The Super Isolette dates from 1954-7
and is a 120 roll film folding camera which takes 12 pictures 6cm x 6cm in size. It features an unusual film loading
mechanism which is fully automatic. All the user has to do is thread the film onto the
take-up spool and close the camera back.
The film knob is then wound until it stops at which point the first frame is properly lined up. This is possible because the camera
can detect the start of the film proper on the backing paper.
Whilst the Super Isolette was a short lived camera - it was the inspiration behind the more common Russian
Iskra camera from the early 1960s. I don't recommend buying one of these
or any folder from just anyone, I've been burned by comments like "...the
bellows look in excellent shape..." Most of the time the bellows look
in great shape but leak anyway and need replacement. I purchased all my
folder equipment from
the master of folding camera restoration Jurgen Kreckel. For information
about these and other folders, see the following link.