Câmara gentilmente oferecida por Adília Silva. Muito obrigado!
This photo is from the copy I own
History and technical features
The Franka Solida is a 6×6 folding camera released in 1936. There are different versions of the Franka Solida, called Solida I, Solida II, Solida III, Solida Junior and Solida Record. The Solida III is a vertical folding camera, the other Solida-Versions are horizontal folders. Some prewar Solidas used the 4.5x6cm format. There are also cameras with uncoupled rangefinder and uncoupled lightmeter (IIE, IIL, IIIE, IIIL) and one version with both meters (IIIEL) . The Solida were produced till 1962. Franka also built in 1957 a camera with the name Solida 35, a rare 35mm camera with interchangeable lenses.
Most frequently found with 75/3.5 Ennagon lens on Pronto or Prontor-S shutters, with 4 or 5 speeds. Las units made by the end of the 60s were fitted with Jsco Westar lenses made by Schneider-Kreuznach.
The No.1 Pocket Kodak is designed to take Kodak’s then-popular but ultimately short-lived autographic film which allows you to use the camera’s metal stylus (which is usually found attached to the brackets just next to the shutter lever but is missing from mine) to record information about the photograph you just took by opening the squat T-shaped window on the rear panel of the camera and writing directly onto the margin of the negative via carbon transfer paper. Regular 120 film also works, of course.
The Kodak No. 1 Pocket Autographic was produced in 1926. There are a few different variants of the same model of the camera that year depending on where it was sold, but the main differences were limited to slightly different front plates.
This wonderfully ornate folding art deco styled camera shoots 6×9 photos on 120 film. Originally designed for the Autographic film, it is great in that it was in a size currently still produced. The whole camera folds into a flat shape which would have fit into a large overcoat pocket, thus its name, which is achieved by using bellows to extend the lens.
It has an achromatic meniscus lens with four aperture settings marked 1,2,3 and 4. Not initially clear what they relate to in real aperture values but I measured it by comparing to another lens and it seems to be roughly f/4 (looks slightly bigger), f/5.6, f/8, and f/11. The shutter is a Kodex in-lens and has four speed settings; 1/50, 1/25, Bulb and Time.
The viewfinder is on a hinge and can be positioned for both portrait and landscape modes. Focus is achieved through a worm screw which you wind on the right-hand side, it has markings for both metres and feet. It is an estimation of-course. The lid has a great art deco styled kick stand and one of the two tripod sockets. The other socket is near the right hand side at the bottom of the camera in landscape orientation.
Loading film into the camera required removing the main body of the camera from the outer shell and is then a matter of putting the film spool on one side and the take up spool on the side with the half circle wind-on key. Once the camera is back into the shell, you wind on until you see the numbers in the little red window. There is no double exposure lock, or automatic winding positioning, you need to line up the number of next frame manually.
Of-course one of the key features of the camera is the Autographic facility. Firstly, there is a window at the back, positioned perfectly to have the writing come out on the frame of the picture. Then there is beautifully decorated stylus, which usually sits on the side of the lens when not in use.
The camera uses a achromatic meniscus lens with a maximum aperture of f/6.3 and a Kodex shutter with four speeds: time, bulb, 1/25, and 1/50. A rotating waist-level viewfinder can be found diagonal from the lens and focusing is achieved via worm screw on the user’s right side of the front panel with a focus distance scale on the left. The Pocket Kodak also features two tripod sockets: one just behind the worm screw for portraits and one on other side of the winding key for landscapes.
Balda's Baldix cameras were a series of self-erecting folding cameras derived from the Baldax series. The cameras made 6x6cm exposures on type No. 120 film rolls.
The Baldix was like the postwar Baldax without the frame counter. The Mess-Baldix had the additional mechanical frame counter, and an uncoupled rangefinder. The Baldi 29 was a later, cheaper model based on the same body, with a more rounded top housing and a f:2.9 lens, hence the name. The range of cameras available at the 1956 Photokina included the Baldi 29, Baldix and Super Baldax, all models that were still available in 1959–60.
Sweet little folder that takes 6×6 pictures on 120 rollfilm, made by the famous Balda Kamera Werk in West Germany. Balda-Werk was located in Dresden from 1908 up until the end of WWII when it became part of VEB Pentacon group and was re-established in Bunde, (West) Germany. They made cameras up until 1985 when the camera production portion of Balda was sold to a Chinese joint venture. Balda AG is now manufacturing components for mobile communications, satellites and the medical industry. (Come to think of it, isn’t that more or less what Zeiss is up to these days?) Balda Werk made other similar folders such as the excellent (pre-VEB) Baldax and Baldalux and the (post-VEB) 35mm Baldinette. Shutters used in these cameras range from Vario to Compur-Rapid, lenses included Balda-Werk and Enna-Werk, Hugo Meyer and Schneider Kreuznach. They also made Baldax models sold as Lisette under the name Porst. This camera is imprinted Baldix, West Germany, Balda, Bunde, on the leather.
There are a lot of features packed into this comact but heavy pocket-sized folder. Double-exposure lock, PC sync and accessory shoe, self-timer (not working too well on this example), coated lens, positive spring-loaded extension. It’s extremely well-designed. Wind knob is ratcheting (cool idea) as part of the interesting (see below) double-exposure prevention. The Enna-Werk Ennagon lens is a real beauty. You can tell at a glance that it’s a high-quality German lens, with the same coated crispness I can see looking at my Meyer Oreston. Enna-Werk made the interchangeable lenses for the prized American rangefinder Argus C fourty-four, which is in fact the main reason that camera is valuable. The lens frontispiece has a red C that I assume stands for Color, which would mean that it was a color-corrected coated lens. (Color is part of the options on the film selection indicator, so I think it’s a safe assumption.)
Controls are simple – the top has ratcheting wind knob on the left, with the bellows release button next to it, the accesssory shoe in the center, the shutter release, and a knob that has a dial film indicator but doesn’t really do anything, it’s just supposed to remind you if you have Din 7 Ortho-Panchromatic film or if you’re using the ASA 100 Color film today. Only goes up to ASA 200 so it’s only marginally useful…. The other controls are all on top (side? depends on how you’re holding the camera) of the lens-mounted shutter. The shutter cocking lever cocks easily to one side with a finger. VXM self-timer/flash sync switch is color-coded Green Red Yellow, fairly standard. PC terminal is right there too, sticking out a little presumptuously. Focus is smooth and I assume the scale is in meters even though it doesn’t say.
One of the nicest things about this little beauty is the perfect placement of the shutter release button. Shooting with it feels like shooting a solid 35mm rangefinder while the result is a whopping 6x6cm instead of 24x36mm. It’s about the same size and weight as the Contaflex, and it is just a pleasure to shoot. Make sure you depress the shutter release all the way in one smooth movement, otherwise it goes click-click as the linkage engages and then the shutter releases, and you may miss your shot. Be firm, not timid.
Produced 1950-55 (1952?) Balda Kamera Werk, Bunde, Germany
Film type 120 rollfilm
Picture size 6cm x 6cm
Weight 18.2oz (516g)
Lens Enna Werk Ennagon C 75mm, f3.5 (stops to f22)
Filter size use Series VI with the 1 1/4″ (31.5mm) slip-on adapter
Focal Range 1m to infinity
Shutter Prontor SVS (has V, X, M settings)
Shutter speeds B, 1-300
Viewfinder in-body viewfinder
Exposure meter none
PC sync and accessory shoe
Film counter, double-exposure prevention
Close cousins HAPO (eg HAns POrst)
Jiffy Six 16 (1933-37)
Jiffy Six 20 (1933-37)
Jiffy Six 16 Series II (1937-48)
Jiffy Six 20 Series II (1937-48)
Both of the Jiffy first series and the Series II models made with two similar versions except the film size, one for 616 film named Six 16 and one for 620 film named Six 20.
First series were made with Art Déco painted front plate, but the Series II front plate was covered with black leatherette.
Film:
Six 16: 616 roll, picture size: 6.5x11cm
Six 20: 620 roll, picture size: 6x9cm
Engraving on the back cover opening catch: Six 16 or Six 20, Jiffy Kodak, Series II, Made in USA by Eastman Kodak Co. Rochester, N.Y.
Aperture: two, f/8, f/11 (some cameras have f/16 also), sets by a pull-out tab on the left of the front plate
Focus range: 5-10 feet +inf
Focusing: manual front focusing, there are two extreme stops, 5 to 10 feet and Beyond 10 feet
Shutter: simple spring rotary shutter, one speed, I instant 1/50 (1/25?) and T time, setting lever on the top of the front plate
Cocking lever and Shutter release: by the same lever, for instant press once, aperture hole opens and closes
Viewfinder: two reflecting bright finders
Bellows: single extension, strut folding, self opening
Front plate and bellows opening: by a silver knob on the right side of the camera; closing: press outwards the struts
Back cover: Hinged, opens by a latch on top of the camera, with a red window w/ a lid
There is a sticker inside of the back cover: Use Kodak 616 or 620 film
Tripod socket: none
Hand grip lugs
Camera leg: swivelling for vertical and horizontal standing, beneath the front plate
The Jiffy Kodak Six-16 & Six-20 Series II Cameras were manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company from 1937 to 1948. Advertised as the simplest folding camera ever devised. Named Jiffy for the speed and ease at which the camera would get ready to shoot. Simply by touching a button the front pops out. Touch a second and the picture is taken. Features included a twindar lens, built in shutter with time and instantaneous actions, two crowned brilliant finders, foot support to stand camera for time exposures. Finished in black Moroccan grain covering, black and nickel etched metal front. The six-16 took 8 images, 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch size on 616 film and originally sold for $9.00. The six-20 took 8 images 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch size on 620 film and originally cost $8.00. Measures 7"L x 1.25"w x 3.25"h when closed.
The Subita was a medium format folding camera with optical viewfinder for type 120 film rolls. It is the first one of the Dacora 120 film folding cameras series.
The Subita was a folding camera with optical viewfinder for 120 film made by the German manufacturer Dacora. The Dacora 120 was a slightly more sophisticated version of it, and the Dacora I was the top model of the line. The basic model, the Subita, was an undemanding item with just two shutter speeds, two apertures, stepless distance selector, a shutter-cocking shutter release lever without double exposure prevention, and a solid opening/unfolding mechanism driven by two powerful springs.
Year of launch: 1953
Manufacturer: Dacora
Film: type 120 film rolls
Viewfinder: optical viewfinder
Lens: Subita 75mm f/6.3 Anastigmat, distances 1m to infinite
Shutter: Singlo shutter with speeds 1/25, 1/75, + B, and with flash connector. Cocked on the long shifting travel of the release lever
Aperture: sonnig (sunny=1:11) and trüb (dull=1:6.3)
Dacora Optina is a name variation of Subita and made for the Canadian Eaton stores' camera brand Optina.
Type: folding viewfinder camera
Manufacturer: Dacora
Film: type 120 film rolls
Viewfinder: optical viewfinder
Year of launch: 1953
Lens: Subita 1:6.3/75mm Anastigmat, distances 1m to infinite
Shutter: Singlo shutter with speeds 1/25 sec., 1/75 sec, and B, and with flash connector. Cocked on the long shifting travel of the release lever
Aperture: sonnig (sunny=1:11) and trüb (dull=1:6.3)
