Balda Baldamatic II (1960)

A 35mm camera from 1960 with coupled light meter and rangefinder, available with interchangeable lens and shutter combinations.

Overview

The Balda Baldamatic II is a 35mm camera produced in 1960 by German manufacturer Balda. It features a coupled light meter and coupled rangefinder, positioning it as a technically advanced model for its time. Two distinct design variants exist: one with an aperture adjustment dial located on the front beneath the viewfinder, and another that adjusts aperture solely via a ring concentric to the lens. The camera was offered with different lens and shutter combinations, including the Xenar or Color-Baldanar lenses, and Pronto-LK or Prontormat shutters.

Specifications

Lens variants	Xenar; Color-Baldanar
Shutter variants	Pronto-LK; Prontormat
Features	Coupled light meter; Coupled rangefinder
Design variants	One has a dial located on the front, under the viewfinder, used to adjust the aperture. The other lacks this dial, and the aperture adjustment is exclusively made by rotating a ring concentric to the lens.
Speed selection ring features	Symbols: sun/yellow and flash/red, along with a scale graduated in EV (Exposure Value)

Market

The Balda Baldamatic II has appeared in secondhand markets, including an auction listing on Bob Shop that closed on 6 November 2024, where it was sold with a pouch. An original instruction manual is available for sale at $25.00. A forum user on FujiX-Forum noted a winding issue, suggesting it may be a known operational concern, though not necessarily unique to this model. The camera is considered infrequent in non-specialized garage sales in France.