Founded in 1902 by a german engineer Mr. A. Lippert and a Mr. Peppel, the Certo Kamera Werk began producing folding bed kameras, and as early as in 1905 they moved to new larger facilities in Großzschachwitz. It must have been in the first half of the 30's that Certo introduced the Dollina I. The Dollina series were to be a very long living series of 35 mm horisontal folding cameras. As yet another example of the post war german determination and will, the Certo Kamera Werk were back in business and manufactoring cameras in 1946 where they introduced the Super Dollina.  They accomplished this in spite of the fact, that the entire plant and machinery had been dismantled and moved to Russia. Certo remained to operate as an independent company, producing pre-war designs, until 1972 when the company was nationalized. The following 10 years, until 1982 they produced mainly low priced simple cameras such as the Certina and the Certophot. As a consequence of the nationalization and the subsequent absorption into VEB Pentacon, the Certo plant began producing EXA 1b and 1c from 1984. You can always recognize a Certo made EXA on the serial number, which have the prefix C.   

Dollina I ca. 1938 VF
Serial no.: 20280
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
Optics: Steinheil Cassar 1:2,9  50 mm
Shutter:  Compur F. Deckel, München B + 1 sec.  => 1/300 sec.

It is quite apparent, that my Dollina I has been used a lot. Let's just say that it shows quite some signs of use. Then I have not said too much. However I actually don't mind that at all. I'm not one of those collectors to whom evrything has to be absolutely in mint condition. Any Lady that have reached this age will show some wrinkles, have aged with dignity and grace and have acquired a charming patina. Imagine owning one of Robert Capa's Contax II's that didn't show any sign of use at all, but were in mint condition without a scratch or ding to prove that he had actually used it ?. That would be horrible !!. The time-related wear tells a story, and every collector should have this in mind also. The most important thing about my Dollina I is that it is working perfectly. The Deckel shutter fires right on the dot, the un-coated Steinheil lens are bright and crystal clear, and the folding strut action is just as if it left the factory yesterday. You might have noticed the raised/pro longed accessory shoe, which I don't think is original but i'm not sure. It is, however very very useful because it allows a rangefinder to be fitted and used, which is not possible in all cases without this extension. I have studied the extension piece very carefully, and it's made very beautifully, nickel plated and all. The Dollina I is indeed a really nice camera. Wind and rewind knobs on top, just as the distance setting, which is the capstan-shaped knob next to the rewind knob. On the camera back you'll find a nice depth-of-field table. The shutter release button are where it's supposed to be on the right, and as you would might suspect the shutter has to be manually cocked on the shutter housing. And oh yes it evens has a film counter too.  If you would like to own a Certo Dollina, I really think that you should go for these early Dollina I's instead of the later models. 

Dollina II / Super 35 post-war RF
Serial no.: 20280
Format:  24 x 36 on 35 mm film
Optics: Carl Zeiss Jena 1:2,8   50 mm
Shutter:  Vebur B + 1 sec.  => 1/250 sec
Misc.: Coupled rangefinder

Yet another post war east german cameras without a serial number. I gather this is a quite late model because the later models had the thin/slim wind and rewind knobs, and the Vebur shutter. The Dollina II was also branded as Certo Super 35 and was manufactured until the 70's. This example is embossed Certo Super 35 on the back, and are in absolutely mint condition. The Super 35 offers a coupled rangefinder, and the distance setting is done by the focussing wheel sticking out of the right side of the cameras body. You'll operate the wheel with your right thumb which feels not bad and awkward at all. The distance read-out is on a small moonshaped window on the camera top. BUT (there is always a "but"). The rangefinder has a separate viewfinder window, and both this and the actual viewfinder window are incredibly bad and so small that it's almost a joke. Even the Dollina I had better views !. And what's even worse: there are no depth-of-field scale at all, no accessory shoe and no strap lugs !.  There is no doubt that the Certo Super 35 is a capable little folder, but in the light of those disadvantages, I would prefer the Dollina I anytime.