The story of the Balda company can seem quite confusing. But it's easier if we just hang on to Mr. Baldeweg himself. The original "Balda Kamera Werk - Max Baldeweg" was founded in 1908 in Dresden. They produced medium qualtity cameras in Dresden until  the II world war. Mr. Baldeweg saw the writing on the wall, and fled to West Germany after the war, leaving his company to be taken over and nationalized by the new  East German republic. Once he was in the west, Max Baldeweg founded a new company which was also named "Balda Kamera Werk" located in Bünde. So from around 1946 to 1951 there were 2 companies operating under the Balda name, one in the east in Dresden, and one in Bünde in the west. No wonder some people get a little confused. In 1951 the east german "Balda Kamera Werk" finally changed its name to Belca Werk. At the Balda Kamera Werk in Bünde they continued to manufacture medium quality / medium priced cameras until the late 70's. Selling cameras in larger quantities was more important to Mr. Baldeweg than to get his own name on his products, and Balda cameras were often branded with other names such as Hapo (short for Hans Porst) and sold in the Foto Porst chain stores. The Balda company still excists, and since the production of cameras ceased they have been producing plastic parts and components. However in 2001 the old 6000 squaremeter production plant in Bünde was sold, and production moved to China.   

This section of the collection is related only to Max Baldeweg, and to the cameras produced under his leadership. The Belca cameras will be described separately.

Balda Baldina pre-war (1938 ?) - Dresden VF
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
Optics: Victar 1:2,9 50mm Ludwig Dresden
Shutter: Compur F. Deckel München B + 1 => 1/300 sec.

This is an early Baldina manufactured in Dresden. It is looks a little scruffy and is not in mint condition. The shutter release button which is supposed to be protruding from the lens cover just next to the hinge is missing, and the shutter can only be fired by using a cable release. But that actually works fine. The Deckel shutter fires precisely at all speeds. Generally I have very good experiences with those Deckel shutters. Film winding knob is placed on the bottomplate on the right, and hidden under the round cover on the right of the top plate you'll find a manual filmcounter. I don't know from which year this Baldina actually dates, and I can't find any serial number anywhere.  The Baldina is a good example of a compact 35mm folder allthough it is not of  "Retina quality". 

Balda Baldinette (1951 ?) - Bünde VF
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
 Optics: Baldanar 1:3,5  50mm
 Shutter: Prontor S  B + 1 sec. => 1/300 sec.

Apart from the rub mark on the leatherette, this Baldinette is almost as new. There is however nothing much new about the design. The only real improvements in comparison with the pre-war Baldina, are the new designed top plate which offers a new in-house release button, an accessory shoe and a new film counter. The viewfinder is just as bad as on the pre-war Baldina. My guess is, that Mr. Baldeweg needed to generate some turnover in those first years in Bünde, and that he therefore gave the good old Baldina design and housing a facelift and thus avoiding unnecssesary high costs. But nevertheless the Baldinette is a nice little folder allthough is hasn't got that "quality feel" about it..

Balda Super Baldina (ca. 1955) - Bünde RF
Serial no.: 010603
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
Optics: Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 1:2,8  50mm spring operated lens barrel (tubus type)
Shutter: Prontor SVS B + 1 sec. => 1/300 sec. and selftimer
Coupled rangefinder

I have always liked the looks of the Super Baldina very much, and i really think that Miss Baldina is a beautiful lady judging by her appearance. There is only one problem: The quality. The saying "Never judge a book by it's cover" really applies in this case. Allthough the Super Baldina is beautifully designed it often suffers from both shutter problems and unprecise focusing. Maybe the reason for these weaknesses should be found in the unique design af the retractable lens barrel, which really is a tubus design operated by a spring. When pressing the small knob just to the right of the lens on the frontplate, the lens springs forward with a loud "smack !". This design obviously can cause problems with the shutter linkage, rangefinder coupling etc. Apart from these problems the viewfinder is big and clear, and focusing is easy with the big focusing knob on the lens. If you should wish to buy a Super Baldina, you should check the shutter action and focusing very carefully. My conclusion: It looks much better than it performs. Sorry Max !...