What Agfa Isolette model?

[Gurdy56]

Hi all, I joined the Forum yesterday with a question about my Zorki-C and got quick answer. Great site!

I (or more correctly, my wife) have an Agfa Isolette, inherited from her father, who got the camera in the 50´s or 60´s. It has a plastic top, left-hand rewind knob, a 6x6 - 6x4,5 slider switch, a Solinar 85/4,5 lens and Compur-Rapid shutter. I have found no flash sync. Serial number is 5394592.

Everything seems to function, but I suspect bellows leak. I´ll find a roll of 120 film and see what happens.

Meanwhile I´d like to know, could this be even a pre-war model?

Regards

 

[freeranger]

Hi Mark, welcome to the board.
I believe this is the Isolette 6.3 made from 1938-42
Check the bellows by inserting a torch in a darkened room and check the corners of the bellows for escaping light. Minor pinhole leaks can be fixed with black silicone gasket marker available from auto supply shops. Please show us your photos when you get them developed 🙂

 

[Solinar]

That looks to be an Agfa - Model 4.5 "Deluxe" that was made from 1938-42.

I'm judging the date by the "trolitan" top and strap lugs. Inside each film chamber there should be some doors that swing onto the film gate for dual format. Unfortunately, Agfa ceased production of this specially marketed 120 film to utilize this feature many decades ago. This particular Agfa is still usable as a 12 exposures on 120 - 6x6 format camera.

That's a nice piece of history there. The bellows predate Agfa's use of hard plastic coating - So they should be repairable. Replacing them won't be easy, because the body of the camera is welded or riveted together so that the base of the bellows is sandwiched between the two halves.

 

[Gurdy56]

Thank you for the info. It´s nice to know that this is an early model. The bellows look like leather outside, but inside there´s fabric. I´ll check the bellows and take some photos, when I found 120 film and get it developed.

 

[whitecat]

Any Isolette with a Solinar lens is a gem. I once enlarged a negative from a scene with a boat with people in the background. I was amazed I could see an oriental face with glasses and the pattern on his shirt. Amazing! This lens is a sleeper.

 

[rolleistef]

The use of plastic for a Deluxe model seems a bit surprising at first hearing, but before the war, Bakelite was a rather posh material. What does the front "door" reads? Isolette? Jsolette? Isorette?
It looks like my Isolette 1, +/-1949. The only difference is an aluminium top casting, no strap lugs, aperture markings written in lieu of Compur-Rapid, and no T setting.

 

[rolleistef]

btw, you should be very happy with the lens. My Apotar is really good, and the Solinar is said to be even better. Here is side to side two photo taken with a Rolleiflex and the Isolette. Which is which?

 

[Gurdy56]

Hello Stéphane,
In my camera, it reads "Jsolette" on the front "door". I have always read it as Isolette with a stylized I, though.

About your photos, I cannot say which is which. A guess: Rolleiflex on left, Isolette right?