Franka Bonafix

 

 

This camera was spotted in a charity shop and very kindly gifted to us. It's in very nice condition and dates from c.1950. There isn't a great deal of information out there about this model, but there is a user manual with some more details if anyone is interested. 

It has a Schneider-Kreuznach Radionar 105mm f/4.5 lens that will focus as close as 3.5 feet.  This model has a Vario shutter with 3 speeds, 1/25, 1/75, and 1/200, plus bulb mode. Variant models were available with prontor shutters offering more speeds and also a built in self-timer. 

 

There are two viewfinders - a folding brilliant viewfinder to use at waist level and a flip up sports finder to use at eye level. As this camera shoots dual format (6x9 or 6x6 with the use of a removable mask), when composing with the viewfinders it is important to remember which format you are shooting. Each viewfinder gives a rough indication of what will be captured in both instances. If using the waist level finder for a landscape shot, you will need to fold the viewfinder 90 degrees to see through it. Remarkably, our camera does have its 6x6 mask. I say remarkably because these removable masks almost always go missing. If you are thinking of purchasing a Bonafix, ask the seller if the mask is included. 

 

Interestingly the user manual claims that the 105mm focal length is "of great advantage" when shooting colour photography in square format.  It does not elaborate why. 

Naturally there are two windows on the back of the camera to show the frame number depending on what format you are shooting. These are protected from daylight by a sliding cover.

The camera has other nice features including a flash synch port for use with flash bulb guns, and a pull out tab on the base plate to allow the camera to sit upright on a flat surface for portrait shots.  It is also very easy to load as the spool carriages swing out to make life easier.

The shutter release retracts into the camera when it is closed, popping out again when the base plate is fully opened. 

There are three easy ways to damage this camera in use. 1) Close the camera while it is cocked. 2) Close the camera with the waist level viewfinder in the wrong orientation. 3) Close the camera with the focusing mount screwed out. This must always be set to infinity before closing.

 

There are some very basic guidelines in the manual to get beginners started. The target audience for this camera would be the beginner/enthusiast, who wanted something more versatile than a simple box camera, much like the Ensign Ranger II and the Kodak Sterling II.  Basically if shooting at f/4.5 or f/5.6 shoot at 1/200. If using f/8 or f/11 shoot at 1/75, and if using f/16-32 shoot at 1/25. However, it doesn't indicate in which lighting conditions or film speeds these settings are appropriate. At ISO 100, these settings would place the lighting around the EV 13 ball park. It's worth bearing in mind that 1/25 is slower than most of the box cameras in our collection, so you'll definitely want the camera sitting on a flat surface or attached to a tripod to avoid blur. Thankfully there are two tripod attachments to cater for each orientation.

All in all a nice camera. We look forward to shooting colour film in square format to see what the user manual is getting at.