The Finetta 88 is an attractively styled camera from the short lived West German Finetta -Werk company based in Goslar. Although using an identical planform of the earlier Finettas, the construction centres around a nicely made die cast shell with a high aluminium content. This produces a heavier solid feeling camera than the earlier Bakelite Finettas. Styling wise, the controls were all made chunkier and easier to use. Optically, performance is unchanged from the Finetta IV, but the shutter gains an additional speed of 1/250th. The back is a riveted assembly from thin steel sheet, forming both the back and the base, held in place by a knurled knob that screws counterclockwise onto the camera. The top housing is a satin chromed steel pressing, made in two parts, with a paper gasket preventing light entering the chamber beneath. The Finetta 88 shutter has a fairly basic two blade shutter adjustable from B to 250th sec. again just a development of the earlier shutters. The stronger main spring used meant that some levers changed to plated steel from the brass used in previous models. Again this shutter is self energized, although the strong spring requires such minimum travel that you'd think otherwise and the breakout is commendably smooth. Flash synchronisation will (in theory at least) be available at all speeds. Overall build quality is fairly good but the untreated aluminium knobs tend to dull and pit, unless well treated. The camera is a little unusual in that it has a bayonet fit interchangeable lens, the standard one is shown in the picture but a f/6.3, 70mm Tele-Finettar was available too. As with the earlier Finettas, no rewind button is used to de-clucth the take up spool, instead the advance knob is pulled up until a click is heard, where it will stay whilst the film is wound back into its cannister with the rewind knob. The use of a wide diameter take up spool is used to avoid the complications of sprocket wheels and frame spacing compensation.

This example was donated in Jan 2006, requiring a deep clean and removal of dried grease from the shutter mechanism, but now works perfectly. The family resemblance to the earlier Finetta IV D, also in the collection, is undeniable, however there are few common components between them.

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Body No.085570
Shutter, Finetta-Werk, speeds B, 25, 50, 100 & 250th
Lens, Finetar, 45mm f/2.8
Condition, 5F

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