Baldaxette

The Baldaxette was a coupled-rangefinder folding camera launched by the German company Balda in the mid-1930s.

The Baldaxette I (1936) was the 4.5×6 version and the Baldaxette II (1937) the 6×6 version. They were nearly identical aside from the film format. They were based on the Baldax body for #0 shutter size. The cameras were first sold in black and later in chrome, with the coupled rangefinder and the viewfinder in separate windows under a long top housing. The styling of the later chrome version was very similar to that of the bigger 6×9 model Super Pontura.

Baldaxette II, black, Compur, Xenar 7.5cm f/2.8. Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. (Image rights)

The lenses available on the Baldaxette included:

• Meyer Trioplan 7.5cm f/2.9
• Schneider Radionar 7.5cm f/2.9
• Schneider Xenar 7.5cm f/2.8
• Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 8cm f/3.5
• Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 8cm f/2.8

All were available with the Compur OS shutter to 1/250s, and could be optionally fitted with the Compur-Rapid shutter to 1/400s.

Baldaxette II, chrome, Compur, Tessar 8cm f/2.8. Pictures by eBayer Yalluflex. (Image rights)

Leaflet showing the Baldaxette, dated 1938. (Image rights)

Links

In English:

• The Baldaxette at Cosmonet Classic Camera