Balda Super Baldina

Photos by Renaud Laemmli text by Renaud Laemmli. From the collection of Renaud Laemmli. Last update 2024-01-20 par Jacques Bratieres.

Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1955 to (After) 1956.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 10411

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Balda

During the second half of the 1950s, Balda used the same camera body for a complete range of cameras. The Baldina was offered in numerous variations depending on the combination of lenses and shutters. It lacked a light meter or exposure meter. The Baldina B included an exposure meter, and the Super Baldina featured a rangefinder.The second window on the top cover could be empty, occupied by the exposure meter, or a part of the rangefinder.
The lens was mounted on a helicoid in all models and always had a focal length of 50 mm. A small button on the front of the camera allowed the user to release the lens tube spring and extend the lens.

	Lens	Shutter

Baldina (1955-56)
	Baldanar 2.8/50	Pronto 1/25 to 1/200, B
	Baldanar 2.8/50	Prontor-SVS 1 to 1/300, B
	Schneider Radionar 2.8/50	Compur-Rapid 1 to 1/500, B
	Schneider Xenar 2.8/50¹	Compur-Rapid 1 to 1/500, B
	Schneider Xenon 2.0/50	Synchro-Compur 1 to 1/500, B
	Rodenstock Heligon 2.0/50	Synchro-Compur 1 to 1/500, B
Baldina B
	Schneider Radionar 2.8/50	Compur-Rapid 1 to 1/500, B	with lightmeter
	Schneider Xenar 2.8/50	Compur-Rapid 1 to 1/500, B
	Schneider Xenon 2.0/50	Synchro-Compur 1 to 1/500, B
Super Baldina (1955-56)
	Baldanar 2.8/50	Pronto 1/25 to 1/200, B	with rangefinder²
	Baldanar 2.8/50	Prontor-SVS 1 to 1/300, B
	Rodenstock Trinar 2.8/50
	Schneider Radionar 2.8/50
	Baldanar 2.8/50	Compur-Rapid 1 to 1/500, B
	Schneider Radionar 2.8/50
	Schneider Xenar 2.8/50
	Schneider Xenon 2.0/50	Synchro-Compur 1 to 1/500, B
	Rodenstock Heligon 2.0/50	Synchro-Compur 1 to 1/500, B

¹ The Xenar 2.8 lens could be equipped with an optical accessory called the Longar 70 mm 5.6, which provided a magnification of 1.4.
² The rangefinder adjustment is made using a ring located at the base of the lens barrel. The image alignment in the viewfinder is of the concentric type, with rose and yellow indications.

Upon customer request, it was possible to have a Baldina factory-converted into a Super Baldina, which could lead to some confusion considering the markings and technical specifications.

__________

This camera is peculiar as it deviates significantly from the known nomenclature of Baldina models.

Factually, it has a rangefinder, categorizing it as a Super Baldina, but it bears an aluminum plate marked Baldina B. It's known that it was possible to convert a Baldina into a Super Baldina. However, the notion of a Baldina B (with a light meter) transformed into a Super Baldina is not very credible, as the former was sold at a higher price than the latter.

Another peculiarity is the coexistence of a Xenar lens with a Prontor-SVS shutter. This shutter model isn't referenced for Baldina B models... up to this day. This combination of lens and shutter is not mentioned for any of the models, as the Xenar was intended to be mounted on more advanced shutters.

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