Folder viewfinders

Paul in Arizona · Dec 31, 2015

Thinking of adding a 6x6 folder. Current ideas of relatively readily available cameras include Voigt. Perkeo II; Super Ikonta III and possibly Iskra 6x6. Agfa/Ansco super isolette/speedex would work but those prices are wacko right now. Hence the thought of Iskra. Ordering on line where I could easily return one is one thing but ordering and getting a functional Iskra from eastern Europe may be a scary crapshoot.

Or, other suggestions? I don't want one with a red window.

With no regional source where I can handle any of these I have to rely on reading about them.

My question is about the viewfinders. I remember squinty little finders in old folders and would like to know which of these if any has a really good bright finder. I wear glasses.

OptiKen · Dec 31, 2015

With medium format folders, you do have to consider what format you want to shoot in before you pick one up. 6X4.5, 6X6, 6X7, etc.
I have dozens of folders but my favorites are the ones that fit nicely and lightly in my jeans back pocket.
My Hapo-66E is probably my favorite ergonomically (pics are great too). The only draw back is that the rangefinder is not coupled. This is the same as the Balda Mess camera. Second to that for me is my Zenobia. All of the others are kind of bulkier and don't fit so well in my pockets.
The Iskra and the Supers are too heavy and bulky for me. The Moskva is even heavier (but yields a nice 6X9 or 6X6 if you have the mask). This is pretty close to the Super Ikonta.
I wear glasses as well and don't have a problem with the viewfinders although some SLRs are hard to use with glasses for me.

Sirius Glass · Dec 31, 2015

Paul in Arizona said:
Or, other suggestions? I don't want one with a red window.

That will be tough because folders do not have a mechanism to allow preset film advancement. Therefore a red window comes with a folder.

cliveh · Dec 31, 2015

Paul in Arizona said:
I don't want one with a red window.

May I ask why you don't want a red window?

AgX · Dec 31, 2015

The Isolette II has a tiny finder from which one wokld not expect much. But it delivers even a good image for the presbyope and a sufficient sharp frame.

Chrismat · Dec 31, 2015

I have a Perkeo II and love it. It does have a film counter, but you still need a red window for the first frame. You are severely limiting yourself by insisting on a non red window folder.

macfred · Dec 31, 2015

The Konica Pearl III (and IV) is a 6x4.5 folder with coupled rangefinder. It has "semi-automatic" (auto-stop) film advance: once the "start" line on the backup paper is lined up with a dot on the film rail, the camera calculates how far the photographer may wind the film before each exposure = no red window on the camera back. http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Pearl_IV
http://www.120folder.com/pearl_iii.htm

Paul in Arizona · Dec 31, 2015

I don't want to be peering into a red window with each frame advancement. Thats why I want an "automatic" film advance.

My preference is for 6x6 but 645 would be OK.

Did some quick looking up. The Hapo, Balda Mess and Konica Pearl look great but must be fairly exotic and don't strike me as something that comes up for sale very often.

Sirius Glass · Dec 31, 2015

A piece of gaffer's tape could cover that problem.

Paul in Arizona · Dec 31, 2015

Chrismat: Perkeo II is atop my short list. A big plus is it's lack of bulky size.

How bright is the finder of the Perkeo and how does it compare to others?
Using a window for the first frame is not a deal breaker but I like having a mechanical film advance mechanism.

Chrismat · Dec 31, 2015

The finder is bright enough, the viewfinder in mine is a little cloudy due to some internal haze but it doesn't bother me. Clean or dirty, the viewfinder is pretty small. I put up with it because the Color-Skopar lens is very good. The Vaskar lens isn't bad either, closed down to f8 and smaller it competes nicely with Color-Skopar.

02Pilot · Dec 31, 2015

Voigtlander made a 6x6 Kontur accessory viewfinder you can mount on a folder with a cold shoe. They are unconventional but very useful.

bdial · Dec 31, 2015

The Mamiya 6 folder might be a candidate. A 6x6 folder with a coupled rangefinder. It has a red window, but the winding is automatic once the film is aligned at the start point.
These date from around WWII and into the 1950's.

Ko.Fe. · Jan 1, 2016

Perkeo is somewhat functional, Iskra and functional is even more difficult.
This is the reason why simple Zeiss folders still holding trier price. IMO.

pbromaghin · Jan 1, 2016

Paul in Arizona said:
I don't want to be peering into a red window with each frame advancement. strike me as something that comes up for sale very often.

This is just stupid.

macfred · Jan 1, 2016

Another (more modern) option for 6x4.5 is the FUJI GS645 - it has automatic film advance, a nice viewfinder and an excellent lens http://www.120folder.com/fuji_gs645.htm

xya · Jan 1, 2016

as my site has already been mentioned (thank you, macfred), have a look at the comparison chart http://www.120folder.com/compa.htm the FA (Film Advance) column tells you, which cameras have auto advance. I agree with OptiKen, the smaller, the better. so my favorite is a Pearl III and its backup, a Pearl II which had the automatic advance added. I haven't had a Pearl IV yet, so if anyone could help...

Andy38 · Jan 1, 2016

Hello,

Super Ikonta's III (and IV) have a red window but don't need it.
I also wear glasses ; viewfinder is perfect to focus but it's not possible to see all at once.

EarlJam · Jan 1, 2016

If the built-in VF turns out to be too small for your liking, the Voigtlander 40mm external finder should fit the shoe on the Perkeo or other folders. The brightline is more suited to 6x9, but can be masked as needed for square format.

Folder viewfinders

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