My collection#17
Certotix 6x9cm self erecting folding CameraInfo from
Cosmonet.orgMade by Certo Kamera Werk (Dresden, Germany) in 1931. Certo had been making many kind of 6x9cm 120 film cameras since around 1925. This camera was a rare model of self erecting spring bed camera among the other folding cameras. It is one of the most compact light 6x9cm folding cameras ever made, only 420 grams.
It has a reflecting waist level view finder on top of lens board, which was most popular for folding cameras of this age. It also has a frame finder attached on the top of the body. The lens is a Meyer Gorlitz Trioplan 10.5cm F6.3. The focusing is front cell rotation, focusing from 2 meters to infinity, no range finder. Minimum aperture is F22.
The shutter is VARIO, ever ready type, has T, B, 1/25 - 1/100sec, no self timer. There is a small hole under the lens board, which is not for a shutter release, but is able to hold a small release cable and possibly to fold the bed with the cable inside.
Certotix Specifications | Maker | Certo Kamera Werk (Dresden, Germany) |
| C.A | 1931 |
| Film | 120, 6x9cm, 8 exposures |
| Weight | 420g |
| Lens | Meyer Gorlitz Trioplan 10.5cm F6.3
Minimum aperture F22 |
| Shutter | VARIO T, B, 1/25 - 1/100sec |
| Finder | Reflex and Frame finder |
| Focusing | Front cell rotating, no range finder |
| Film winding | Red window, no cover |
My collection#16
Balda BaldinetteInfo from Camerapedia and
TheCameraSite.netBalda Baldinette a folding 35mm camera was manufactured by Balda Bunde Kamera-Werk in West-Germany around 1951. It is fitted with a Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar f/2.9 50mm lens in a Prontor-S shutter.
It is quite compact and easy to handle. The camera is built over a sturdy die cast body and has a clear resemblance to some Kodak Retina cameras and especially to Zeiss Nettar 515.
Baldinette has no rangefinder neither an exposure meter. The Super Baldina which was introduced in 1955 has a rangefinder but in stead of beeing a folding camera it has a collapsible lens unit like Balda Baldixette or Goldeck 6x6.
In 1953, the Baldinette sold in the USA for US$40 (equivalent to US$317 in 2009). Copies with red and blue leatherette are known, but very rare.
My collection#15
Agfa Isoflash-Rapid CInfo from
CamerapediaThe Agfa Isoflash-Rapid C was manufactured around 1966 by Agfa Camera-Werk in Munich, Germany. It was made for Agfa's own film system for 24×24mm exposures, the Rapid film cartridges. The two-cartridge system simplified film load. The new cartridge has to be layed into the camera with the film reaching the opening of a second cartridge which winds up the exposed film. Then the camera has to be closed and can be used after winding up for the first exposure.
The Isoflash-Rapid C was basically the Iso-Rapid C for distribution in the USA. It uses flashcubes. It has an Isitar f/8.2 lens in a Parator shutter with two speeds: “Sunny” (1/80 sec) and “Shade/Cloudy” (1/40 sec). For firing the flash cubes the camera does use a battery that is well hidden behind the baseplate.
