Medium Format Folder Recommendations?

[xya]

We had plenty of these threads. It's always a question of personal preferences. For a low budget I would second a Moskva 5 for 6x9. If you are interested, have a look at my folders website https://www.120folder.com/

 

[John Wiegerink]

I have had a couple of Moskva cameras and their lenses can be very good. Their lenses can also be not so good. The model 4 I had had a very good lens, but the model 5 was not so good. I tried to adjust the focusing thinking it might help, but it wasn't a focus problem, it was a lens problem. There is a lot of sample variation and some have been tampered with also. Still, if you get a good one, hang on to it. Noting like a nice big 6X9 negative to work with.

 

[loccdor]

My recommendation for 6x9 folders is that lens alignment is critical, so get ones known for good strut quality. For me that's the pre-war Voigtlander Bessa (zone focus) and Voigtlander Bessa RF. Less rare lens models go from $75, up to $300+ for the more advanced lenses. I have both a Voigtar f/4.5 and Heliar f/3.5 and the Voigtar gives good results at f/11-f/22 and very aberrant ones wider. The Heliar gives good results at f/8-f/22 and okay results wider.

 

[Disconnekt]

Yes, and you sure can't complain about your copy of the Anastigmat Special being of poor quality. As for the bellows on the later Kodak folders goes.........they suck! I did find some original Kodak replacement bellows for the Monitor Six-20 and the Monitor Six-16, but the supply is hit and miss at best. It's probably better to buy a newly made replacement bellows from a bellows maker. Or just buy a good Zeiss Super Ikonta since most of those still have good bellows. Of course the OP has $250.00 to spend and there are a lot of good folders in that range, but finding one in perfect working order is becoming more of a chore these days. I recently bought a late Zeiss Super Ikonta B (II) in really nice shape with a coated Opton Tessar for $20 more than the OP's $250.00 limit. There are still some good deals out there, but certainly not as good as there used to be.

For my Monitor 620, I was able to get bellows made for it from Sandeha Lynch (for ~$78usd shipped), and for my Monitor 616 I found bellows for it off Used Photo Pro's ebay site (at least the info I found online for Kodak bellows says its for the Monitor 616, havent got it cla'ed yet), still looking for bellows for my Kodak 3A Series III

 

[F4U]

Was there a 6x9 camera like Kodak Medalist that took 120 film?

 

[John Wiegerink]

Was there a 6x9 camera like Kodak Medalist that took 120 film?

I can't think of any off the top of my head. That is if you are asking for a fixed lens, rangefinder equipped , non-bellows camera that takes 120 roll film. Yes, Kodak really screwed up with 620 film. Not in the making of 620 film, but in discontinuing it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with 620 film at all. It actually has a smaller footprint so the camera could possibly be built slightly smaller or beefer. The thing that always bothered me was Kodak dropping it. The backing paper is exactly the same. The film is the same length as 120. The only difference is the spool itself. If you can make a plastic 120 spool you sure as hell can make a plastic 620 spool at the same time. Shame you you Kodak! As Gomer Pyle would say, "For shame, for shame, for shame"!

 

[MattKing]

620 was discontinued because of insignificant sales numbers - no other reason.
I remember telling my Dad in and around 2010 that 620 spools were selling for real money. He laughed and said if only he had known, because for one reason or another there were a whole bunch of used spools around his office area - I expect because among many other things he managed the customer intake area at the Western Canada Kodak Canada lab where he worked and people would bring their Kodak cameras and projectors to there to have them repaired by the camera technicians in the repair department.
I don't think they saw much 620 film, as the lab processed nothing larger than 828, but I guess they saw some 620, because they would take in other sizes of film for development and forward it to Toronto or, in some cases, US destinations.

 

[F4U]

So far, my cheapo Mockba 4 is looking better and better.

 

[MattKing]

Kodak was like many other companies. Trying to lock you into buying film from THEM. Much like the computer and software companies today. And John Deere and other farm implement manufacturers locking you out from being able to repair your own combine. With that kind of engineering, some day farmers will say to h--- with it, and get a couple mules and a plow and disc.

That and the relatively small advantage that a 620 film on its spool is smaller than a 120 film on its spool, thus permitting a slightly more compact camera.
When 620 came out, there were all sorts of camera and film sources, and lots of intense competition. Coming out with a different film format and the cameras that used it was an attempt to get ahead in that competitive atmosphere.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Apple wasn't the first company who liked to throw their weight around and impose new standards. I guess the success of the 35mm cassette made Kodak feel like Gods of a sort.

The 620 spool is 1mm smaller than the 120 spool in all exterior dimensions. Meaning that a camera like the Kodak Medalist, which is very tight for a 620 spool, is able to be .160" - 5/32" - 4mm smaller side to side and .080" - 5/64"- 2mm smaller in height with the 620 spools. Big whoop, eh? Then the Kodak Chevron has huge spool chambers that can easily hold a 120 spool with minor grinding- go figure.

 

[Dan Daniel]

Was there a 6x9 camera like Kodak Medalist that took 120 film?

The Fuji GW series is the closest that I can think of.

 

[abruzzi]

Was there a 6x9 camera like Kodak Medalist that took 120 film?

I like my Horseman Convertible, but it doesn't have a rangefinder, so you either need to guess or use a unconnected range finder. But 6x9 or 6x7 backs, interchangable. 62mm lens.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

FWIW - another vote for Zeiss Nettars and Novar lenses. The Novars are available in f6.3 and f4.5 versions. The Nettars can be had with 3 speed (25, 75, 200) Pronto/Vario shutters or full range Prontors.

If you like rigid struts the Zeiss folders will satisfy - the struts in the Nettars are the same as those in the higher spec Ikontas. The bellows in my early 50's Nettars are doing fine.

 

[Ian Grant]

I was sorely tempted to buy a Plaubel Makina (original) it was only £89.99 from a seller I trust, it had a Rada back. I have a 6x9 Rada NIB with the 6x6 mask, these were made by Plaubel. Reality is I realised I just wouldn't use it and I need to downsize

The Ensign 820 Autorange cameras are a nice option, and the Ross f2,9 105mm Xpres is an excellent lens.

Ian

 

[GG12]

What John says is correct: the Kodak folders equipped with an "Anastigmat Special" lens will deliver excellent photographs. (Sample images here and here) The biggest weakness of many of the Kodak folders is the bellows - cameras like the Tourist and the Monitor have plastic bellows that are notorious for failing at the crease points. Odds are extremely high that you'll have to deal with pinholes in the bellows of any of these models.

I don't have either of those two models, but I do have a Kodak Special Six-20 with the Anastigmat Special lens (see sample images above), and it had at least a dozen holes in the bellows that had to be plugged before I could use it. I'm not sure what the bellows material is - it isn't the cheap plastic like what's on the Tourist/Monitor, but it's definitely cheaper than what was made for the Vollenda 620, also an excellent 6x9 if you can find one. Mine has an f4.5 Schneider Xenar lens, and it's very capable. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find a Vollenda 620 with anything but the Kodak Anastigmat lens on it. It's worth waiting to find one with a Xenar lens. There were Vollendas fitted with a CZJ Tessar lens, but good luck finding one of those!

Those are some pretty lovely images, BW in the woods. Congrats.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Those are some pretty lovely images, BW in the woods. Congrats.

Yes, the images are first class for sure. It shows that you can make a "silk purse" out of a sow's ear. I like taking an old camera and bringing it up to it's original status, and then seeing results like this. The sow's ear statement is a little off since when the Monitor cameras, Medalist cameras and Chevron cameras were new they cost much more than a couple of pigs for sure. My wife has strict orders that the two cameras that are to be tucked into my coffin for future use are my Medalist II and my Monitor Six-20. I also just purchased two brand-new replacement bellows for two of my Kodak Monitor Six-16's. I have the 120 spool adapters for them and plan on making them into a semi-panorama camera. I just hope that happens before the coffin comes. Ha-ha!

 

[jlirola]

I recently had my lens board on my plaubel makina 67 lose the screws holding it together ... wondering if there's anyone who fixes these?

 

[ivan35mm]

I recently had my lens board on my plaubel makina 67 lose the screws holding it together ... wondering if there's anyone who fixes these?

The eBay user Wizcam should be able to help you. He should have spare parts / screws