Difference between revisions of "Baldessa"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
(Baldessa F: /photos/64947908@N05/16517485597 added from pool)
(Changed cheaply-made to modestly priced)
(5 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 8: Line 8:
 
|image_rights=wp
 
|image_rights=wp
 
}}
 
}}
The '''Baldessa''' is a range of comparatively cheaply-made [[35mm]] [[viewfinder camera|viewfinder]] and [[rangefinder camera]]s produced by [[Balda]] in Germany from c.1957 to the late 1960s<ref>{{McKeown}}, pp.96-7</ref>.  
+
The '''Baldessa''' is a range of modestly priced [[35mm]] [[viewfinder camera|viewfinder]] and [[rangefinder camera]]s produced by [[Balda]] in Germany from c.1957 to the late 1960s<ref>{{McKeown}}, pp.96-7</ref>.  
  
  
Line 93: Line 93:
 
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/balda/baldessa/baldessa.htm Baldessa manual] at [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Mike Butkus' site]
 
* [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/balda/baldessa/baldessa.htm Baldessa manual] at [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Mike Butkus' site]
 
* [http://www.vimeo.com/2234551 Video closeups of a Baldessa] by Izzy & Ipsy
 
* [http://www.vimeo.com/2234551 Video closeups of a Baldessa] by Izzy & Ipsy
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/balda/html/liste.php Balda cameras] including several Baldessas, at Sylvain Halgand's [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/carrousel/html/index.php  Collection Appareils]
+
* [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/index.php?/category/164 Balda cameras] at [http://www.collectiongeven.com/piwigo/ Collection G.Even] (in French)
* [http://photo.even.free.fr/col_app.php?type=balda Balda cameras] at [http://photo.even.free.fr/ Collection G.Even]
+
* [http://www.thorleyphotographics.com/?page_id=48 Baldessa I review] on [http://www.thorleyphotographics.com/ ThorleyPhotographics]
* [http://www.thorleyphotographics.com/baldessa.php Baldessa I review] on ThorleyPhotographics
+
 
 +
== Links ==
 +
* [http://butkus.org/chinon/balda/baldessa/baldessa.htm Baldessa PDF instruction manual] from [http://butkus.org/chinon/ OrphanCameras.com]
  
 
[[Category: German 35mm viewfinder]]
 
[[Category: German 35mm viewfinder]]

Revision as of 06:02, 13 July 2020

The Baldessa is a range of modestly priced 35mm viewfinder and rangefinder cameras produced by Balda in Germany from c.1957 to the late 1960s[1].


Baldessas have an unusual folding film advance key in the base - requiring a 180° turn, along with a spring-out rewind crank. On the simpler models, this along with the front-mounted shutter release and the frame counter to the left of the viewfinder ocular leaves the top plate empty except for the accessory shoe. Early models have a removable back; later examples are hinged.



Baldessa I

The Baldessa I was introduced in 1957 with a Westanar 45/2.8 lens in a Prontor-SVS shuttter. It was updated in 1958 to have a bright-line finder, with a second window to illuminate the frame. This model has a Baldanar, Color-Isconar or Westanar 45mm/f2.8 lens in a 3-speed Vario, Pronto, Prontor 125 or Prontor-SVS shutter. The base has a film reminder fitted around the tripod bush, and the rewind release is angled out to form a foot for standing on a horizontal surface.

Baldessa 1a

The Baldessa 1a was introduced in 1958, and adds a coupled rangefinder to the Baldessa I design. It was available with a Color-Westanar or Baldanar 45/2.8 lens in a Prontor-SVS shutter.

Baldessa 1b

The Baldessa 1B has an added uncoupled selenium light meter and coupled rangefinder. Design was by Karl-Heinz Lange.


Baldessa F

The Baldessa F models have a flashbulb holder built-in to the top plate.

Baldessa LK, LF, F-LK, RF, R-LK & RF-LK

The 'L' models include a light meter; the LK's is coupled, the F means that there is AG-1 bulb flash-holder; the 'R' models have a rangefinder. The RF-LK has a rangefinder, a flash-holder and a coupled lightmeter.

Notes

  1. McKeown, pp.96-7

Sources

Links