Mamiya 6 going stratospheric! 35mm Folders at a premium?

[tikkathree]

There's a good looking Mamiya 6 on EBay with about two hours to go, it looks like a nice example, curiously it's about 20 miles away from me and the price is going through the roof. Good luck the vendor, I'll be watching to see where it ends up.

I don't know why I'm bothered: I had one, I did not fall in love with the square format results or the sheer heft of the thing but I'd try again if one came along at the right price.

I'm quietly watching listings of 35mm folders and there don't seem to be so many: maybe that's why they command a slight premium over 120 film folders?

[rbelyell]

i literally just got a really nice copy with case for under $100. havent used it yet, but will soon! persistence is the key...
tony

[iangreenhalgh1]

There are quite few old folders that are amazingly good shooters, Certo Six for example, although that one isn't that much cheaper than a Mamiya 6. Zeiss Ikonta-M 524/16 is a common and excellent camera, the version with the Novar is wonderful, IQ is stunning for a triplet. Tessar version is even better. I particularly liked a Voigtlander Bessa 6x9 with coupled rf and 3.5 Skopar i got to try out a while back.

I have a nice 35mm folder here, I forget what it is exactly now, but it has a coated Schneider Radionar, might be a Beirette, I forget, I can dig it out if you are after a 35mm folder.

[Attila]

Look Welta Weltax folders or Voigtlander Perkeo none of them expensive and produce stunning results.

[rbelyell]

the mamiya 6 is different than most other folders because it is RF coupled and that makes it much more desireable, imo. thats why i chose it instead of others. especially with 6x6 which to me is more of a 'portrait' tool, the easy focus is a big big plus.
tony

[luisalegria]

Ditto regarding the rangefinder. These command a very large premium in all formats.

There are plenty of cheap simple folders in all formats.
35mm aren't more expensive than 6x9 or any other format. Look for a Kodak Retina I series (no rangefinder).
Very nice, reliable, cheap and common, great shutter and an f/3.5 Tessar or Xenar. Easy to fix stuck shutters too.

Shop a bit; you may be able to find a nice folder in your desired format with Compur shutter and a better lens (tessar, xenar, etc.).
But even those with cheaper shutters and triplets (triotar, radionar, trinar, cassar, kodak anastigmat) can give great results.