Medium Format Folder Buyer Guide

[JADoss23]

Was curious about picking up a 6x6, 6x7 or 6x9 folder and wanted to hear what people recommended as I don't know much about the folders but seem like excellent cameras for not a lot of money. Was leaning towards a 6x7 or 6x9 but 6x6 is always great too. Any knowledge is helpful because seems to be a lot of models made and overwhelming.

 

[Saganich]

In my humble experience "for not a lot of money" means risky purchase when it comes to 50 plus year old folding cameras. I would look-up Jurgen K who goes by Certo6 on ebay. At least for $150 you will know it works. For coupled rangefinder 6x6 and 6x9 expect to spend $400 - $500 for one that is in guaranteed working condition.

 

[Willyekerslike]

If you are interested in 6x6 I recommend you try the Agfa Super Isolette with the Solinar lens. A coupled rangefinder and no little red wndows or fancy loading tricks.

 

[moto-uno]

You may wish to peruse the earlier thread concerning shots taken with a folder , addresses this exact topic . Peter

 

[ic-racer]

There are not that many; these are the ones I could think of. Unless you mean antique folding cameras. In which case it would be someone's life work to document the thousands of different cameras made.

 

[TheTrailTog]

I would highly recommend checking out this thread:

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...ocket-folding-cameras-6x6-6x7-and-6x9.160053/

 

[tedr1]

Consider this thought before making a decision: what enlarger do you wish to use? There are plenty of inexpensive enlargers that will do 35mm and 6x6. Stepping up to 6x7 reduces the choices and for 6x9 there are few choices.

 

[guangong]

For new, the Fuji gf 670. For older folders the only ones that have a secure self erector system putting the lens parallel to film plane are Zeiss, especially Super Ikonta A,B, and C. The systems used by other manufacturers were never as successful, especially at antiquated ages.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

These days is it fairly simple. Get one which is guaranteed to be in working order. You are going to be surprised how few are available.
Don't spend too much money. But if new here are Bessa recently made.
At the end those are next to lomography cameras. Where is next to none known photographers who used them.
I recommend 6x6 or 645. Less lens shake , more frames and easy to print real way, under enlarger.

 

[Alan9940]

For 6x6, I'd recommend the following: Zeiss Super Inkonta III, Agfa Isolette, Perkeo II, or Certo6. For 6x9, I'd go with a Zeiss Super Ikonta C or a Zeiss Ikon Mess Ikonta.

 

[TonyB65]

Was curious about picking up a 6x6, 6x7 or 6x9 folder and wanted to hear what people recommended as I don't know much about the folders but seem like excellent cameras for not a lot of money. Was leaning towards a 6x7 or 6x9 but 6x6 is always great too. Any knowledge is helpful because seems to be a lot of models made and overwhelming.

There are three main things that you need to look out for with folders in my experience, are the bellows light tight? is the shutter firing correctly at all speeds? can the lens focus by turning all the way round from minimum distance to infinity. The worst problem you can have is that the shutter is not firing correctly, that is the most difficult thing to fix. The other two can be corrected relatively easily. I have fixed a stuck lens by taking it off and putting it into a pan of simmering water, which loosened the grease enough so I could separate the lens elements and put it back together again, which is easy. Focusing on reassembly was checked by taping a ground glass screen to the film plane area and adjusting to infinity using a loupe, not difficult at all. There are good condition folders out there, you just have to be patient and they will come up occasionally. The Agfa Record and Billy Record 6x9 50's and 60's era folders are excellent value for money. You will pay more for a Skopar lens on one, but the Apotar lenses are also excellent in my experience, when stopped down a bit.

 

[BAC1967]

Even when they say it’s working properly it can show up with problems. I bought a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 531/2 off the big auction site because it was listed that way only to have it arrive with fungus in the lens. I did get some consideration from the seller for that and I was able to clean the fungus but re-calibrating the rangefinder was a bit of a challenge for me. I have several Kodak folders that are nice but the Zeiss is my favorite.

Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 531/2 by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Tree in a Vineyard by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

 

[RauschenOderKorn]

here are three main things that you need to look out for with folders in my experience, are the bellows light tight? is the shutter firing correctly at all speeds? can the lens focus by turning all the way round from minimum distance to infinity.

+1

My personal recommendation is a Zeiss Super Ikonta. They are relatively cheap (at least in Germany) and I have bought 2 off the bay. Both have a little longer shutter times, but are otherwise in very good & usable condition. Lenses clean, focusing works properly and exposure meter also going strong. But be aware: I have also returned 2 cameras to the seller for refund, because they were not as described. In both cases, the focusing was so tight it could not be operated properly by the knob but only directly at the lens (which is a mess if you look through the finder).

 

[macfred]

+1
My personal recommendation is a Zeiss Super Ikonta. They are relatively cheap (at least in Germany) ...

+2
Another vote for the Super Ikonta series cameras. I use a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta III 531/16 with Novar Anastigmat f/3.5 75mm - price was 130,- EURO (the Tessar line is more expensive).
Like it a lot.

Super Ikonta III - 531/16 by Andreas, on Flickr

 

[Alan9940]

Like macfred, I, too, have the Zeiss Super Ikonta III with the Tessar lens on mine. I've sold off most of my other folders, but this one I will keep forever; like it a lot! However, please heed the all the warnings concerning buying a folder. I bought my 531/16 from a well respected dealer and paid top $$$ for it. After the first roll, I noticed the focusing was not right; that is, the negative was not sharp where I set focus. I contacted the seller and he graciously offered to let me return it and he'd look it over. Upon return of the camera to me, he assured me that the issue was fixed. I ran a second roll through it to test, and it was still not right. I finally contacted and sent it off to Ken Ruth, before he retired, and I didn't have it for six months! Ken fixed it, but the repair cost me about half again the original cost of the camera. I was not particularly pleased that I had to spend the extra bucks getting it fixed--mainly because I didn't pay a "fixer upper" price for the camera--but, I was happy that focus was now correct and I've enjoyed using it ever since. Buyer beware!

 

[Pentode]

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and suggest you look at the Moskva 2.
When one considers how the old medium format folders were constructed, there is virtually no difference between a German and a Soviet folder.
The Moskva 2 is a Super Ikonta in everything but name. Solid, reliable and prone to exactly the same pitfalls as the camera it copies.
The lenses are also extremely sharp. The only thing the Moskva lacks is the higher price tag.

The only caveat is that you should only EVER buy former Soviet cameras from a reputable dealer, but given their age, that will be true of any MF folder at this point.
Happy hunting!

 

[ReginaldSMith]

The Zeiss Ikonta are prized by photographers everywhere because they were designed RIGHT and have FABULOUS lenses. BUT....you are buying a very old camera, and you have to be sure that it is in working order. The rec to seek out CERTO6 is a good one. I've bought cameras from him and he is reliable. There are many others who know how to CLA a Zeiss, so look carefully. Pay up for a nice one, don't try to cheap out.

The pictures from my Zeiss Ikonta with Tessar (ive posted some) are among my most prized photos of all my catalog. Wish I still had it!

 

[EdSawyer]

Bessa II with any of the lenses, but esp. the Heliar. Pricey but it's the cream of the crop when it comes to 6x9 folders.

The dark horse that is just as good optically (maybe better) and definitely better in terms of rigidity and film plane to lens alignment: Kodak Tourist, with the 101mm f/4.5 Anastar. You have to re-roll 120 onto 620 spools but other than that it's great to use. The shutter (Rapid 800) can be temperamental but if you can find one in good order, it's a pleasure to use. And, price is always low, never seen one go for over $75 or so, often $50 or less.

 

[Alan Johnson]

The number of folders with wider angle lenses that might suit for landscapes seems rather underwhelming.
There is the relatively modern and expensive Fuji and the Makina 67W mentioned above but the only old one I could find has a 75 mm lens on 6x9::
http://mattsclassiccameras.com/folding-cameras/agfa-ansco-plenax-pb20/

 

[pbromaghin]

It's great seeing all the folder love!

I had a 6x6 Novar from 1948 and it was very nice with a creamy smooth boke, but would vignette when any wider than f/8. The 6x6 Novar from 1952 is much better (you can see my shots from it in the other thread). The even earlier 1937 6x4.5 Tessar is simply fantastic.

Adding later - The 6x9 Super Ikontas have a lot of collector appeal so their prices are really high. The 6x4.5's can be had for a fraction of that. Also, the uncoupled range-finder Ikonta's are much cheaper than the Super Ikontas and not much higher than the basic zone-focusers.

 

[Arthurwg]

That Fujica 6x45 folder looks exceptional. The gizmo holding the lens looks like it really would keep the lens/ film plane in alignment, something that could be problematic with other folders. I also like the vertical/ portrait orientation. Just wondering: Can these cameras be repaired?

BTW, I had a Zeiss Ikon 6x9 at one time. Worked perfectly and took great pictures. I love that format. Never should have sold it.

 

[Oldwino]

I can recommend the Mamiya-Six folders, particularly the later ones. Excellent lens and a unique focusing mechanism, where the film plane moves, not the lens. The film is held very flat (a source of unsharp photos in these types of cameras is film flatness). Coupled rangefinder.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Might as well add the Zeiss Nettar 515/16; a 6x6 folder. I love Its compactness and simplicity.

 

[pbromaghin]

Very nice! Looks almost identical the the Ikonta 521/16 I had. Wow, with a flash sync! do you know what year this is from?

 

[P.johnson14]

I’m really happy with my Ansco Speedex Special R. It is really an Agfa, and features the Apotar f4.5 85mm. It has an uncoupled rangefinder, which I really like because it slows me down. The Agfas have bellows issues, which were replaced on mine, but from what I can tell they are available.

Whatever you choose, find the best example you can or find one that has been overhauled by someone who is familiar with the model you are interested in.