Balda Baldessa Ib (1958–)
A compact 35mm viewfinder camera with a fixed 45mm f/2.8 lens and built-in selenium meter, made in West Germany for reliable everyday photography.
Overview
The Balda Baldessa Ib is a 35mm viewfinder camera introduced in 1958 by Balda Kamera-Werk in Bünde, West Germany. It has a fixed 45mm f/2.8 Baldanar lens, a Prontor SVS leaf shutter, and an uncoupled selenium exposure meter. Exposure runs on the Light Value System (LVS), which keeps the settings simple. The viewfinder corrects parallax automatically. The body is all metal, and the film advance key sits on the bottom. Balda built it to be durable and cheap to make, aimed at middle-class photographers.
Specifications
| Lens | 45mm f/2.8 Baldanar coated four-element lens |
| Shutter | Prontor SVS leaf shutter |
| Shutter speeds | 1 second to 1/300 plus bulb |
| Exposure system | Light Value System (LVS) for simplified exposure settings |
| Meter | Uncoupled selenium exposure meter |
| Viewfinder | Features automatic parallax correction |
| Film advance | Bottom-mounted film advance key |
| Film loading | Removable back for loading |
| Body construction | All-metal construction |
| Weight | 588–590 g |
Design
The Baldessa Ib has a streamlined, rounded shape and a die-cast metal body, which kept manufacturing costs down and made it durable. The shutter release is on the front. The winding mechanism folds out from the bottom and is worked with a thumb key. An accessory shoe is built into the top plate, and the Prontor shutter is built into the body. The lens is fixed, the camera has a self-timer, and the whole layout is meant to be easy to carry.
Context
The Baldessa series appeared in the post-war era, when Balda reentered the competitive 35mm camera market. It was aimed at middle-class buyers as a user-friendly alternative to expensive rangefinders like Leica and the rising Japanese models from Canon. It sat in the mass market, in a period of intense international competition.
Market
The Balda Baldessa Ib is valued at $24.99 CAD in non-working condition with excellent external preservation, as listed by McBain Camera. The metal construction has let many units stay functional decades after production. Degraded light seals are a known issue, and they may cause film fogging over time.
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