Voigtlander Bessa

lindsay

lindsay

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Lindsay
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I've got an old Bessa that seems in pretty good condition, so I've just put a 120 film through it . I forgot it took 6x9 rather than 6x4.5 (no insert for that), until half way through the film, so not expecting much from the film but hopefully a few adequate images that will tell me how it is working..
My question for the experts though: the take up spool that was in the camera is slightly bigger than the 120 film spool - about 0.5 cm bigger. It fits perfectly in the camera, whereas the 120 spool was a bit loose, so I am thinking that either the film size isn't supposed to be 120 and it's not what I think it is (all Bessa's were 120 I thought), or its the wrong take up spool.
I decided it was a Bessa, although there is nothing on the camera to say that, it just looks like one, with the viewing frame that folds up on the long side and it has a f6.3 Voigtar lens. Maybe it's not a bessa?
Or should there be a spacer to hold the 120 spool in position?
Any thoughts?
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I think you are spot on Richard, thanks. The article you linked to described my camera well, so the mystery is solved.
I don't think I'll be modifying it, I think I'll label this one as a display only collectable in my box (but it'll be interesting to see if anything comes out on my 120 film experiment!)
Thanks
 
I have an AGFA folding camera that takes 116 film, I'm hoping one day that someone brings it back again so I can enjoy the even larger format. I've passed on the temptation to buy a conversion kit as I've plenty of 120 folding cameras that take 120 without adaptation.
 
That camera hack kit looks very good. Thanks for the link.
 
Lindsay56 said:
That camera hack kit looks very good. Thanks for the link.
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Having had folders of diifering obsolete roll film sizes, I simply used plastic rawl plugs cut to length and used as spacers.
A somewhat crude idea that I came across on the internet but it worked.
The camera hack kit certainly looks the business and probably ensures smooth movements of the spools but if you only intend to use the camera very occasionally the rawl plugs may save you an outlay ( to be fair the kit is hardly going to break the bank but there is a cheaper option available)
 
Good idea - I'll probably do that rawlplug hack to put another film through it, if the one I've done doesn't show terrible light leaks (don't think it will, the bellows looks pretty good to me)
Thanks
 
I put a 120 film through this camera having first re-rolled it onto the 116 spool in a changing bag; obviously I wasn't expecting much and there were a number of overlapped/double exposures as I hadn't worked out how far to wind on after each exposure, but all things considered, I was pleasantly surprised (see below). it has a dreamy, old-world feel to the image, so I'm using one of the suggested spacers to put a 120 film through it properly next, although I still have to think about the winding on issue.000073990002-small.jpg
 
RaglanSurf said:
The lovely folks at the Film Photography Project must have been listening. https://filmphotographystore.com/products/116-film-kodak-vision-200t-1-roll
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Thanks for thinking of me and remembering this thread, but as nice as the Agfa camera looks, I just can't bring myself to spend something most likely approaching half a hundred pounds (including postage and specialist processing) to find out if it works or not. To be honest, I think I'd be better off spending the money on going to some interesting places so I can use some of the 120 and 35mm film I already have in my fridge and freezer.
 
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