chuck miller Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 I just purchased an Agfa Isolette III and was searching the web for a copy of the instruction manual. I don't need an original or even a paper copy! I really don't want to spend $25 on an original from someplace. It isn't for completing a collection...it is strictly for using (and I'm the kinda guy that likes to have the manual!). Anyway, if someone has a copy of this could I possibly get a photocopy or scan of it? I'd be willing to pay for the photocopy if necessary! Thanks in advance, Chuckdailydisco@hotmail.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_morris1 Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 Chuck, Have you figured out how to use the camera yet, without a manual? If not, and if you would like to use it before you find a manual, I can certainly type a few lines to get you going. There's not much to explain about that camera. Cheers, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill brant Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 This is not so much as a response, as simply echoing the same issue. I, too, just bought an Isolette III and have also been scouring the net looking for a manual. Like Chuck, I'm a user, not a collector. I've managed to figure out most of the camera, but there are a couple of things that I'm still working on, and need access to a manual to figure out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph_tucker Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 Agfa Isollette Manal:1 Load camera. 2 Set aperture. 3 Set shutter speed. 4 Focus 5 Shoot! ;) Try www.manualsrus.com -He has a large inventory and sells them for a small fee. I ran across a site for the free sharing of camera manuals awhile back but, I'm sorry, I can't remember the name or url. Try a google search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill brant Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 John sent out some good information to Chuck and I, but I have a few specific questions that John was not able to help me out with. I'm going to repost my esoteric questions and see if any of the readers out there can help: My Isolette III has a Solinar 85mm F4.5 lens with the Compur-Rapid shutter. 1. On the aperture dial, there is a red dot between F8 and F11. Does this mark indicated the 'best aperture' for the lens, or is it for something else? 2. On the rangefinder dial, two of the distance markings are in red, and must have some special meaning. The markings are at 3 (meters) and at 10 (meters). It looks like 10 meters is pretty close to the hyperfocal distance for the lens when shooting at F22, but then again, it could be something completely different. 3. Other versions of the Isolette had a depth-of-field dial on one of the top knobs (I am not sure if it was on the film-advance knob, or the other knob. In any case, there is no depth of field aid on my camera; did they feel the rangefinder eliminated the need for one? Did they publish any recommendations? (Yes, I have downloaded a generic DOF spreadsheet, and customized it for the Isolette). I think I have a handle on just about everything else on the camera, but if there are any more gotchas, hidden features, or lookouts for the camera that you would care to pass on, I'd appreciate it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew_schank Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 The 3 meter, 10 meter, and red dot between f8 and f11 all go together. This is basically two "grab shot" settings, for distant shots set it at 10 meters and f9.5, for closer subjects, set it at 3 meters at f9.5. Many of the old folders have a similar set up on them. My Perkio II Voigtlander has special marks at about 12 feet and 40 feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jice Posted October 26, 2002 Share Posted October 26, 2002 Here's something close, the Isolette II manual. I used it to get started with the Isolette III ... of course, there is nothing mentioned about the rangefinder. http://rurmonas.cust.nearlyfreespeech.net/manuals/isoletteII/isoletteII.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jice Posted October 26, 2002 Share Posted October 26, 2002 Somebody on this thread may be able to help me. I don't have the manual (yet, I plan to purchase a used one). I tested the rangefinder, and it seems to be pretty accurate (compared to the auto focus on my EOS). However, I have a problem. When I move the dial slowly (to make a small adjustment) it seems to respond as expected. If I move the dial more quickly (to change from near to far, etc), it responds very slowly. For example, if I have set the rangefinder at 3 feet, and then switch to 30 feet, I cannot get the double image to line up. If I wait 15-30 seconds, I see that the image slowly lines up (assuming the I am looking at something 30 feet away). Then, I may make a fine adjustment. I assume that this is not normal operation. Is it? If not, does someone have an idea regarding an adjustment that I can make to fix the problem? Thanks, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afildes Posted November 2, 2002 Share Posted November 2, 2002 Sounds like the lubrication in the rangefinder has gone sticky with age and the parts are not sliding freely. If you're up to it, there's a DIY routine at http://www.cix.co.uk/~rgivan/repair.html for clean and adjust on the Isolette III finder. Otherwise, any resonable camera technician shouldn't charge too much for the service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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