Using My Balda Baldix ( 1950s folding 120 camera) in Scotland

In this video I am using a Balda Baldix ( 1950s folding 120 camera ) with a roll of Illford HP5 . I recently purchased this from a vintage shop at a very reasonable price ! So I wanted to put a film through it and see if it was in working order. I was very pleased with the results I got and have shared all 11 photo's I captured :D I intend on trying it again sometime in the future.
The camera unfortunatly had some wind-on issues that I was not aware of untill I saw the negatives. Consequently I only got 11 and not 12 images .
More details about this camera .........
This camera was made in West Germany during the 1950's .
It takes 120 rollfilm
Picture size 6cm x 6cm
Weight 18.2oz (516g)
It has a fixed Enna Werk Ennagon C 75mm, Lens f3.5 (stops to f22)
Filter size use Series VI with the 1 1/4″ (31.5mm) slip-on adapter
Focal Range 1m to infinity you need to set this manually.
It is a non coupled rangefinder .
It has an in-body viewfinder that is tiny.
Shutter Prontor SVS (has V, X, M settings)
Shutter speeds B, 1-300
It does not have a exposure meter , you need to use external meter.
PC sync and accessory shoe
Film counter, double-exposure prevention . However something appears to be wrong with this one ?
I followed all the instructions on how to load the film and how to
wind-on so I am really not sure why it seems to have had a couple of issues?
Music is....
Still in Dreams by Ralph McTell
That'll Do Babe by Ralph McTell
Video cannot be monetized ..... (I do not monetise) .
Ad revenue paid to copyright owner

[@AgionOros]

Amazing vintage camera, all manual for true photographers, great photos, beside the problems.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you it was really fun to use :D Thanks for watching :D Teddy

[@OspreyMomma]

👍🤚my dear friend I enjoyed watching and reading about your experience with this camera. Very nice captures to me. Thank you for sharing. Have a good day take care 💕

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

You are very welcome I am plesaed you enjoyed this. It was good fun to use and I was so happy with the results. Thank you for watching. Take care and I hope you have a good day :D Teddy

[@RetroGlass]

I just purchased a Baldix and am excited to give it a go. Your photos looked great to me.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thanks , I hope you enjoy using yours too ; )

[@fosterhart2013]

Was new to me ,so thanks for the Ralph Mctell !

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

You are welcome thanks for watching and commenting : ) Teddy

[@jimmclaughlin2728]

my dad had one , took some great pics on his travels to Peru in the 50's. have his photo album.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

That sounds good , im pleased you still have his album ; )

[@lindaelizabethcole3675]

Gosh Teddy , I think you did really well with that old vintage camera , never heard of that make I thought your photos were just magical , considering the age of the camera , just imagine living in that beautiful cottage and waking up to that backdrop of magnificent scenery on your doorstep , Scotland is soooooo grand , my great grandfather came from Wick , married a girl from Glasgow , they had 5 children , 2 Master Mariners , 2 Matrons , one in an Assylm in Lochgilphead , one in hospital in Edinburgh and one daughter died young of TB . Love the old churches and graveyards , you captured them beautifully , hope you got to see the dolphins at Channonary Point near Rosemarkie , maybe someday I shall treat myself to a VW. Camper van and get up there once again , Hugs , nightienite.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you Linda, I had also not heard of the make until I purchased this. I just saw it in and amongst lots of vintage and retro items ( non camera related ) and thought it looked interesting. I had a good look at it and deemed it looked good enough to take a chance on. I managed to get the ticket price down when I told the seller I intended trying to capture some images with it. I think the seller thought it was only worthy of been an ornament, he was telling me I would not be able to find an old film to fit it !!! I however had already ascertained that it took 120 film ( I said nothing ) so I went along with what he was saying and ended up getting this camera at a bargain price. He had £60 on it and I bought it for just £15 :D I was happy with that then when I got home and searched the net I was even more happy to see what a great make it was :D In fact the film and developing cost me more lol lol I am so pleased it worked and I will be taking it out agin at some point when I can afford another film etc.... We did visit Rosemarkie on this holiday but did not see any dolphins the tide was all the way in !!!! I have seen them a few years ago though and it was magical :D Thanks for watching and I hope you have a nice Friday hugs :D Teddy

[@EviPolarBearNora]

Oh, so unique ... so old camera! !!! And such wonderful photos ...... Fantastic!!! Have a great weekend! Evi 🐾

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you very much Evi I am plesaed you liked this video of the old camera. Thank you for watching :D Teddy

[@EviPolarBearNora]

@@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear You're welcome, Teddy !!

[@jimmclaughlin2728]

depth of field in the final pic is excellent. beautiful pic. a print would be nice.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you very much , yes I should maybe get around to getting that one printed . Thank you for watching and commenting Take care : ) Teddy

[@ChrisEdgecombePhoto]

I've just picked up this camera and as my frame counter isn't working, I'm going to use the rear view window to ensure that I've wound on enough to get hopefully 12 distinct exposures. Thanks for the video, at least I know I should be able to get some good results, its a shame some of yours overlapped.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

You are very welcome . I hope you get some good results with yours . It is a fun camera to use and the image quality is excellent : ) Thank you for watching and commenting. Take care Teddy

[@peterbarth1479]

I've bought a Balda Baldix with a Baltar 1:2.9/80mm lens last year on a flea market, but it doesn't have a rangefinder like yours. I never used it until now, but after I saw your video I will take it out 👍

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

I also bought this one at a antique / vintage stall, It was interesting to use but not without its idiosyncrasies . However it was great fun and I will use it again someday I looked up on google for a print out of how to load and wind on the film , even though I followed the instructions I still had those two issues ! The images that came out though were all really good quality I was very pleased with them. I hope you have the chance to try yours out sometime. Thanks for watching and commenting :D Teddy

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

love camera equipment. Loved hearing your thoughts!

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

I am pleased you enjoyed this thank you so much for watching and taking the time to comment, :D Teddy

[@waveandocean7598]

Great camera work 👍🏻 *3* Hello dear Teddy, you made good shots with your camera 📷 Thank you for sharing with us. ✨🌙✨Have a pleasant evening, Linnea

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you dear Linnea you are very welcome , I am pleased you enjoyed seeing these photo's . All the best to you take care :D Teddy PS I think I have a video of yours to catch up on, hoping to catch up on some youtube videos tomorrow . I have had a very unsettled and busy week and a half !

[@1o1s1s1i1e]

Great job Teddy! You can't mistake the sound of that shutter. Despite the troubles you got some terrific shots. I used a Rolliflex Twin Lens Reflex camera that took 120 film and it took some getting use to but was worth the extra trouble. It was heavy to haul around too. 38f and raining here today, they say it will turn to snow tonight but not much accumulation is expected. Take care, Ossie

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

I am plesaed you enjoyed this Ossie It was good fun to use and very lightweight and compact. I was so happy with the results. I used to own a Bronica ETRS but foolishly sold it when digital came along to finance my first DSLR !!!!!!!!! Something I regret that old camera will still be going strong and the DSLR is already outdated ! I have always fancied a rollieflex burt never managed to own one ;( I bet you got some good quility images with it. Thank you for watching . Take care and I hope you have a good day despite the snow :D Teddy

[@AndrewWaltonPhotography]

Interesting camera Teddy - I love the shot of the white cottages. Shame about the waterfall image.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Yes it is, I was so pleased I found it by chance at a collectables fair I went to . It was so dissapointing that the waterfall shot was ruined but at least the images that did come out were all good quality. I was amazed they were in focus because the viewfinder was so tiny. I hope at some point to give it another try . Thank you for watching Take care ; ) Teddy

[@dwelker3778]

Thank you for sharing this experience. My parents have a folding camera, but I don't know what brand it was. It would be interesting to try it out sometime. I enjoyed the photos that demonstrate that it more about the skill than the camera.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you very much you are welcome . It was very interesting to use , the viewfinder was so tiny ! Thank you for watching :D Teddy

[@TheeOwlQueen]

Oh my gosh Teddy this camera is AMAZING & FROM THE 1950'S? Your captures looked pretty good to me. I am deeply amazed you can purchase such an old camera and still get film for it these days. I hope you're having a lovely weekend and a big like from me.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you very much Heather I am plesaed you liked this video of the old camera. It really was a great find I am very happy with the results I got.The film is readily availabe Heather but it cost a lot to buy and get developed & scanned. So I only use film these days for a treat :D I hope you have had a lovely weekend ,thank you for watching hugs :D Teddy

[@TheHikeChoseMe]

hope you can fix that wind problem. looks fun to use!

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thanks Teresa so do I. It really was good fun but the viewfinder is so tiny and difficult to see through. So guessing the distance and dialing it in is the easiest way to focus :D Thanks for watching :D Teddy

[@JamieMPhoto]

I somehow missed this one! It's a lovely looking camera, even for its quirks. I actually like the overlapped photos. Very interesting. I also enjoy the photo around 3:40 a lot.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you Jamie , it was great fun to use and hopefully I will get some free time in the New Year to give it another go. I was really pleased with the results . Thanks for watching :D Teddy

[@jakubprzyrodnik]

Really interesting! Thanks for sharing. Like #1 :)

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you for watching Jakub I am plesaed you found this interesting. It was great fun to use, but I must say it would be not be easy to capture wildlife with it :D Buildings and landscape are what it is best at :D Teddy

[@fosterhart2013]

Somewhere I read that different film makers used different film/paper thickness standards and that may cause wind on issues . It was suggested to tape an additional length of paper to film leader to compensate for today's maybe thinner film . Could be bogus info ? Seems it was a 20 year old post .

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you that sounds like trying : )

[@urbanimage]

I have several of these Balda Baldix cameras (they sold them with a variety of lens options) The wind on / counter system does take a bit of practice in order to get fairly consistent frame spacing. You have to remember to turn the wind on counter clockwise until it stops, and then clockwise until it stops. You will tend to get 11 rather than 12 frames as the spacing tends to be a bit on the wide side.

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you very much, it did seem to do something odd at the start ( so maybe this caused the problem ) but then I felt like I had fully turned it counter clockwise then clockwise between each frame? I think I need to try it again to see if I can improve on my technique . I was lucky enough to purchase this in a second hand vintage shop for just £15 the stallholder told me it was just fit for an ornament ! ( I did not disagree and thats how I got the price to £15 .) I was relieved to find there were no light leaks when I used it . Thank you for watching and I really appreciate your info :D Teddy

[@urbanimage]

@@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear You can over ride the counter and use the red window, but with Ilford films it's difficult to see the numbers .

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thanks :D

[@kenhemmings6127]

When these cameras were produced in the 1950's, the film thickness was greater than the modern equivalent, and this upsets the counter. To make sure that you have equal spaces between the exposures when you wind on after the first picture, look through the circular viewing window on the back of the camera for the next exposure number which is marked on the film backing strip. A bit of a bother, but hey-ho!

[@urbanimage]

@@kenhemmings6127 Film thickness variation is unlikely to make that much of a difference. With the Balda 6x6 cameras I have the spacing is fairly consistent, but a bit wider than you'd get with say a Bronica or Hasselblad. What does happen is that the extra spacing adds up so you tend to get eleven and half frames instead of 12.

[@MarkKellyPhotographyUK]

Shame about the wind on issue, great images otherwise 👏👏👍

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank's Mark , yes it was a shame I will give it another go someday and see if it does it again ? It might have been user error I guess but I did follow how to wind on to the letter. I was very happy with the quality of the images I got off this roll of film. it was good fun to use. Thank you for watching Take care : ) Teddy

[@FabrizioZago]

I was curious to see the results, you told me that you were waiting for the roll to come back developed :-) I like the photos, that's a pity for the winding problem because normally the things that aren't working properly in these cameras, after so many years, are the bellows with light leaks and the shutter speeds. Your favourite photo is also my favourite, perfect light, but I like also the one at 4:20 too, good composition!

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you my friend. I know I was so pleased that the bellows did not leak light. I will be giving it ago at somepoint in the future to see if I have the problem again. I really enjoyed using it and I am happy with the results. Thank you for watching :D Teddy

[@FabrizioZago]

@@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear I hope next time will work better ;-)

[@timrosenthal46]

HiTeddy, nice video mate. Can you tell me what the V X M settings are for please. Tim

[@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear]

Thank you Tim, V (Verzögerung) is German for delay and brings in a delay to the shutter release, X is the electronic flash sync setting and M is for synchronising old style flash bulbs. : ) Teddy

[@timrosenthal46]

@@TeddyWandererCamera-Bear Thank you ..