Choice of Solida 111 or Balda Super Baldax - advice needed

[henryvk]

You only need to use the red window on the first shot, after that if the mechanism is working correctly the rest of the shots will be correctly spaced.

Very good of you to report on these cameras. Have you ever noticed variance in the spacing from using different films? The idea being that the thickness of the backing paper varies.

 

[J Derby]

Very good of you to report on these cameras. Have you ever noticed variance in the spacing from using different films? The idea being that the thickness of the backing paper varies.

Hi, interesting question, thanks for asking. I have only used three of the Super Baldax cameras that I have in my collection so far. Two with the f3.5 Baldanar lens and one with the Ennit f2.8. Of the three films I used (from memory). 1 colour and 2 Black and white, I didn't experience any spacing issues.

I loaned a photographer friend of mine one Super Baldax to run a roll of film through and he had spacing issues, however I don't think it was the camera at fault, it was more to do with his unfamiliarity with the camera. The film wind on procedure must be used correctly (forward and back, and the film counter will increment by one) but it is possible to pull the wind knob up slightly (by accident) during operation and move it I think that may screws up the spacing. It may be a mechanical issue with the camera if the wind knob has a return spring that holds the knob 'in place' and some o may not be working as they should?

I think about 10 or 11 of the 16 Super Baldax cameras I have are in 'working condition' I bought others just for spares, (like the faux leather covers and the cover screw for rangefinder adjustment which are sometimes missing. Luckily the mess Baldix cameras have the same cover scew so they are a cheaper option for some spares. Going back to the spacing issue, I have noticed some wind on knobs can move (disengage from the gears) easier than others. There might be other members who could shed light on this issue, or whether that has anything to do with the film spacing at all or whether there is a different mechanism that controls the spacing. I like to try and fix the cameras I buy if they have issues, however I could never call myself an expert on camera repair. I hope that are others out there that could answer the spacing issue better than I can.
Kind regards
J Derby

 

[Rolleiflexible]

Hi, interesting question, thanks for asking. I have only used three of the Super Baldax cameras that I have in my collection so far. Two with the f3.5 Baldanar lens and one with the Ennit f2.8. Of the three films I used (from memory). 1 colour and 2 Black and white, I didn't experience any spacing issues.

I loaned a photographer friend of mine one Super Baldax to run a roll of film through and he had spacing issues, however I don't think it was the camera at fault, it was more to do with his unfamiliarity with the camera. The film wind on procedure must be used correctly (forward and back, and the film counter will increment by one) but it is possible to pull the wind knob up slightly (by accident) during operation and move it I think that may screws up the spacing. It may be a mechanical issue with the camera if the wind knob has a return spring that holds the knob 'in place' and some o may not be working as they should?

I think about 10 or 11 of the 16 Super Baldax cameras I have are in 'working condition' I bought others just for spares, (like the faux leather covers and the cover screw for rangefinder adjustment which are sometimes missing. Luckily the mess Baldix cameras have the same cover scew so they are a cheaper option for some spares. Going back to the spacing issue, I have noticed some wind on knobs can move (disengage from the gears) easier than others. There might be other members who could shed light on this issue, or whether that has anything to do with the film spacing at all or whether there is a different mechanism that controls the spacing. I like to try and fix the cameras I buy if they have issues, however I could never call myself an expert on camera repair. I hope that are others out there that could answer the spacing issue better than I can.
Kind regards
J Derby

My Hapo 66-E (a rebranded Baldax) spaces frames evenly.