Welta
Superb! 1938 Welta Weltax 6x6, complete with 6x4.5 reduction mask, CLAd, Freshly Serviced!
Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!
This is a prewar Welta Weltax. Prior to WWII Welta was a renowned German camera producer and the quality of its products placed it on equal footing with Zeiss-Ikon and Voigtlander. The Welta Weltax is a particularly fine model because of its dependable high performance. In contrast to other folding cameras of the era which often used folded sheet metal, the Weltax was constructed of die-cast alloy that’s been carefully machined to provide a dimensionally stable camera body with a nice heft to it that helps stabilize camera shake when shooting at slow speed. Another nice feature was that the viewfinder featured a parallax correction, so that you don’t crop off anyone’s head accidently. It also had a body mounted shutter release button, that automatically retracts when you close the camera.
It was a great traveling companion. Easily slipping into a pocket and yet capable of producing large 6x6 exposures on 120 roll film. When it comes to picture quality, bigger is better and this camera produced a negative that’s more than four times larger than the average 35mm snap shot. Additionally, because it is a dual format camera, it could also produce 6x4.5 exposures, when the reduction mask was used.
This Welta Weltur is an exceptionally fine example. It’s difficult to believe that it managed survive WWII here in Europe and still look this nice. The real leather body covering is lovely and the leather bellows are soft, supple and completely light tight. Best of all, this camera has been carefully Cleaned, Lubricated and Adjusted. Everything works as it should. The quality Compur shutter works smoothly and all speeds (B, T & 1 sec - 1/250th) are appropriate. The slow speeds buzz along nicely and the fast speeds are clean and snappy.
The lens is a fast and sharp 2.8/75mm Schneider Xenar. (Virtually identical to the Zeiss Tessar in design and performance.) It has four lens elements in three groups. The lens is in exceptionally fine condition and looks virtually like new. There are no scratches and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and B&W films.
It comes complete with a hard to find 6x4.5 reduction mask.
All in all a very lovely collectable classic camera. Load it with your favorite film and keep it with you for that perfect shot you’ve been looking for. You know the one... the one with the perfect Ansel Adams light breaking through the dark storm clouds that leaves you wishing that you had a classic camera with you.