The Franka Solida I or Franka Solida 1 is a medium format camera. It was produced by the company Franka-Kamerawerk from Bayreuth. It was introduced in the early 1950s. At that time, Bavaria was still part of the American occupation zone. For this reason, “Made in Germany – US Zone” is stamped on the back as the country of manufacture.
The Solida I is a folding medium format camera, which were very popular at that time. A button on the side opens the camera and the lens with bellows unfolds. For the closing mechanism, a small button under the lens must be pressed.
Lens of the camera
The medium format camera comes with a fixed lens that cannot be replaced. There are different versions of this. Thus, there is a variant with Frankar Anastigmat 1:4.5 F=75mm V, Frankar Anastigmat 1:6.3 F=75mm or Frankar Anastigmat 1:5.6 F=75mm. As you can see, the main difference is the maximum aperture.
All models are focused manually. There is no rangefinder or similar, the distance has to be estimated. The closest focusing distance is 120 cm.
The camera does not have a light meter. Aperture and shutter speed must be set manually. With the Vario or Pronto shutter, you have the choice between different values. The Vario shutter offers the exposure times 1/200 second, 1/75 second, 1/25 second and the Bulb mode for long exposures.
The shutter has to be cocked before each release. Once the shutter button has been pressed or a picture has been taken with a cable release, the film must be advanced through a wheel. If this step has not been done, you cannot take a picture, this is to prevent double exposures.
An external flash can be connected to the PC flash socket. A flash can be attached to the accessory shoe. There is a thread for a tripod on the bottom. The camera has a weight of 527 grams and the dimensions are 13.5 x 9.5 x 3.8 cm.
Batteries for the camera
No batteries are needed to use the Solida 1. All functions are mechanical.
Films for the Franka Solida I
The Franka Solida I is a film camera and is loaded with medium format films. There are still some producers for this film format. For color images, for example, there is the Kodak Portra 160*. An option for black and white images is the Ilford XP2 Super*. Both films are very solid and very flexible to use. A slight mis-exposure is also not a problem with either of these films.
The exposure of the film is in 6×6 format. Approximately 12 photos can be taken with one roll of film. The film in the camera must be rewound manually, as there is no automatic film transport.
Sample photos
The sample photos were taken with the Fomapan 100 on a sunny day. The film was developed in the Ars-Imago MB Monobath. The development time was 8 minutes.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Viewfinder camera |
| Film format | 120 |
| Film transport | Manual |
| Film transport mechanism | Rotary knob |
| Picture format | 60 mm x 60 mm |
| Lens name | Frankar Anastigmat 1:4.5 F=75mm V |
| Focal length | 75 mm |
| Widest aperture | f/4.5 |
| Minimum focus distance | 120 cm / 3.936 ft |
| Focus | Manual |
| Exposure times | 1/200 second to 1/25 second, Bulb |
| Bulb mode | Yes |
| Date imprinting | No |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Flash Connection | PC-Flash |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | Not necessary |
| Size | 13,5 x 9,5 x 3,8 cm |
| Dimensions in inches | 5.31 x 3.74 x 1.50 inches |
| Weight | 527 Grams |
| Company name of the brand | Franka-Kamerawerk |
| Country of production | Germany |
| Estimated value / Used price | 42,04 Euro Estimate based on used prices of 6 offers (possibly with different scope of delivery and/or condition). As of June 15, 2026 |
| Average used price in the year 2024 | 29,71 Euro (31.39 US-Dollar) |
| Average used price in the year 2025 | 39,04 Euro (42.21 US-Dollar) |
FAQ about the Franka Solida I
What type of camera is the Franka Solida I, and what format does it use?
The Franka Solida I is a medium-format folding camera. It uses 6x6cm film, resulting in square images.
How is the lens focused on this particular model?
Focusing is manual, requiring the user to estimate the distance; there's no rangefinder or other focusing aids.
Does the Franka Solida I have a built-in light meter?
No, the Franka Solida I lacks a built-in light meter. Exposure settings (aperture and shutter speed) must be determined manually.
What kind of film does this folding camera use and how many exposures does a roll provide?
It uses 120 roll film, a medium format type. Each roll typically yields approximately 12 exposures.
Can external flashes be used with the Franka Solida I?
Yes, the camera features a PC flash sync socket for connecting an external flash unit, also a hot shoe is available for the flash attachment.