modern_kogaku Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>I have a soft spot for Agfa cameras and acquired quite a few of them over the years. This one shares the overall design with the rest of the Agfa Isolette folders, but is equipped with an uncoupled rangefinder and a very nice tessar-like Solinar 75/3.5 lens in a Synchro-Compur shutter, whoa! So it's kind of upper middle class. If it had a coupled rengefinder and unit focusing lens (this one focuses by moving it's front elements only) it would be a high class... it would be a Super Isolette and costed me much much more bucks! This is how it looks like:<br> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/3012260342_8a094b9a64_z.jpg?zz=1" alt="" width="640" height="430" /><br> --<br> The Solinar lens <em>is</em> beautiful:<br> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/3012260796_47e4a4bae3_z.jpg?zz=1" alt="" width="640" height="430" /></p> <p>...and delivers nice colors and a sharp picture. Although there's a bit of vignetting in the corners:<br> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/3007919436_f705081246_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /></p> <p>It can handle harsh highlights, the coating performs well:<br> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/3007084205_3092c62b2d_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /><br> --<br> Front element focusing makes the image a bit less sharp at a close distance.. But may be it's not a bad thing for portraits?<br> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/3007087063_23e0acc83c_o.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="600" /><br> --<br> I liked it.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_foreman1 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 You are getting great results! That is a fine looking camera and you're probably right; if it had a coupled RF you'd be so pleased with yourself and camera that you wouldn't bother us here at the Forum, you'd be too busy shooting, admiring or fondling that sensational work of art! Love the look from duaghter.. eating ice cream.. "Can you just stop..already!" How many of these 120 Agfa's do you have? I admired one and could of had it for 10,00Euro (came with a nifty handheld incident meter/RF) but the focus was hardened (verdi-gris) and I thought my wife will kill me if I bring home another "broken" camera. It was gone the next day! Your is a fine coated "modern" version! Seems to deliver wonderful results! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDMvW Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Very nice.</p> <p>Love the effect of the lens and you've put it to good purpose here.</p> <p>Thanks.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modern_kogaku Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Thanks Chuck! I have 6 different 120 Agfa folders, I think (this one is the best of them, both in terms of the condition and the lens). Half of them have the shutter and focusing issues due to the same verdi-gris decease... My wife is simply too busy with our toddler boy to find a time for killing me!<br> I also have several 35mm Agfa cameras, so there's going to be more reviews (and show-offs, haha) here.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modern_kogaku Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Thanks JDM, glad you liked it!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_4525289 Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Dmitri,<br> Stunning Agfa. Looks like an Iskra but I bet it does not have problems with the frame counter ;). Is that your car?</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modern_kogaku Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Thanks Kozma! Indeed, Isolettes use the red window to control film advance. No counter, no problem. Otherwise, Iskra seems to be a better camera with its huge bright rangefinder and an unit-focusing lens.<br> No, that nice Morris isn't mine.. I've got a different but also an expensive hobby!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Evans Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Dimitri,<br> I have the same but with the 85/4.5 Solinar. But it can't take photos of where I was born from here. The Ferry image justifies the camera ( and the shooter) :). </p> Tony Evans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modern_kogaku Posted March 24, 2011 Author Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Hi Tony, no worries, I'm very glad I can be here taking pictures for you!<br> Thanks :)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maciek_stankiewicz Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 <p>Beautiful pictures! I love the colors and contrast. Car shot composition makes me dizzy :)<br /> Solinar lens is (as we can see) the top-of-the-line lens from Agfa. Thanks for posting!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartMoxham Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 <p>Nice looking camera and nice to see some pics from it. It does look to be in very nice condition. I like the old Morris too.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve m smith Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 <p>I have the Ansco branded version. Same camera but called the Speedex Special R. It was a gift from a member of another forum who buys them just to repair them. The shutter has been overhauled and it has had new bellows fitted. A lovely camera. My first camera when I was ten years old was a simpler model Isolette.</p> <p>Nice Morris Minor too. We have owned a couple of those (the blue car for those who don't know what I mean!).</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnashings Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 <p>Lovely camera and as usual, lovely images. </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_frost Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 <p>For those with stuck focusing or shutters, I had good luck with applying a hair dryer to my isolette for a little less than three minutes. I covered the bellows with a dishtowel, and kept the dryer constantly moving over the lens and shutter assembly. By the time the focus ring was uncomfortably warm to the touch, it worked perfectly.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve m smith Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 <blockquote> <p>By the time the focus ring was uncomfortably warm to the touch, it worked perfectly.</p> </blockquote> <p><br />I assume it was o.k when it cooled down too.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_frost Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 <p>Yes, it was a permanent fix. 18 months later and it still works fine.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck_foreman1 Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 I have heard of the heat treatment. 18 months and still going that's great! I believe it was another contributor (Pete in Perth) had used the heat and said once it was turning, he then went in with Naphta and cleaned out all the old grease! IF it ain't broke ..don't fix it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
will_frost Posted March 25, 2011 Share Posted March 25, 2011 <p>In all fairness, I think I hit on a perfect test case. If the lady who sold it to me via that auction site was truthful, her dad had bought it new, used a 35mm rangefinder of the same vintage in preference to it, and then it sat on a shelf in his closet for 20-35 years. At the very least, it still had a metal 120 spool sitting inside it when I received it. So there probably wasn't any opportunity for dust, dirt, or helicoid shavings to help the grease coagulate into something permanent.<br> Will</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_drawbridge Posted March 27, 2011 Share Posted March 27, 2011 <p>Ah, I'm just just back from holiday, <strong>Dmitri</strong>, and it's good to see some pictures of Wellington on a sunny, <em>windless</em> day. I'm a great fan of the old Agfa folders and yours looks to be a very nice copy. Thanks for showing.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modern_kogaku Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 <p><strong>Rick</strong>, we have windless days regularly here, every week or two. May be not that often in winters, but with a little bit of patience (which is a photographer's virtue) you'll get it. Of course, you'll have to be quick when it happens (quickness is also a photographer's virtue). Thank you!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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