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Balda Baldessa I |
 Version française |
Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2024-01-18 par Jacques Bratieres.
Manufactured or assembled in Germany from 1958 to (After) 1958.
Index of rarity in France: Infrequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 517
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Balda
The Baldessa cameras appear to be the successors to the Baldina, with the introduction of the former coinciding with the disappearance of the latter in catalogs.
The Baldessa models have a simple top cover because the film rewind crank is located under the base. There is also a key that replaces the film advance lever.
The standard lens is a 2.8/45 mm. The initial models have a rounded shape.
| Non-exhaustive list | Years | Lens | Shutter | ||
| Baldessa I |  |
1957- | Baldanar |
Prontor | Single viewfinder |
| Baldessa I |  |
1957- | Color-Westanar |
Prontor-SVS 1 to 1/300 |
|
| Baldessa I |  |
1957- | Color-Baldanar |
Vario 1/25 to 1/200 |
Collimated viewfinder |
| Baldessa I |  |
Prontor-SVS 1 to 1/300 |
|||
| Baldessa Ia |  |
1958- | Color-Baldanar |
Prontor-SVS 1 to 1/300 |
Coupled rangefinder Automatic parallax compensation |
| Baldessa Ib |  |
1958- | Color-Westanar |
Prontor-SVS 1 to 1/300 |
Rangefinder Light meter |
| Baldessa Ib |  |
||||
| Baldessa RF |  |
>1961- | Color-Isconar | Prontor-SVS 1 to 1/500 |
Built-in flash Coupled rangefinder |
| Baldessa RF/LK |  |
>1961- | Color-Isconar | Prontor 500 LK 1 to 1/500 |
Built-in flash Coupled rangefinder Posemètre |
| Baldessamat F |  |
>1961- | Color-Isconar | Prontor 500 LK 1 to 1/500 |
Built-in flash Lightmeter Collimated viewfinder |
| Baldamatic |  |
1960- | Color-Baldanar | Prontormat | Coupled light meter |
| Super Baldamatic |  |
1960 | Color-Baldanar | Compur 1/30 to 1/500 |
Coupled light meter |
| Baldamatic I |  |
1958- | Color-Westanar | Prontor-SLK | Coupled light meter Coupled rangefinder |
| Baldamatic I | 1958- | Enna-Color-Haponit | Synchro-Compur | ||
| Baldamatic I | 1958- | Baldanar | Prontormat | ||
| Super Baldamatic I |  |
1960- | Color-Baldanar | Compur 1/30 to 1/500 |
Coupled rangefinder light meter |
| Super Baldamatic I | 1960- | Xenar | |||
| Baldamatic II |  |
1960- | Xenar | Pronto-LK | Coupled light meter Coupled rangefinder |
| Baldamatic II |  |
1960- | Color-Baldanar | Prontormat | |
| Baldamatic II |  |
Pronto-LK | |||
| Baldamatic III |  |
1960- | - | Synchro-Compur 1 to 1/500 | Coupled light meter Coupled rangefinder Interchangeable lens |
From the mid-1960s onward, the shape of the cameras changed, becoming more angular. The cameras became lighter due to the use of aluminum and plastic. Some models even appear to stem from outsourced manufacturing.
| Non-exhaustive list | Years | Lens | Shutter | ||
| Baldessa Standard |  |
c. 1972 | Color-Isconar | Prontor 125 | Collimated viewfinder |
| Baldessa F |  |
c. 1966 | Color-Isconar | Prontor 125 | Built-in flash Collimated viewfinder |
| Baldessa LF |  |
c.1966-72 | Color-Isconar | Prontor 125 | Built-in flash Posemètre Collimated viewfinder |
| Baldessa LF |  |
||||
| Baldessa F-LK |  |
c. 1968 | Color-Isconar | Prontor 300 LK | Built-in flash Coupled light meter |
In the coding used by Balda, the letters have a meaning.
| R | Presence of a rangefinder |
| F | Presence of a flash for AG-1 bulb |
| L | Presence of a light meter (Lichtmeter) |
| K | Specifies that the light meter is coupled |
A patent filed in 1958 fairly illustrates the internal complexity of a camera resembling the Baldamatic Ib.
__________
The Baldessa I is rather simple but has a very successful aesthetic. The materials used are of good quality. The lines are elegant, particularly since the shutter release button has moved from the top of the camera, resulting in a clean top plate. The film advancing controls are located underneath the base.
This Baldessa I has a coupled viewfinder, illuminated by a second window. It is a fully manual camera.
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