Baldessa
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| Baldessa, c.1964 Isco-Göttingen Color-Isconar, 45mm/2.8 in Prontor 125 shutter |
Baldessa
The Baldessa is a range of comparatively cheaply-made 35mm viewfinder and rangefinder cameras produced by Balda in Germany from c.1957 to the late 1960s[1]. They have an unusual folding film advance key in the base - requiring a 180° turn, along with a flip-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.
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| Baldessa base, showing winder (unfolded) and rewind crank |
Baldessa I
The Baldessa I has a Baldanar 45mm/f2.8 lens in a 3-speed Vario shutter. The base has a film reminder fitted around the tripod bush.
Baldessa 1a
Baldessa 1b
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| Baldessa 1B, c.1958 |
The Baldessa 1B has an added uncoupled selenium light meter and coupled rangefinder.
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| Baldessa 1B base winder stowed;film reminder around tripod bush |
Sources
- Baldessa I on shutterbug.net
- Baldessa manual at Mike Butkus' site
- Video closeups of a Baldessa by Izzy & Ipsy
- Balda cameras including several Baldessas on Sylvain Halgand's Collection d'Appareils Photo Anciens
- Balda cameras at Collection G.Even
