and they are a great camera to use. Here is a link to a flickr group consisting of the Fuji cameras..

http://www.flickr.com/groups/fujirangefinders/

P C Headland · Dec 28, 2009

If you can find one, a Telka III would be a nice starter.

Easier to find: Agfa Record with Solinar lens, Zeiss Ikonta 524/2, Voigtlaender Bessa II, Welta Weltur, Moskva 5.

If you want to look beyond folders but stay in that price range, a Mamiya Press / Universal would be in budget, and give you the option of interchangeable lenses and backs. It may be a bit big, based on your comment on the Fuji RF camera.

And of course, there's also the 2x3 Century Graphics. Same comment on size may apply.

Chazzy · Dec 28, 2009

If you are patient, you should be able to pick up a good Bessa II with Skopar on eBay for right about $400. For less you could have a Moskva 5, although some people think it's a bad idea to get one which looks unused, since Soviet quality control was problematic. If a coupled rangefinder is not important to you, my choice would be an Ercona II with Tessar. All of these cameras are 6x9 format, which is what you said you wanted.

jelke · Dec 28, 2009

P C Headland said:
If you can find one, a Telka III would be a nice starter.

hi, what is so special about a telka III camera??

uniqua97 · Dec 28, 2009

cloneroom said:
It would be worth looking on ebay or local camera store for a FUJIFILM GA645 Zi camera. If your lucky you can pick them up for around that price. I have had several and they are a great camera to use. Here is a link to a flickr group consisting of the Fuji cameras..

I alreayd have GA645 Zi, that is my current medium format camera but it is 6x4.5 camera. I would like to go to 6x9.

uniqua97 · Dec 28, 2009

I also have a moskva 5 for my collection, it is in quite nice shape. How would it compare against:

Zeiss Ikonta 524/2, Voigtlaender Bessa II

Becuase I used moskva 2 and 4, I can not say that I am very happy with lens quality vs my GA645 Zi (even though it is 645 camera the picture is still better with fuji - it is my subjective opinion.)

uniqua97 · Dec 28, 2009

By the way, I would like to have coupled rangefinder because I am OK to carry my light meter but when you put the rangefinder into the equation, the setup start to become bulky.

sanking · Dec 28, 2009

uniqua97 said:
I also have a moskva 5 for my collection, it is in quite nice shape. How would it compare against:

Zeiss Ikonta 524/2, Voigtlaender Bessa II

Becuase I used moskva 2 and 4, I can not say that I am very happy with lens quality vs my GA645 Zi (even though it is 645 camera the picture is still better with fuji - it is my subjective opinion.)

I own a Fuji GA645Zi, also a Moskva 4 and Bessa II. In my opinion you will gain little or nothing in final image quality with any of the vintage 6X9 folders compared to what you are already getting with the GA645Zi, and you will lose a lot in ease of use. Of the old folding 6X9 cameras the Bessa II is without question the best but you probably won't find it in good condition for less than $400, and even if you could I still believe the GA645Zi will give you better negatives with much greater versatility and ease of use.

Sandy King

DWThomas · Dec 28, 2009

I certainly have not sampled enough to make any claims for "best." I recently picked up an Ercona II with the Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar lens. It came from Certo6, so the $185 included a CLA. It's a pretty respectable camera, I'm not convinced the Tessar is quite as sharp as the Color Skopar on my Perkeo II (6x6), but I'm sure I could make some sizable prints with the output. That could be a sample variation issue too. It does not have any rangefinder, let alone coupled, but I do pretty well at estimating distances. The only place where that was a serious problem was night shooting (flash pictures at a late outdoor wedding) where I had trouble reading the numbers to set the focus! There are separate rangefinders that mount in the accessory shoe and are quite small. From what I've seen, some of the folders with coupled rangefinders, especially in 6x9 with the better lenses, may crowd your budget a bit.

Cameras of that era seem to like slip-on filters and lens hoods. Those items are a bit tough to find, but more importantly, alarmingly easy to knock off the lens, at least the hoods. I do wish they had threads!

My 2 pence,
DaveT

uniqua97 · Dec 28, 2009

It sounds like I should stick with ga645zi until I can afford Fuji GF 670 (a.k.a. bessa III )

jp80874 · Dec 28, 2009

uniqua97 said:
It sounds like I should stick with ga645zi until I can afford Fuji GF 670 (a.k.a. bessa III )

If you are willing to raise the price and include 6x7 format, then also look at the Mamiya 7 II. It offers 80mm and different lens options rather than the fixed wide normal 80mm lens of the Bessa III.

John Powers

P C Headland · Dec 29, 2009

jelke said:
hi, what is so special about a telka III camera??

It's got a slightly wider than normal lens, and a pretty good lens at that. Coupled RF with unit focus lens, and cool filter holders. Plus I just like it

Here's some info (in French)

André E.C. · Dec 29, 2009

If you can find an East German Ercona with a Tessar in good shape,don't look back,it's the camera you're searching for.

sanking · Dec 29, 2009

uniqua97 said:
It sounds like I should stick with ga645zi until I can afford Fuji GF 670 (a.k.a. bessa III )

I gather your interest in a 6X9 folder is in a large negative with portability?

If you can live with a larger camera the Fuji 6X9 rangefinders are great performers and you should be able to get one for 1/5 the price of a Bessa III.

Sandy King

spongeboy · May 19, 2010

Sandy is quite right. For serious use, those coupled rangefinder cameras make things much easier, and usually have the best optics as well, hence their prices.
Folders in general are seen not as precise/sharp (to do with lens alignment), as "solid" cameras, although a Bessa III = Fujica GF670, or even the older Makina 67 and W67s are pretty professional tools for their use.
However, as a quirky choice non-coupled rangefinder type folders can work for you. Of course, even a non-ranging folder can be used successfully; just attach a rangefinder as an assessory. E.g. I've enjoyed using probably the best french 6x9 (multi-format actually) vintage folder, the Super-Kinax III (also called "Normandy") with a 3.5/100 Tessar-type lens. I've added a Zeiss Rangefinder and Gossen Pilot-2 via a snug L-bracket, but occasionally use a Sekonic Studio, or Pentax digital spotmeter, handheld, instead, e.g. with tripod work...but when I bother carrying a tripod, I'm more of a LF man....
(PS: I paid under $200 for the camera, the rangefinder and the Gossen meter).

NJS · May 19, 2010

original old school bessa is the cheapest option of all, if available.

ghostcount · May 19, 2010

I've got a Bessa II with color skopar. The leather is in rough condition but it has been CLA'd about a year ago by Mark Hansen. PM if you are interested - I can send you pics.

~ ghost

ic-racer · May 19, 2010

One man's personal opinion on the matter (does not apply if you intend to shoot wide open for blurry effect and only worth 2 cents...)

The lightweight zone-focus folding 6x9 cameras are too light to hand hold steadier than a corresponding 35mm camera for the same lighting conditions.

My experience is that I always used a tripod with my 6x9 folders. If the image is not going to be sharper than the corresponding 35mm image, why bother. (Again, does not apply if you want to shoot wide open for blurry effect).

Best Budget 6x9 Folder Camera

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