Bilora Bella

Bella 66 (model 3)

This model of Bilora Bella cameras was produced in 1956. The die cast aluminium body makes the camera very sturdy and gives it a precious appearance.

Bella (It is really multo bella) takes 6x6 negative son a 120 film. The shutter has two (3) speeds. 1/50, for flash and 1/100 +(B) The lens is Rodenstock Achromat, 1:8.

Like so many German Company, Bilora has also a long history. Nowadays Bilora is still on a row. Not as a camera manufacturer but a producer of many other articles in the photo industry.

Bilora Bella 44/1, ~1957

An early version of a Bella serie that consisted of a numerous (over 30) various types of cameras.This takes 4 X 4cm pictures on 127film. Achromat f8 lens. Sync. shutter B, 50, 100. The body is made of a die cast aluminium, that is common in many other Bella models too.
"You'll be thrilled with the pictures this low-priced camera can take! Packed with quality features usually found only on more expensive models. Uncomplicated, remarkably easy to operate. Uses 127 film-color or black-and-white—to give 12 big 3,5 x 3,5 inch prints per roll . . or 12 lifelike color transparencies mounted in big 2x2-inch slide mounts!
Multiple lens settings and shutter speeds give camera extra versatility. Cable release socket and tripod socket. Back opens for easy loading. Sturdy metal body designed for long use. Styled in smart two-tone blue and gray . . . precision made in Germany." (Bella brochure)

Bellaluxa 1962-1963

Bilora Bellaluxa has a Built-in flash reflector on the top of the camera. That might caused the relatively big size of the camera. It is really huge given that the camera takes 4x4cm pictures on 120 film. (W125 x H104 x D70mm) all doors closed.

The lens is Biloskop 1:8 with two diaphragm settings f8 and f16. Shutter speeds are B, 1/50 and 1/100. Bellaluxa was produced in various colours but this black version is the most common.

The body is partly made of plastic and in spite of it´s big size it is not very heavy. The availability of 120 film is rather weak, therefore I have not succeeded to test these cameras. It would be interesting to see what kind of results would come up.

Instructions for use for BELLALUXA No. 4440

The BELLALUXA is a simple and easy-to-operate Roll Film Camera, taking 16 exposures 4x4 cm on 120 film, with built-in flash unit for miniature flash bulbs with a 15 V Mikrodyn anode battery.
Loading the Camera is extremely simple: by turning the base lock anticlockwise, the back of the camera is released and pulled off downwards. After loading the film the back is fitted into the grooves and pushed into position. It is secured by turning the base lock clockwise. Please make sure that the back is securely positioned before locking.
When turning the Film Transport Key towards the left, preliminary warning signs (mostly dashes or dots) will appear in the red film number window in the back of the camera, then, the figure "1" will appear, the camera is now ready for the first exposure.

To take snaps the BELLALUXA should be held firmly with both hands, and as closely to the eye as possible. Everything which is seen through the viewfinder will appear on the picture, and to be sure even a little more. Press the shutter release gently, and without jerking, downwards to full extent: the picture is taken. It is now impossible to press the Shutter Release a second time, until the film has been wound on to the next number. By the side of the viewfinder is a small signal window, if a red signal appears, the film must be wound on to the next frame before another picture can be taken.
The D i s t a n c e is set on the Lens Mount of the 1 : 8 BILOSKOP, either by the Symbols, (above the lens) or by the feet/meter scale (below the lens).
Exposure Time is set on the shutter speed setting lever the aperture by means of theAperture Setting lever.

The following combinations of light value numbers are possible:
Stop   8 with 1/50          =     light value 12
Stop   8 with 1/100        =     light value 13
Stop 16 with 1/50          =     light value 14
Stop 16 with Vioo          =    light value 15.
For normal snaps in sunlight, 1/100 sec, exposure time should always be used as far as at all possible in order to reduce the risk of camera shake. When using flash, however, 1/50 second (red figure = flash) must always be used. When set on "B" the shutter will remain open as long as the shutter release button is kept pressed down. In this case, the use of a cable release is ad-viseable and the camera should be mounted on a tripod. This type of exposure is used only in special cases, for indoor or night photography.
Generally speaking, whenever there is insufficient light, the convenient built-in Flash Unit should be used and this offers the special advantage of being always ready to intensify the light for daylight exposures. In order to get the built-in Flash ready for use. a 15 volt battery must first be fitted. To do this, press down the retaining spring and lift out vertically to abow not set on edge the flash unit by gripping it on both sides of the grey reflector lid. When fitting the battery, particular care should be taken that the " + " contact is situated as indicated. When fitting the flash device back into the Camera, if should be pressed down first in front, as far as the groove, then at the back, until it audibly snaps behind the retaining spring. The reflector lid is opened by lifting it by its front grip. The two reflector wings will thereby open up automatically. The angle of reflection measures 60°.
When releasing the Camera Shutter, the flash is automatically fired. To eject the burnt-out lamps, press the ejector button down. ATTENTION! the burnt-out lamps are hot! The flash device is closed by folding in the two reflector
wings and folding the reflector lid forward at the same
time, until   it clicks into position.

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Bilora, Germany