Recommend some folders
p.1 #1Recommend some folders
Tell me about old folding cameras you like. Preference to ones that take 120 film.
A friend gave me a Zeiss Ikon Nettar 518/16 a few months back. It's tricky to shoot with as it's zone focus, no meter, easy to double expose, etc. But the results it gives are great. I know there are a zillion folders out there, what's good?
Last weekend, on gold 200:
cape_trail_2 by Chris, on Flickr
A friend gave me a Zeiss Ikon Nettar 518/16 a few months back. It's tricky to shoot with as it's zone focus, no meter, easy to double expose, etc. But the results it gives are great. I know there are a zillion folders out there, what's good?
Last weekend, on gold 200:
cape_trail_2 by Chris, on FlickrJul 25, 2026 at 11:52 AM
p.1 #2Recommend some folders
Last year I bought a Fujica Super 6 and sent it to Dan Daniels for service. It was fun to use but it started skipping frames and I didn't want to spend any more money on it, so I gave it away. Dan told me the Japanese folders were easier to work on and generally more reliable than the Zeiss cameras.
Befor I bought the Fujica, I had been looking at the Mamiya 6 folder. It focuses by moving the focal plane so the back moves instead of the lens.
The eara of the folding medium format camera ended in the 1960's. The rangefinders are small and the patches are often dim. There are plenty of folders that are scale focus and are worth a look.
Befor I bought the Fujica, I had been looking at the Mamiya 6 folder. It focuses by moving the focal plane so the back moves instead of the lens.
The eara of the folding medium format camera ended in the 1960's. The rangefinders are small and the patches are often dim. There are plenty of folders that are scale focus and are worth a look.
Jul 25, 2026 at 12:38 PM
p.1 #3Recommend some folders
Anything with a Zeiss lens and a CLA done this century is probably a safe bet.
I've got a Zeiss Ikonta 521/something that's a 645, CLA'd shortly before I bought it. No rangefinder and just an empty frame for composition, but it does have double-exposure protection. Fun camera, and hardly larger than a wallet.
I've got a Zeiss Ikonta 521/something that's a 645, CLA'd shortly before I bought it. No rangefinder and just an empty frame for composition, but it does have double-exposure protection. Fun camera, and hardly larger than a wallet.
Jul 25, 2026 at 12:51 PM
p.1 #4Recommend some folders
The Agfa Isolettes are nice, especially because you can buy brand-new bellows for them (made in the UK).
Jul 25, 2026 at 02:14 PM
p.1 #5Recommend some folders
Keep using the Netar and get a laser rangefinder.
Jul 25, 2026 at 04:04 PM
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p.1 #6Recommend some folders
I have an Agfa Isolette II and the early Okako Waltax.
I CLA'd the Isolette myself (focus was frozen by grease, cleaned shutter and lens elements, calibrated focus), it was pretty easy to work on.
Shoots fine, mine still has the original bellows, but I did replace the bellows on another copy that I eventually sold and it was pretty easy.
XP2
Portra 800
The Waltax (Zeiss Ikonta copy) is 645, which I really like, and is the pre-war version with the cool flip up two piece optical viewfinder.
As far as I know it's never been serviced, but everything is pristine and works as it should.
Lots of veiling flare in the right conditions, but pretty amazing overall for an 80 yr old camera.
T-Max 400
Gold 200
I CLA'd the Isolette myself (focus was frozen by grease, cleaned shutter and lens elements, calibrated focus), it was pretty easy to work on.
Shoots fine, mine still has the original bellows, but I did replace the bellows on another copy that I eventually sold and it was pretty easy.
XP2
Portra 800
The Waltax (Zeiss Ikonta copy) is 645, which I really like, and is the pre-war version with the cool flip up two piece optical viewfinder.
As far as I know it's never been serviced, but everything is pristine and works as it should.
Lots of veiling flare in the right conditions, but pretty amazing overall for an 80 yr old camera.
T-Max 400
Gold 200
Jul 25, 2026 at 05:56 PM
p.1 #7Recommend some folders
I would much rather get a mediocre folder that works properly than a banger folder that has been so mishandled that everything is out of whack.
I tried a Bessa 6x9, but on at least one occasion I closed it with the focus not set to infinity, I noticed light leaks on later rolls that were not from the bellows, and a CLA did not fully fix the issue, so on it went to its next home (issue fully disclosed of course). In theory a Bessa 6x9 folder is top tier. In practice you have to look out for light leaks (not just around the bellows) and bent front standards. Good luck finding one with zero issues.
An Isolette was next. I am not sure what its issue was, but I ended up giving up on folders, explored a GF670W, and I think I have settled on a Mamiya 6 as my "compact" camera.
I tried a Bessa 6x9, but on at least one occasion I closed it with the focus not set to infinity, I noticed light leaks on later rolls that were not from the bellows, and a CLA did not fully fix the issue, so on it went to its next home (issue fully disclosed of course). In theory a Bessa 6x9 folder is top tier. In practice you have to look out for light leaks (not just around the bellows) and bent front standards. Good luck finding one with zero issues.
An Isolette was next. I am not sure what its issue was, but I ended up giving up on folders, explored a GF670W, and I think I have settled on a Mamiya 6 as my "compact" camera.
Jul 25, 2026 at 06:59 PM
p.1 #8Recommend some folders
@theHUN of my camera gear, the very last thing I'd part with is my mamiya 6. I tried the nettar last weekend because I was feeling irritated with the bulk of what's usually in my pack on hikes. Also, my kiddos and partner are tolerant of my photo thing, but sometimes it's nice for them to see me without a camera dangling from a strap.
@OregonSun and @OffTrail, those shots are great. 6x4.5 is what made me think of another folder. Cool to know that bellows are available, thanks for the tip, @bjhurley.
That said, I think @madNbad is right. I just now ordered an ld meter. I'd been using an app I wrote for depth measurement, but using a phone at all is a pain.
@OregonSun and @OffTrail, those shots are great. 6x4.5 is what made me think of another folder. Cool to know that bellows are available, thanks for the tip, @bjhurley.
That said, I think @madNbad is right. I just now ordered an ld meter. I'd been using an app I wrote for depth measurement, but using a phone at all is a pain.
Jul 26, 2026 at 02:56 AM
p.1 #9Recommend some folders
Cloud75 wrote:
I'd been using an app I wrote for depth measurement, but using a phone at all is a pain.
A range finder is really just a parallax measurement gizmo. Your own two eyes can perform this function, and you can build your own credit card sized RF aid using this: https://tomchuk.com/rf/
Edit: You can do this without the generator. Write down the distance labels on your lens, take out your tape measure, place an item at each distance on your list, take out the index card, and label each spot. It took me no more than 5 minutes and focus was spot on.
I'd been using an app I wrote for depth measurement, but using a phone at all is a pain.
A range finder is really just a parallax measurement gizmo. Your own two eyes can perform this function, and you can build your own credit card sized RF aid using this: https://tomchuk.com/rf/
Edit: You can do this without the generator. Write down the distance labels on your lens, take out your tape measure, place an item at each distance on your list, take out the index card, and label each spot. It took me no more than 5 minutes and focus was spot on.
Jul 26, 2026 at 09:46 AM
p.1 #10Recommend some folders
I have a Zeiss Ikonta 533/16 and can't recommend it. The 80mm f2.8 Tessar is quite soft until stopped down to f11-f16. And it as an auto stop mechanism for the film wind that breaks all the time - get a folder with the red window, that's more reliable.
Heard good things about the Bessa II with the Heliar lens.
But with all of them the age and rather fragile nature of the folding mechanism makes it a gamble.
Heard good things about the Bessa II with the Heliar lens.
But with all of them the age and rather fragile nature of the folding mechanism makes it a gamble.
Jul 26, 2026 at 01:48 PM