Agfa Clack tryout

So, in Ghent it's again the time of the year that several neighborhoods are holding their annual neighborhood

festivities and that comes with flea-markets. Since I like old camera's and collect gasmasks it's surely a

Win-Win situation to go to these. Normally I wouldn't bother with an Agfa Clack because there are so many sold

here in Belgium that I could fill a closet with them. But this one was a little bit odd, while it's an ordinary

Clack it was sitting in a green!! (n)ever-ready case, till now I only saw brown (n)ever-ready cases. I came with

a manual too (like you would ever need one for this camera). So, I said, "What the hell" bought the poor little

fellow for 2 Euro and tried it out just for fun. Here is the result:<br>

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<img src="http://users.skynet.be/unclegoose/clack/clack1.jpg">

<img src="http://users.skynet.be/unclegoose/clack/clack2.jpg">

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They aren't the sharpest around of course but I'm glad I got an image altogether, written markings on the manual

and top of the winding knob suggests that this clack was quite often used. I wonder what other scenes this little

guy took in his early lifetime. BTW, soon I will try the Agfa Click, it's a little more economically as the Clack

is a wopping 6x9 (only 8 exposures) while the Click is a joyful 6x6. And oh, besides the clack I also found a

paterson developing tank with 2 spools (brand new) for 5 Euro and a quite rare Belgian civil gasmask for the

rip-off price of 3 Euro.

Wow...

 

Nice Photos I like Clacks! Aren't you the lucky guy! A green case, a user's guide, a kcik-ass Patterson tank... I'll bet you've got 3+ of those gov issues gas masks.??

I got a few of those gasmasks but they are rare because they weren't government issue, people had to buy them with there own money, that's why some types aren't very common. Sometimes you get lucky.

The Agfa Clack is one of the most under-estimated cameras in my opinion. People tend to approach them with low expectations, or they mistake motion blur from the slow shutter speed for poor lens quality. To me, the Clack is one of the best examples of what can be done with a meniscus lens, and of course the curved film plane also helps to get good sharpness out close to the frame's borders. The camera's other features such as the tripod socket, cable release, combined close-up and distance setting, eye-level finder and ergonomic shape make the Clack a more versatile shooter than nearly any other box camera. I prefer it to either my Hawkeye Flash, or even the Cadillac of boxes, the Box-Tengor.

<br>     I had a Clack on loan a couple years ago. I was so pleased with the results that I immediately started looking for one for myself. Even then, however, the camera was often being sold for close to $40 on the U.S. ebay. A couple months ago, I stumbled on a Clack in good condition with a five-dollar price tag at the Albuquerque flea market. I've put quite a bit of film through it since then, and it has produced some of my all-time favorite <a href="http://mconnealy.com/vintagecameras/clack/index.html" target="new">images</a>. I've only shot TMAX 100 b&w film in mine, but I am looking forward one day to doing some color work with it as well.

40 bucks?? wow, that's the real rip-off. I usually find them around here for a few bucks in mint condition.

Uncle Goose - if you did not believe Mike let me re-enforce what he said:

 

Here it is:

 

<p><a href=http://cgi.ebay.com/Agfa-Clack-Great-Condition_W0QQitemZ170230876520QQihZ007QQcategoryZ710QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem>Insanity in the Making</a><p>

 

By the way, don't condemn the Clack. Your photos are excellent.

$60 with a day left... jesus. There are Mamiya M645's (body only) going for less than that! Granted, one will have to invest in a lens, film insert and viewfinder... but c'mon, that's a full-on professional level camera! I've noticed similar price insanity with Kodak branded stuff. It seems like the "ebay collectors" have discovered this stuff.... the new beanie babies? I can't imagine someone who actually USES cameras paying so much for something so humble. Check this out... same amount of time left on the auction, in the same category:

<br><br>

<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/EXCELLENT-MINIATURE-SPEED-GRAPHIC-ZEISS-SERIES-Ic-LENS_W0QQitemZ140242754517QQihZ004QQcategoryZ710QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem">A somewhat better camera of the same format at half the price and with way less bids.</a>

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Yes it needs a 120 back, but what a beauty.

Rather than some kind of collective insanity, I think the problem may be with out-of-control international postal rates. The price of Clacks reflects supply and demand. I'm not sure how this situation came about, but one has to wonder whose interest is served. An interesting island of sanity (literally) is Cyprus. I bought a fine Box-Tengor from there, and the shipping price to the U.S. was about $8, just what it would have cost to ship it domestically in the U.S.

HEY!!! Today I just took photos at the same place with the C220 I bought last weekend. Only I stood at the other end of the pond. Must be a popular place to take pics. (rechts van de brug over de Schelde in Heusden als je van Gentbrugge komt?)

 

Next time I'll take my Clack with me :)

I'm looking for suggestions as to where in the USA I can look for an Agfa Click..I'd really like to find, purchase, & use one of these cameras for a couple of months in order to get my feet wet in medium format..

 

E-Bay is out as the ones being sold from within the USA seem to be going for silly prices, ofter more than $50.00..The ones coming in from the Netherlands end up costing $25.00-$30.00 after shipping is added onto the purchase price..

 

I'd like to spend less than $20.00 if possible..

 

Thanks, Bruce

Looks good to me, and I'll bet that it is fun to use. BTW, when you fire it, does it indeed go "clack"?

 

Tony

<a href="http://www.klein-aber-fein.de/zeitraum/english/geclacktes-00.htm">

THIS</a> could be one of the reasons why prices are bloated....

@Johan: What an incredible coincidence, I didn't suspect to be much Belgians around here, let alone that somebody is there on the same time and joins this forum. Small world after all.

 

@Tony: Yes, it goes indeed "Clack". I originally went for it because of the name, it's so funny.

 

And Jessica, thanx for the link, it's almost hard to believe these images came from a clack, this guy must have sharpen the photographs pretty much to get such photographs.

 

I'm also shocked for the prices people are willing to give for a Clack, 60$ without shipping and a day left?? That's just insane. If there are people from the US that want one, I still have one sitting here. 20$ shipping included!! (just send me a mail)

<P>I think the Clack is moving into Lomo territory -the concept is appealing to people, and the camera itself looks cool enough that you don't mind being seen in public with it.</P><P>I have one, gave 2 GBP for it (that's $4) so I don't feel over-extended financially. I would describe the camera as a simple but fairly clever design, which is not very versatile but can take good pics within a limited range of conditions. And you have to have a slow film.</P><P>There are more elaborate old cameras around that take equally good, or better pics, and cost less. But possibly don't look as good.</P>

Uncle Goose - sent you an email via pnet. Let me know if you got it.

I didn't get any mail of you Ralf, use this mail goose_v1@yahoo.com

Just picked up an Agfa Clack from a jumble sale here in the Netherlands, I think I was ripped off for the 3 whole euro I had to pay for it. ;-)

It came with a flash-attachment (and unused bulb) and a (n)ever-ready case.

 

Not sure what to do with the roll of colour film in it. Doubtful it's salvagable.

 

Time to see if that roll of Adox 100 Art is still good that I've got stowed away in the freezer somewhere

 

Regards,

Rick

Hey, I was REALLY ripped off for 6 euro for a Clack at a flea market in Poland (LOL) a month ago. I've already tried it and - I guess - it was worth even more! I'll post soon!