Foldex Cameras

<p><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6283538820_0cd9bb305a_z.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Anybody used one of these sturdy beauties? </p>

<p>I have a "30" on the left - with a Vario shutter and Steinheil f6.3/100 lens, and a "20" on the right with an "Octvar" 105mm lens.</p>

<p>The 30 seems to have been made to compete with the Kodak Tourist (greenish grey top plate and all) but is overall of much simpler, crude construction. The lens however is very nice, and the Vario shutter at least gives a few exposure options. It doesn't actually say "30" anywhere on the camera, that's just what I've seen people refer to this model as. I picked this one up years ago at an antique store.</p>

<p>The 20 is a rather typical snapshot camera. Fixed focus, fixed aperture, fixed shutter speed. Single element meniscus lens (this one isn't even an achromat). Overall it's a rather toyish camera - but it is synchronised for flash (I have the flash for it too!) and it does have a body release (well kind of, the shutter release "button" is a large plastic piece on the folding bed, right near the camera body proper) which is a nice touch for a cheap folder. I picked this one up off of ebay a week ago a few bucks.</p>

<p>The 20 was finally discontinued in 1962, some years after the last Kodak Tourists. Discounting Polaroids, could it be the last folding roll-film camera made in the U.S.? Who was still making folders in the U.S. during the 60s?</p>

<p>A bit of trivia: The Foldex and Sears versions take both 120 and 620 without adjustment. A good reason to use one closed is to feed 120 film to 620 spool in daylite and then in changing bag to transfer from 620 spool to another 620 spool to deal with loose end and to get the numbering as originally intended.</p>

<p>My cheaper Foldex is named a Sears 49 with hotshoe and bowl flash. Like yours it is fixed everything. The shutter doesn't work too good so have thought of replacing the whole thing with a shutter from an Agfa with Agnar lens. Not a great improvement but better than it has now.</p>

<p>Yes, it will take either 120 or 620.</p>

<p>Tom, mine had a stuck shutter too when I got it. After looking at the mechanism I decided it needed oil. That actually did the trick. The shutter blades like everything else on the camera are thick gauge steel, and nothing, not even oil is going to stop them from moving. The problem is there are some "interlocking" parts that seem to have inherently high friction between them, and if they don't slide over one another the shutter won't trip at all. A dab of light oil on these surfaces made everything work again.</p>

<p>I take it these will give you a 6x9 negative nice looking cameras I am hoping we shall see some B&W from one of those cameras</p>

<p>I've used the Foldex 30 before, and it gives very sharp results:<br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/3571683404_e17d6a795c.jpg" alt="" /><br>

I'll be using the 20 sometime soon.</p>

These look like tw osleepers that aren't old as some others. A nice sharp 6x9 negative (or positive ) is just fantastic to behold. Paul W. gives a good tip on swapping between cartdriges for those of us that have only 620 cameras.Interesting to see you actually used oil. I have on one camera once too and it did bring it back up! used judiciously and understanding where to apply is the real test! A note about lightweight oils. I have "key" oil for saxophone and I suspect its the same for valve instruments too (trumpet, Tuba, French Horn etc). This is an extremely light oil I applied with a toothpick. Thanks for the definition too as alone and in Sear's overcoat!

<p>I had a Foldex for a while probably 5 or 6 years ago. Mine had, if I remember, a 100mm f4.5 Steinheil in the Vario shutter. Folded up, it would fit in the back pocket of a pair of jeans. Smallest 6x9 I've ever owned. It did pretty good at taking pictures, no qualms about the lens.</p>

<p>To the best of my knowledge all of the Foldex cameras used the same body which is pretty average sized for a 6x9 folder. Maybe it was a rebranded import, if PhoTak did such a thing.</p>

<p>Forgot to say these also come with a Spartus nameplate on them. While cleaning a shelf yesterday found one I forgot I had. There was what could be considered an English version made by Kershaw named Eight-20 Penguin and Eight-20 King Penguin. A better one with speeds/4.5 lens was the Raven.</p>

<p>The Kershaw cameras have nothing in common with the Foldex, the construction is entirely different in every respect.<br>

The spartus, I doubt has any connection, the one I had was made mostly from die castings, whereas the Foldex is made of stampings. Though it looks similiar, I don't think there is any connection. The quality was also much lower than on the Foldex cameras.</p>