Agfa Ambi Silette

[BenjaminM]

For those in the U.S. a great bargain (assuming it works, but they are fairly easy to work on)

https://www.palace-first.top/an-agfa-ambi-silette-35mm-rangefinder-camera-case-p-12818.html

 

[seany65]

$6.99?

If the seller was based in Germany, they'd be charging near £100 (euros actually, buy my keyboard ain't got a 'euro' sign).

As for being easy to work on, I'm not so sure. My new to me '57 one didn't want to fire at 1/8 and 1/15 and when I took it to be cla'd I made sure to mention it. When I went to collect it the man in the shop said the repairman couldn't fix that issue, and he was supposed to be the best the best 'agfa man' the shop knew of.

I've fired the shutter a couple of times since and I got the impression that there is now a delay between pressing the button and the shutter firing. I could be wrong and I can't double-check yet as I whipped a film into it before investigating further and I don't want to shoot with it just yet as I haven't got a decent bag for it.

 

[johnnyrod]

Hi Seany, if you can use it as is then crack on, he slow speeds normally get so little use as to be academic, but it does make me wonder at the performance of the higher speeds too. Seems pretty poor that it "couldn't" be fixed, it doesn't seem that unusual a shutter. hopefully the focusing was set up right at least. Anyway if you need it looking at and are stuck then I'm not far away, PM me if you need.

 

[seany65]

Thanks for the offer jonnhyrod. I'm near the end of it's first film. The pics aren't going to be 'artistically' any good (No Talent, see), but I'll have films from other cameras to compare them it to.

I'm not completely sure the shutter is opening every time, but now that I come to think about it, I did wonder about how quiet the shutter was when I first got it and fired it through all speeds. I seem to recall making a mental note to remember how quiet the shutter is and not to panic about it. We'll see inside a week or two.

 

[Pioneer]

My Ambi Silette is a very nice camera but unfortunately it doesn't get the use it really deserves (too many cameras with too little time). On mine the slow and high speeds have always been off a bit but at least the higher end is close enough that I get decent exposures. If I use mine for a couple of weeks it seems to get better so I suspect that exercising that leaf shutter will help as long as nothing is broken.

I absolutely love the viewfinder in this camera. It reminds me of the Zeiss Ikon but it may be clearer and easier to use even then that one.

I really think that Agfa did a terrific job with this camera. Use it and enjoy, the shutter may just get better with a bit of time.

 

[johnnyrod]

The quietness of a leaf shutter is a bit unusual if you're more used the the noise of an SLR

 

[seany65]

@Pioneer: I like the viewfinder as well. I also like the big rangefinder spot, so much better than the sometimes half-invisible one on my fed 2.

@johnnyrod: I understand that, but I've also got a Ricoh 500GX, an Agfa Super Solinette and an Ansco Super Regent, and I'd put at least one film through each of them before starting on the Ambi and it still sounds nearly 'too' quiet.

 

[ironhorse]

The truly weird part is that you can put 50 (maybe more) in your cart and they will give you a discount so that your total charge is $45. Something not quite right.

 

[seany65]

Well, I've just finished the first film I'd put in my '57 ambi silette, and my suspicions were correct, the shutter has practically died. It started off "a bit too quiet" a lot of the time (as mentioned in a previous post), today the opening of the shutter started happening well after the button was pressed, so after I took the film out I fired through the speeds and noticed it was mostly either late in firing or not firing after the first or second wind-on. Out of curiosity I moved the switch to 'M' and while the shutter was still firing late, I could sometimes get it to fire at 1/8 and 1/15! I moved the switch to 'V' but the the self timer only worked after I'd switched back to 'X'. Now the shutter doesn't open most of the time.

I don't know whether to bother getting the film processed.

 

[johnf04]

Chris Sherlock may be able to fix the camera - he recently overhauled a Contaflex 1 for me.

 

[Steve M.]

Has anyone ever heard of this company before? I did some googling and came up w/ nada. The following was found in terms and conditions, and I find it a little alarming....

"We may undertake searches with credit reference agencies for the purposes of verifying your identity and the personal information you submit as part of an order. To do so the agencies may check your personal information against any particular information on any database (public or otherwise) to which they have access. They may also use your details in the future to assist other companies for verification purposes. We may also use your personal information for the purposes of prevention or detection of fraud. By submitting your order you agree to this."

I think I'll pass, but I DID find the following very amusing....." We is a bold, straight talking and forward thinking fashion brand......."

We is indeed :]

 

[Steve M.]

This stuff looks good though, and the price is right. I fancy one for the cat.

https://www.palace-first.top/roman-...ss-cleopatra-fancy-dress-hair-decor-p-45.html

 

[seany65]

Thanks for the link jonhf04.

I did try to have it repaired last year as the shutter wouldn't fire properly at 1/8 and 1/15, and at the time the shutter was very quiet a lot of the time. The tech. said he couldn't fix it, so I'm not sure the P+P to/from New Zealand in the hope that he can fix it is financially viable for me. Then there's the cost of the repair, if it can be fixed.

Steve M. I think I may be misunderstanding something, as your second to last post seems to be about an online fashion shop? My browser won't let me see the website you link to in your last post.