Help me choose a folder.

Looking at two Super Ikontas. A 530/2 and a 531/2. 530 is cheaper. Probably a little better condition. I like the fact it’s all black paint but the tessar lens is one stop slower at f4.5 and the max shutter speed is 250th instead of 500. It has the plain glass viewfinder which I see as a plus and it’s late production so it has a top mounted shutter release as well. Any reason I shouldn’t choose the 530/2 over the 531. I know there is no double exposure prevention. Precious little info out there on these. Is it fully self erecting at the push of a button like the 531?

If you want to use ISO 400 films, the higher shutter speed and faster lens would make the 531/2 more flexible usage.

For most medium format folders, I regard them as not being very useful wide open, unless you're going for a shot where lens aberration is adding to it.

I have an f/3.5 and f/4.5 medium format folder. I use the f/3.5 at f/8 or darker. The f/4.5 gets used at f/11 or darker. That is when each lens is suitably sharp for landscape work.

If I use them at brighter apertures, they resolve less detail than my 35mm cameras. Although it gives a distinctive look.

I'd go with the one in better condition - make very sure to look carefully at the lens in relation to the film plane to see if it is parallel. That's extremely important with old folders, it makes or breaks them.

Second Ioccdor. None of my folders actually hit 1/500 second anyway and it would rarely gets used. How do you know if bellows are ok and the shutter works?

I had a Super Ikonta 530/2 and it is absolutly superb. It combines a good format with exellent Zeis optics. If you buy one, you wont regret it.

loccdor said:

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I'd go with the one in better condition - make very sure to look carefully at the lens in relation to the film plane to see if it is parallel. That's extremely important with old folders, it makes or breaks them.

Click to expand...

Good and VERY important point!