Balda Pontina (1936–1937)
A folding 6×9 medium format camera made in Dresden, Germany, with dual viewfinders and a Prontor II shutter.
Overview
The Balda Pontina is a folding bellows camera made in Dresden, Germany, during the interwar period. It was built from 1936 to 1937. It shoots 6×9 centimeter frames and converts to 6×4.5 with an internal mask. There are two viewfinders. One is a flip-out finder with a magnifying lens, eye shield and format mask. The other is an optical finder with rotating cross-shaped framing for portrait and landscape orientation. Film advances with a knob. The back has two ruby windows with a sliding cover to keep light leaks out.
Specifications
| Format | 6×9 centimeter |
| Format conversion | Can be converted to 6×4.5 centimeter with a mask |
| Shutter | Prontor II |
| Shutter speeds | Fastest speed is 1/150 second; includes Time and Bulb options |
| Viewfinder | Flip-out viewfinder with large magnifying lens, shield with small eye hole, and flip-up mask for 6×4.5 format |
| Second viewfinder | Optical viewfinder mounted next to shutter, rotates 90 degrees, with cross-shaped framing edges |
| Film advance | Knob |
| Back | Two ruby windows with sliding cover |
| Tripod mounts | One on camera body (with 3/8-16 to 1/4-20 step-down insert), one on front door |
| Front door feature | Flip-out leg for vertical stand |
| Carrying handle | Leather handle attached to two square wire rings at latch end |
Design
The Pontina is steel covered in leather. The bellows extends on sprung chrome hinge assemblies. The lens and shutter assembly folds under the front door when the camera is closed, and a cam mechanism guides it out perpendicular when opened. The enameled brass cover shows green oxidation marks.
Context
Made in Dresden during the interwar period, the Pontina comes from a time when manufacturers often assembled cameras from available parts. Balda did a lot of third-party production. Porst sold variants of the Pontina in large quantities as the Hapo 10 and Hapo 45.
Market
A collectible cameras price guide lists the Balda Pontina at €88 in antique condition. One user calls it a "new mystery camera," and another stresses the importance of the ruby window cover after experience with light leaks.
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