This is my favorite and quite possibly one of the more elegant folding cameras I've seen. The Nettar 515 was first introduced back in 1937 as an economical little folding camera in comparism to their more expensive Ikonta models. The Nettar 515 most attractive quality in my opinion is its sheer compact size, while still being in the class of medium format cameras. At approximately 4.5''x3''x1.5'' when closed up the camera can easily fit into my pocket. You can expect to find a Nettar 515 for roughly around 100$ if not less in a shop, but around 20$ to 50$ on eBay. Take into account that you may spend the difference on getting the camera serviced or cleaned up. However even with CLA the final price is still within budget range.
This particular Nettar captures 6x4.5 centimeter frames on 120 films, but still utilizes the 6x9 numbering on the back much like the Kodak No.1 Junior. However unlike the junior the Nettar uses two bakelite windows to keep track of each frame. Instead of using the 6x4.5 frame numbering on the back of the paper, the Nettar lets you shoot each frame based on one half of a 6x9 frame. This is done simply by shooting one frame while the number is in the bottom window, then shooting the next frame when the same number is in the top window, as such repeating for every following frame number. I'm not sure exactly why Zeiss has opted to use the 6x9 frame counting in this way as opposed to just using the 645 row, but if I had to guess it was probably because 6x9 numbers were more common on the back of roll film than 645. Either that or the spacing between each frame was quite different. You can capture 16 frames on a 6x4.5 camera when using a roll of 120.
This small pocket shooter offers quite a bit more options in terms of focusing distance, shutter, and aperture selection. The viewfinder is however a simple finder, but a bit more accurate on the framing. The shutter is a KLIO, and allows for T, B, 1' 1/175. There is also a self timer mode. The closest capable focusing distance is 1.2 meters which is about 4 foot. The lens itself is 3 elements in 3 groups Nettar Anastigmat 7.5cm (75mm) f/4.5. The camera also weighs about 400g (14 ounces), making this camera small but not quite lightweight.
The shutter on the Nettar needs to be cocked before fired, and is done at the front. The shutter release button on the other hand is by the back of the camera unless you use a shutter release cable. By pressing the smaller button above the shutter button, the camera just snaps right open, as well as folding right back in rather easily. The Kodak I mentioned on the previous page had to be pulled out and pushed back in.
My particular Nettar has a case of stuck shutter. It is perfectly usable provided I do not shoot at any speed slower than 1/25th of a second. At 1/25th of a second and higher, the shutter appears to be fine. It could use a cleaning, but at a quote of about 80$ for a CLA, I figured I would hold off since I can use the camera perfectly fine right now, and not like I can shoot slower than 1/25th handheld anyways. A little bit of rubbing alcohol sprayed at the top fixes it temporarily. And I do mean temporarily as in a matter of seconds. It doesn't appear to be the shutter itself that is stuck but rather the bar that triggers the shutter by not coming back to the ready position in a timely manner.
When shooting off a roll of ilford HP5+ black and white film, I was able to get some sharp results out of the Nettar. Once I had the film scanned the resolution was approximately 8 mega pixels at acceptable sharpness.
It should also be noted that for just a little extra money you can find a Zeiss Super Ikonta (530?). The reason it was called a Super Ikonta is because it was coupled with a rangefinder allowing you to focus much more accurately. Not something all folding cameras had, and the Super Ikontas focused by moving the lens element back and forth from the film plane as a whole. This is different than the way the Nettar does, which is done by rotating the lens element on the front instead. You can expect to spend up to 200$ or so for a Super Ikonta in a shop, but still a bit more than a Nettar online.
Should also note there is a Nettar 515/A which is almost identical except the 515/A isn't a small version rather it captures a 6x9 negative. Other than size the 515/A is almost identical in every way.
