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Balda 944-X electronic |
 Version française |
Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1972 to (Circa) 1977.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 5053
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Balda
Balda followed Kodak in the path of the 126 and released a whole range of cameras using the new film cartridge.
Film and 126 Camera
The patent 3,138,081 was published on June 23, 1964. It was filed by Kodak, and the inventor's name is Hubert Nerwin.
It involves a 35mm film contained within a closed cassette. Asymmetric, it serves both as a supply spool and a take-up spool. There is no possibility of inserting the film the wrong way in the camera due to its design. The film is perforated on one side only. The back is lined with paper bearing a frame number, employing the principle of an unexposed back on cameras to avoid the need for a mechanical frame counter. The camera only requires one drive spindle since there's no need to rewind the film. The cassette is returned to the Kodak laboratory after the final exposure without any additional handling.
With this innovative system, the photographer no longer runs the risk of mispositioning the film start tab or tearing the perforations. Also known as Kodapak, the 126 film was available in 20, later in 24 exposures (the 12-exposure version existed for a short time), either in color negative or for colour slides.
The shape of the cameras changed during the series' existence. The shutter release of the early models is integrated into the front face and is black (Design 1).Later, it is larger and forms the top and left edge of the front face (Design 2).
The most advanced models change in design. The lens is retractable (Design 3). The mechanism for the movement of the lens was the subject of several patents filed in 1971 by Balda. The inventor was Karl-Heinz Lange (US3709129 and DE2136183).
| Years | Lens | Shutter | Design | Misc. | ||
| Models using Flashcube | ||||||
| 104 |  |
c.1968 | Fixfocus | Single speed | 1 | Winding knob. No setup. Fake cell |
| 304 | c. 1968 | Fixfocus | 1/60 | 1 | Like 104, but automatic exposure | |
| 544 electronic | c.1972 | Fixfocus | 18 to 1/250 | 1 | CdS cell | |
| 644 electronic | c.1972 | Symbols | 18 to 1/250 | 1 (?) | CdS cell | |
| 144 |  |
c.1971-77 | Fixfocus | Single speed | 2 | Winding knob. No setup |
| 344 | c.1972 | Fixfocus | 2 | Like 144, but automatic exposure | ||
| 844 electronic | 1971-77 | 18 to 1/300 | 3 | CdS cell, Light signals in the viewfinder. Retractable lens | ||
| Models using Magicube | ||||||
| 144-X |  |
1971-77 | Fixfocus | Single speed | 2 | Winding knob. No setup |
| 344-X | c. 1972 | Fixfocus | 2 | Like 144-X, but automatic exposure | ||
| 824-X | c. 1974-77 | 1/40 and 1/125 | 3 | Collimated viewfinder. Retractable lens | ||
| 834-X | c.1974-77 | 3 | Lights in the viewfinder indicating the setting (sun, shade, or flash). Retractable lens | |||
| 844-X electronic | c.1972-77 | 18 to 1/300 | 3 | CdS cell, Light signals in the viewfinder. Retractable lens | ||
| 944-X electronic | c.1974-77 | Isconar 5.6/35 Fixfocus | 8 to 1/1000 | 3 | CdS cell. Retractable lens | |
__________
This model was presented at the 1972 Photokina.
Its level of finish is very high, being manufactured with plastic and brushed aluminum. When the camera is idle, a simple press on the shutter release extends it from the body, retracts the lens cover, extends the lens, and uncovers the viewfinder and light meter window. A button allows for the reverse operations.
The lens is equipped with lanthanum-coated lenses.
The exposure system takes into account the use of a Magicube flash lamp. The shutter release is locked if the flash cube is already used up. In low light conditions, a yellow signal appears in the viewfinder, indicating the use of flash or a tripod.
This model comes with a shutter allowing either 1/500 or a shutter allowing 1/1000.
There's also a Balda 944, which is identical but made for the use of a Flashcube.
Magicube
The name Magicube was trademarked by Sylvania in 1970. The Magicube follows the general principle of the Flashcube but has the advantage of not requiring an electrical power source to be ignited.
In the early 1970s, Sylvania filed several patents for percussion-ignited bulbs that could be lit through chemical reactions among the elements contained inside the bulb. It only remained to package them in a plastic cube.
The Magicube is slightly larger than the Flashcube. To avoid any confusion, the shape of the part that inserts into the camera is different between the two models.
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