Voigtlander Bessa 66, 1939 folder, HP5 120 load

[@pakama2115]

Thanks for the rundown! I still have my Dad's Bessa 46 "Klien Bessa" that he had as a young man shortly after ww2. I recently ran a film through it and was very pleased with the results. Probably close to 50 years since it had been used. Thanks for the video's. All the best from down under, Paul.

[@thephotographersbag]

Thanks for sharing, they are great cameras, lots more to come...

[@VillaSpainMarbella]

I just bought a perkeo 1 and found this video super helpful!

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, thanks for your kind words, they are great cameras, hope it brings you plenty of enjoyment....

[@ericewert5829]

Great video explaining a great classic. Like most Bessa 66 cameras yours is missing the info plate for the lens since they were just glued on. The undamaged fold out filter is a rare bonus though and combined with the optical folding viewfinder indicates a 1941 model. Your lens is indeed a 75mm f3.5. It is also a Skopar (Tessar formula) as the other option in 1941 was a Vaskar (Triplet) and did not have a serial number engraved on the back element rim.

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, thanks for the useful information, lovely camera, great to know it's exact year...

[@DeRose05]

Very interesting camera! I am just starting my vintage collection. This seems like a good one to try and find.

[@thephotographersbag]

Thanks for your kind words, they are not particularly hard to find and very affordable...

[@andrewwilkin1923]

Love folding cameras! Got one of these earlier ones but in very bad condition. Looks like it's been run over by a car but the moment filter is still there. Requires a total strip down but the bellows have gone and a lot of the leatherette is missing so may not be worth it.

[@thephotographersbag]

Thanks, unless the camera is of sentimental value, it probably won't be worth restoring as values are very low, unfortunately, as you say the ones with the Moment filters are the early ones....

[@mamiyapress]

Do you have any sample images ?

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, sorry I don't have any, with lockdown and having to self isolate, I don't get the opportunity....sorry try Flickr

[@alekzandah360]

I have a Baby Bessa 66 (don't know the year) but the shutter doesn't seem to reset. Do you know if that's common or if there's something broken with mine?

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, generally they are very reliable but I am guessing the shutter is stuck due to lack of use, it may be possible to unstick it by gently cocking and firing it repeatedly at each shutter speed, the other option involves a bit of disassembly to clean and free up the shutter blades, can you cock it? does it try to fire?, any slight movement observed?

[@alekzandah360]

@@thephotographersbag Thanks for answering! I can cock and fire it perfectly, the only thing that doesn't work is the shutter trigger and the time shutter time control if you set it over 25. I'm a little scared of disassembling it, though

[@thephotographersbag]

@@alekzandah360 Hi, so the slow speeds work but not all of them, could be worth trying to just exercise it repeatedly to free up the mechanism, I understand you trepidation at dismantling the camera so that's all you can do or find someone who can fix the shutter, sorry that is not too helpful but with a bit of luck and excersice it may start to work properly. ...

[@alekzandah360]

@@thephotographersbag Yeah it'll still work for 99% of the situations though. Is there a good crash course on how to operate this thing? I've never used a film camera before and I'd like to give it a go. This camera was my grandmother's wedding gift so it's really cool to be able to use it.

[@thephotographersbag]

@@alekzandah360 Hi, I take it you are talking about the Bessa camera? And I presume you have a smartphone? Please confirm and I will film a crash course video to get you started, cool backstory to the camera!

[@sofialopes1671]

Hi thank you for the video! I have one Bessa 66 just like that one, I was wondering which is the correct way to unload the film? Cheers

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, I have just uploaded a short film about loading and unloading 120 film with this camera, hope it helps, any problems please let me know....

[@matyasvarga1994]

I got one, it was in good condition from ouside, but the shutter jammed. Can someone help me how to fix that?

[@albertabdul-barrwang3494]

I just got one of these!

[@thephotographersbag]

Hi, hope you enjoy it, please keep us posted on how you get on with it, any problems please come back to me

[@ianhand5006]

Same age as my Dad!