BELCA BELFOCA II

The Belca Belfoca II is a medium format folding camera made in West Germany between 1956 and 1959. It is an updated version of the original Belfoca, built for amateur and enthusiast photographers who wanted 6×6 cm negatives on 120 film in a compact, portable body.

Overview

Belca was a brand name used by the Bavarian firm Optica Altenburg. It is unrelated to the later Japanese Belca company. The Belfoca II was part of a short-lived but technically competent line of folding cameras aimed at the post-war European consumer market. It refined its predecessor with improved focusing mechanics, a sturdier folding strut and a redesigned top housing that combined the viewfinder and frame counter. The camera was sold as a precision instrument with an emphasis on portability and image quality, for photographers who wanted medium format without the bulk of a TLR or SLR.

The Belfoca II used a fixed triplet lens - typically a 75mm f/3.5 Belar or Belux, depending on production batch - mounted in a Compur-Rapid shutter. The 6×6 cm negative gave excellent detail and enlargement capability, which suited both portrait and landscape work. The folding design had a leather-clad bellows and a collapsible front standard, so the camera fit in a coat pocket when not in use. Despite the modest branding, it shared design cues and components with more prestigious contemporaries like the Iloca and Wirgin Edinex folding models. Component sharing was common among German camera makers of the era.

Specifications

Key Features

• Integrated top-housing viewfinder and frame counter – A design improvement over the original Belfoca, consolidating controls and improving usability.
• Compur-Rapid shutter with full speed range – Offers shutter speeds from 1 second to 1/400 sec, enabling versatile exposure control in varied lighting.
• High-quality 75mm f/3.5 triplet lens – Delivers sharp, contrast-rich images with minimal aberration for its class.
• Automatic film counter reset – Prevents double exposures and simplifies loading.
• Compact folding design with rigid struts – Ensures lens alignment stability and portability.

Historical Context

The Belfoca II was introduced in 1956, when German camera makers were reclaiming market share in Europe and North America after the disruptions of World War II. Rollei and Zeiss Ikon dominated the premium segment. Smaller firms such as Wirgin, Iloca and Belca went after the mid-tier market with well-built, affordable medium format cameras. The Belfoca II was positioned as a step up from basic box cameras, offering the image quality of 120 film in a portable body for amateurs and traveling enthusiasts.

It competed directly with the Iloca Rapid A, the Wirgin Edinex 66 and the Kodak Retina I (Type 117), all of which used 120 film and folding designs. Unlike the Retina series, the Belfoca II had no coupled rangefinder. It relied on scale focusing, plus a ground glass patch on the back for critical focusing (used during loading). That made it less precise than rangefinder-equipped contemporaries, but it also cut cost and mechanical complexity. Build quality and optics were solid, yet Belca's limited marketing reach and lack of international distribution hindered adoption. Production ceased by 1959, likely due to increasing competition from Japanese imports and the rising popularity of 35mm cameras.

Collectibility & Value

The Belca Belfoca II is a rare find today, with fewer than 10,000 units estimated to have been produced. Next to the better-known German brands it is obscure, which makes it a niche collector's item, particularly among folding camera and post-war European optics enthusiasts. In excellent, fully functional condition - intact leather, clean glass, a reliable shutter - it typically sells for $250 - $400 USD at auction or through specialty camera dealers. Values increase significantly for examples with the rarer Belar lens, which is optically superior to the more common Belux variant.

Anyone buying a Belfoca II should inspect the bellows for pinholes or brittleness, test all shutter speeds with a timing device, and check that the focusing mechanism runs smoothly without play. Common problems are stiff or seized shutter blades (from dried lubricant), light leaks from degraded foam seals, and misaligned viewfinder frame lines. The red window on the back may also have degraded opacity, which risks fogging the film. The camera uses no batteries and is purely mechanical, so it stays fully functional if well maintained.

Similar Cameras

• Iloca Rapid A (1954–1958) – German folding 120 camera with 75mm f/3.5 lens and Compur shutter; nearly identical construction.
• Wirgin Edinex 66 (1955–1959) – Features similar layout, 6×6 format, and interchangeable lenses via adapter.
• Kodak Retina I (Type 117) (1954–1957) – Coupled rangefinder, 75mm f/3.8 lens, more refined finish.
• Rollei Universal (1958–1960) – Non-rangefinder folding Rollei, higher build quality but similar functionality.
• Alpa Prisma 120 (1957–1960) – Swiss-made, prism viewfinder option, though significantly more advanced and expensive.

Repair & Maintenance

The Belca Belfoca II needs no batteries and operates entirely mechanically, so it is inherently reliable if maintained. The Compur-Rapid shutter is serviceable and commonly repaired by specialist technicians familiar with vintage leaf shutters. Regular maintenance includes shutter cleaning and lubrication every 10-15 years, depending on use. Bellows replacement is possible using archival-grade replacement materials, though original parts are scarce. Focus rail lubrication and leather dressing help preserve function and appearance. With no electronic components, repair difficulty is moderate for experienced technicians, though sourcing spare parts may require donor cameras. For long periods of storage, the camera should be kept extended so the bellows don't set in a compressed state.

eBay Listings

BELCA BEL-BELFOCAII Belfoca II Film Camera, Used

$345

Germany Belca Belfoca II 6x9 6x6 Bonotar 4.5/10.5 Mint Box

$220

1950s BELCA BELFOCA II Camera Vintage Advertising

$29.00

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Related Models

• Belca Belfoca I (1950-1959)
• Belca Belfoca (c1950-1956)
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• Alpa Alnea 7 (1952)
• Alpa Prisma Reflex
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