MF Folders, any particular ones to look out for?

Phillip P. Dimor said:

Dan, while that's true.. I don't like to lug my hasselblad around on a whim.
I tend to bring gear with me when I am specifically going somewhere to take pictures. I want something to keep with me in a glovebox, etc.

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That's it exactly Phil. A folder is a great "mad" camera. I keep one in my backpack (my version of a briefcase), lately it's been an Iskra. It's amazing how many great photos there are out there just waiting to be taken during one's lunch hour and at other odd moments.

Mike

I have a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 531/2 with f3.5 Tessar. I bought it mainly because I think it is beautiful =). The lens is sharp, but as it is not multicoated, the contrast could be better. The film flatness is also a minor issue in this 6x9 camera. And it is not easy to shoot this pretty dinosaur handheld at times longer than 1/200; the shutter release is in a rather uncomfortable place, I guess that is one reason, the 105mm focal length another. So I don't really think it is a nice camera to shoot with. I have used a 6x6 Super Ikonta (I guess Super Ikonta III) once years ago, and I recall it was much easier to handle.

I also have a Fuji 645W, the old model from early 80s, with 45 mm lens, (equivalent to 28mm for 24x36). It isn't bigger than my Super Ikonta really, shorter but thicker. It has a sharp lens, built in exposure meter and more economical film size, 6x4,5. Of course it isn't a folder, but that can't be the real issue here, size is, right?

There's a nice Mamiya 6 on ebay at the momonent. It's very tempting.

Ian

Mackinaw said:

I picked up and old late 1940's/early 1950's Mamiya 6 folder a few years back for $40.00 that I just had CLAd'. I took this camera on a recent trip to California and was astonished on the quality of pictures it takes. Mine has the 75mm F3.5 Olympus Zuiko lens. The attached is a shot taken from the deck of the Queen Mary. Ilford Delta 100 in Rodinal 1+50, F4.0 at 1/50th (or so) hand held.

Jim Bielecki

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There are some very cheap Agfa Isolette I's around. They are about the length of a 35mm SLR, only an inch wide and will fit into a large jacket pocket. Simple and built very well but with no rangefinder and a limited range of speeds. However with a 400 speed film and setting the aperture to the "red spot" between f8 and f11 to get a large depth of field, none of the limitations need be a problem.

However, if you are looking for a quality step-up from that provided by modern 35mm SLR lenses then if my experience is anything to go by with the Agfa Isolette I you may be disappointed.

I have a Pentax MZ7 as my 35mm camera and it seems to deliver at least the same sharpness as the Agfa.

This may simply be due to the Pentax having a much better lens than the mid 1950s Agfa or there may be another explanation, making my experience unrepresentative.

Without wishing to highjack the OP's thread, I'd be interested to hear the experience of others with the Agfa Isolette I. If it turns out that the Agfa should deliver better quality than my 35mm Pentax then the Agfa is worth a closer look, provided that in built focusing help is not a requirement.

pentaxuser

Rollei fan said:

I have a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 531/2 ...

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correction, My Super Ikonta is a 530/2.

A vote for a late model Mamiya Six (not a Mamiya 6). The sharpness and contrast on my two (yes, I have a spare) exceed my Certo6 and Record III with Solinar. The only camera that comes really close is a Ensign 6x6 with a Ross Xpres lens which is also excellent.
Russ

I have a Perkeo II 6x6 with the 4 element f3.5 Skopar lens. Said to be equal to the Tessar of the period. Very compact and pocketable. I use a Voigtlander accessory rangefinder with it but there are others available and Fotoman currently make them new for their range of cameras, although they're expensive.
There was one version of the Perkeo (I think it was the E) that had a built in rangefinder but they're comparatively rare and expensive.
I also have a Bessa I with the 3 element Vaskar f4.5 lens. It takes 6x9 or 6x4.5 on 120 roll film. The Perkeo I also came with this lens as an option. I have one of these as well. Just watch out for the limited shutter speeds on some of these cameras. The Pronto only runs from 1/25th to 1/200th. The more useful Compur-Rapid runs from 1 sec to 1/500th. There is also a Synchro-Compur shutter version. Nice technology with linked shutter and aperture settings and flash synchro at all speeds but they can be a bit more difficult to repair and should probably be avoided.
Best choice would be the f3.5 Color Skopar lens in the Compur Rapid shutter in either camera, but the Bessa is quite a bit bigger and heavier than the Perkeo. It's hard to find a Bessa with the required mask for 6x4.5 and in any case you have to turn the camera through 90 deg when using the smaller format!
The Zeiss Ikonta folding cameras were also very good at theis period of time.

Super Ikonta Price & info Guide

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/ikonta.htm

I was looking for a small walk-around medium format camera over the summer and got a Minolta Semi-P (or Auto Semi Minolta P - whatever you want to call it.)

Nice little camera, fits in my pocket quite well. No meter, no range finder, no auto anything. It does have hyperfocal lines and it takes quite nice photos. I did a write up on my blog after buying it (with some sample photos) Dead Link Removed

It was about $50 here in Japan so one should be dirt cheap in the US.

As for 6x9, I use an Agfa Billy-Record. Lovely Art Deco design and quite sturdy, but the long bellows make me nervous, and at the rate I shoot, 8 frames ain't much.

Just my $0.02

I use an isolette with a 4.5/85 solinar (uncoated) in a compur-rapid. At f8-f16 the lens is bleedingly sharp with contrast you think came from a coated lens. Under optimal conditions, you will be hard pressed to see the difference from my Rolleiflex, or other similar premium MF lenses like my Xenotar or Biometar.