Franka Solida IIL

<p>I bought it on a certain auction site from Jurgen Kreckel (aka certo6).</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://homepage.mac.com/n5jrn/photo_net/solida_case.jpg" alt="Comes with case" /> <br /> It came with its original leather case. It's amazing how comfortable it is to wear slung around my shoulder. It just seems to fit one's body. Would that today's "ergonomic" camera straps and cases felt so comfortable. And I feel like a tourist in 1950s Europe when I'm wearing it!</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://homepage.mac.com/n5jrn/photo_net/solida_front.jpg" alt="Front view" /></p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://homepage.mac.com/n5jrn/photo_net/solida_meter.jpg" alt="Light meter" /> <br /> It comes with a selenium light meter. The needle actually deflects quite a bit, but you can't really trust it. Sometimes it's pretty close, sometimes it's way off. Most of the time, I used either my digital camera or an old but fully-functional Gossen Luna-Pro to meter. Or just made an educated guess.</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://homepage.mac.com/n5jrn/photo_net/solida_film.jpg" alt="Film type reminder." /> <br /> This little wheel does nothing except serve as a reminder, of course. The bigger wheel it's mounted on is the film advance. Note that it's on the <em>right</em> side of the camera. That means the numbers in the red window appear upside down!</p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://homepage.mac.com/n5jrn/photo_net/solida_lens.jpg" alt="Schneider Xenar lens." /> <br /> A big part of the reason why I snapped this particular folder up was the lens. Most vintage folders don't have coated 4-element lenses. Schneider's web site has a page where one can look up serial numbers. From that information, I conclude the lens (and probably the camera) most likely date from 1957.<br>

Stay tuned... In a short while I'll post some scans from the roll I just shot with it.</p>

<p>And, as promised, here's the results of the test roll. One shot of the 12 I retook, hence there's only 11 in the gallary:</p>

<p>http://bfretro.smugmug.com/gallery/7270712_DPGxF/1/467377441_gvh4G#467377293_ZkfpB</p>

<p>Very nice camera and pictures David. I like the pearl district photo of the abandoned site and how they reflect on the puddle. The coated Xenar certainly doesn't disappoint presenting color and sharpness very well. I definitely agree you have winner here. Jurgen's stuff is probably the best offer in restored folder category. Thanks.</p>

<p>Excellent Pics, David and a beautiful camera with a fabu lens. Thanks!</p>

<p>Ive had 3 of them, David, mostly 2 1/4 x 3 1/4, and a couple of them could use 3 formats.</p>

<p>All of them in the 2950's and I liked all of them, so much that two were stolen.</p>

<p>Lynn </p>

<p>Nice camera!<br>

Does the shutter have that annoying EV system with the aperture and shutter speed rings interlocked, e.g. as in the Zeiss Super Ikonta IV?<br>

Please don't rely upon the 50 year old leather straps. They can break at any time.</p>

<p>Yes, the shutter has that annoying EV system. I suppose I could try removing the locking tab that implements it, but I wince at making modifications to a classic, and it's not that hard to work around.</p>

<p>Thanks for the warning re: the leather straps. I guess I'll have to replace them, because as I said I find the case very comfortable to wear, and definitely want to continue using it.</p>

<p>Brought back memories of my days in Portland, especially the statue shot of Portlandia and the familiar gray skies. Couldn't handle all that gloom and moved to the desert. Sun's always around now. I agree w/ Robert, watch out for those straps. I was out w/ my Agfa Isolette I and just happened to glance down at the strap where it attached to the case and it was literally hanging by one thin piece of leather.</p>