Serial Number: Cam0173
Type:
35mm view and range finder camera
Manufacturer:
Balda
Country of Origin:
West Germany
Production Period:
1957 - 1960
Approximate Price:
USD 78.000
Reference:
Camerapedia
Status: Display
Description:
The Baldessa is a range of comparatively cheaply-made 35mm viewfinder and rangefinder cameras produced by Balda in Germany from c.1957 to the late 1960s. They have an unusual folding film advance key in the base - requiring a 180° turn, along with a spring-out rewind crank. On the simpler models, this along with the front-mounted shutter release and the frame counter to the left of the viewfinder ocular leaves the top plate empty except for the accessory shoe. Early models have a removable back; later examples are hinged.
The Baldessa 1B has an added uncoupled selenium light meter and coupled rangefinder. Design was by Karl-Heinz Lange.