Excellent! 1940 Voigtlander "Klein Bessa" 46 with Heliar lens! CLA'd, Freshly Serviced!

Cleaned, Lubricated & Adjusted. Ready for immediate use!

This is an exceptionally fine Voigtlander 6x4.5 medium format camera which was produced in Braunschweig Germany. This camera was based on the ‘Klein-Bessa 66’. ‘Klein’ means small in German and with that in mind, Voigtlander designed one of the smallest medium format cameras ever produced. Just slightly wider than the roll of 120 film that fits into it, it produces a 6x4.5 a negative that will provide fine grain, great tonal values and lovely colors.

This version is popular with European collectors and photographers and it’s easy to see why. It is certainly one of the nicest, smallest and best handling 6x4.5 cameras ever built. I especially like the sculpted lines of the lens door, the scripted “V” for Voigtlander, the way the shutter release lever comes protrudes automatically whenever the camera’s opened and the way it easily slides in and out of a pocket.   

This camera can shoot beautiful photos quickly too because it has a unique auto-stop film counter. Basically after film is loaded and you’ve taken a photo, you simply turn the film advance knob and it’ll automatically stop when you’ve advanced enough film. It also keeps track of the frame numbers via a port visible on the top of the cameras. This means you can work very quicker very quickly and won’t need to watch the exposure numbers through a red window. (This window is only used to reset the film counter when loading film.)

This Bessa 46 is in excellent condition. It’s been carefully cleaned, lubricated and adjusted. Everything works well and should continue to do so for many years to come. The leather bellows are completely light tight. The top of the line Compur-Rapid shutter works well and all speeds (B, 1 Sec – 1/500^th) speeds are appropriate.

The lens’s serial number (222,9653) indicates that it was produced circa 1940. It’s a sharp f3.5/7.5cm (75mm) Voigtlander Heliar lens. (A legendary five element lens.) and it comes complete with its original folding filter holder and a yellow filter. The lens is exceptionally clean and clear. There are no scratches, no cleaning marks and it’s capable of producing lovely photos with modern color and black & white film.

All in all, a very enjoyable classic little camera equipped with a rare Heliar lens. Load it with your favorite film and take it with you on the hunt for that perfect photo. You know the one… the one with the Ansel Adams light breaking through the dark storm clouds that leaves you wishing had a medium format camera in your pocket.