Kodak 6x9 Folder

[mtjade2007]

I must have been blessed. I was in a camera swap meet a week ago. I was offered an incredible deal of a Kodak Vigiliant 6x9 folder at an incredible price. The lens on this folder is one of the best for this model of folder, an Anastigmat Special 100 mm f4,5 - 32 with a Supermatic shutter T, B, 1, 2, 5 - 400 in excellent working condition. The only thing that need attention is some pin hole light leak on the edges of the bellow.

I have never been looking for Kodak folders or any folders before. It came to me and asked me to buy it I guess. It just appeared in front of me when I reached a table of a seller, an older gentleman. It was on his table in the original leather case. I had no idea what it was and I thought the price was good so I paid the gentleman and took it home. I had a chance to pick up a RB67 Pro-S body for $70 but turned it down because I had no interest in a RB. I had no interest in a Kodak folder either. I believe it came to me and wanted me to buy it. The condition and the price made me feel I must have it. The price was $2.00.

I patched up the pin holes of the bellow carefully with 2 -3 light brushes of Plasti Dip. It eliminated the pi hole light leak. I already shot 4 rolls of 120 film so far, one Ektar 100, 2 Portra 160 VC and one VPS-III.

I believe the camera was meant to be given to me. I will have to shoot films and give it a good use from now on. I have 4 more rolls of Ektar 100 120 and quite a few Potra VC 160 and VPS-III to go. There are many more in my fridge following that. I am on a mission to give this folder a new life. It is meant to burn many many rolls of film looking forward. I will post some pictures in a week or so. If my Pentax 67ii is a living thing it must be jealous now because the man has found a new love.

 

[P C Headland]

You will now realise that carrying a folder is easy. Very easy. This will mean you will look for another - a 6x6. It will then occur to you that it is very easy to carry two folders around all day.

Then you will wonder about those with coupled range finders. You'll start with a 6x6 CRF, then add a 6x9. Of course, you will realise that a 6x4.5 folder would be asy to carry as well.

You've been infected now.....

 

[ricksplace]

I use the same lens on a Century Graphic. It's a great lens (four element tessar design).

 

[Steve Smith]

You will now realise that carrying a folder is easy. Very easy. This will mean you will look for another - a 6x6. It will then occur to you that it is very easy to carry two folders around all day.

I carry an Ansco Speedex 6x6 folder and a Zeiss 6x6 folder at the same time to balance out my jacket pockets. Even if I am only planning to use one of them.


Steve.

 

[ozphoto]

I have a Kodak folder - Junior 6x9 and love it for it's simplicity and ease of transport! Re-spooling to 620 is a task I do in one hit (up to 15 rolls) and then then I'm set for most trips away that I can't take my EOS1 on.

I love the results I get and printing them up is a breeze.

You'll enjoy every minutes using the Folder - hope to see your results soon!

- Nanette
www.nanettereid.com

 

[mtjade2007]

Thanks for your comments, folks. I did have to grind down the wheels of both ends of my 120 rolls in order to load them in the 620 camera. I will need to acquire a few more 620 spools so that I can re-roll the films on them instead of modifying 120 rolls.

After shooting 4 120 rolls I have a concern about the condition of the bellow. It had many pinhole light leak along the edges of the bellow. I patched them up with Plasti Dip using Q-Tips. It is a material when dries forms a layer of black rubber. It does fix the pinholes but I wonder how long it will last before light leaks again. I had the folder closed most of the time. I opened it up only for 10 - 20 seconds to shoot then I quickly folded up the camera again. This was no fun. Maybe it is not a realistic expectation for it to be a work horse. Maybe after shooting a few rolls I should wrap it up and keep it in the attic for the next 30 or 50 years.

I hope to have a few successful images from this folder to post here soon.

 

[DannL]

This may or "may not" be something you will want to attempt. Warning: I give no warranty on this process either. ;-) On several of my cameras I've used Plasti-dip with great success . . . and it's best when used sparingly of course. But, on my ICA Ideal 111 more drastic measures became necessary. So, I cut down a small artist paintbrush to about 2 inches long. With the bellows fully extended, the back of the camera removed, and while holding the camera to a bright light to view the leaks from the inside, I resorted to painting each light leak directly "on the inside of the bellows" with black acrylic artist paint. I also painted some questionable spots. I then let it dry thoroughly before closing up the bellows. So far, on this camera it's worked fine.

 

[mtjade2007]

I have tested both (Plasti Dip and black acrylic paint) on a piece of cloth. I found that plastic dip is apparently more effective in blocking light through the cloth. The acrylic paint on the cloth wasn't that good. After painting several layers I could still see light through the painted cloth from a light bulb a few feet ahead of me. Imagine how sun light could penetrate through the bellow when shooting outdoors. The only problem with Plasti Dip is it will be thick when sever layers are applied. I only did it on the corners of the bellows. I can feel that the bellow is compressed more when it is folded up. I am concerned how long the patch may last due to the extra compression caused by the added thickness by the Plasti Dip. When the 4 rolls of films I shot are developed I will know if the bellow will need more work and if the lens is really as good as it is said.

This is my first MF folder. I agree, I may become addicted to folders. I am already looking for other folders. I will try to turn my head away except those that are meant to be given to me. This will somewhat depend on the outcome of the 4 rolls I shot. I hope I will not be disappointed.

 

[DannL]

Today's carry-around folder is a Jiffy Kodak Series II. Six more exposures and I'll be able to tell you if it's worth your time. I reset the lens on this one, even though it was a new camera. I hate to waste film in a camera that won't focus properly. And I really really hate how this specific Kodak functions. It's almost impossible to trip the shutter without causing the camera to move. I can't hardly read the focus setting either, under any lighting condition.

I like to buy these folders in mint condition off eBay. There's so cheap, and so few pople really want them. Buying folders like that perty much means you won't need to work on them too much. My favorite up to now is a minty Kodak Tourist.

 

[athanasius80]

Welcome to the club, I've taken my Vigilant Six-20 everywhere... including driving.

 

[mtjade2007]

I anticipate to do the same on weekends too. I am thinking to spool some 46mm film on 120 paper back and get panorama shots with this Vigiliant 620 folder. I have a lot of Portra VC 160 and 400 on 100 ft rolls in my fridge. I will need to fabricate a mask on the film plane to make sure the film will be flat back there. It will be a little challenging for composition through the simple view finder though. I will need at least another (the same) folder.

 

[DannL]

A couple samples (negative scans) from the Jiffy, taken this afternoon. I think this camera needs a new owner.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2429/3553454866_75a76b6269_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2426/3553454540_f64df614aa_o.jpg

Compare those to this sample (in work) from the Kodak Tourist . . . http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3354/3552658449_82dc01b2f5_b.jpg


.

 

[EASmithV]

Which tourist do you have?

 

[DannL]

Which tourist do you have?

Who? Me?

It has the Kodak Anaston f:6.3 lens. f:6.3 - f:32. Shutter is the Kodak Flash Diomatic T-B-25-5-100. It's not a Tourist II.