Agfa Optima 1535 Sensor

[CliveC]

Seems like a cute little rangefinder. I haven't come up with much information about it. Were these created in any significant quantity? The specs seems to check the right boxes, almost the size of an XA, but with a huge viewfinder.

Anybody own/shoot one of these?

 

[sevo]

Not that significant - it was their top of the line compact at the time and sold in much smaller quantitites than its lesser siblings. But on the German market they were as big a player at that time as Kodak were in the US - the dominant consumer brand, with something upward of 50% market share, and they made it for about half a decade. Probably not millions made like of the basic Optima Sensor versions, but it may have been a large five digit number nonetheless.

 

[CliveC]

Not that significant - it was their top of the line compact at the time and sold in much smaller quantitites than its lesser siblings. But on the German market they were as big a player at that time as Kodak were in the US - the dominant consumer brand, with something upward of 50% market share, and they made it for about half a decade. Probably not millions made like of the basic Optima Sensor versions, but it may have been a large five digit number nonetheless.

Thanks for the insight. Any idea what they retailed for back in the late 1970s?

 

[farlymac]

It's on my list of Agfa cameras I'd like to own. Found a 1035 once, but it was broken.

PF

 

[CliveC]

It's on my list of Agfa cameras I'd like to own. Found a 1035 once, but it was broken.

PF

I just pulled trigger on one from eBay. I didn't win the auction, but apparently the winner backed out so I decided to pay my highest bid for it.

I guess I'll find out what it's like in a few weeks.

 

[sevo]

Thanks for the insight. Any idea what they retailed for back in the late 1970s?

I remember them being too expensive for what they offered, the list price being about the same as the street price for entry level SLRs from the top Japanese brands.

 

[btgc]

I've eyed this cameras but never have convinced myself I'd prefer full AE exposure and brighter VF+RF over Av Yashica Electro 35MC with smooth controls even if it's scale focus not RF. I prefer 35MC even over huge and heavy full size Electros.

Probably I have to try Optima Sensor...just to know for sure 35MC is the best - for me, anyway.

 

[petronius]

I own and shoot two 1535s. They are insanely priced here in Germany. Since I collect cameras I only saw four of them on different markets. One is broken (and sold) now, two work well. I use LR44 batteries instead of silver oxide cells.

The smooth advance and the very bright finder are my favourite features. The distance ring is not as smooth as I like it. The rangefinder patch is very well visible in my 1535s.

I add a photo for size comparison, not with a 1535, but with a 1035, that has nearly the same body, only the finder housing is a bit different.

 

[valdas]

I have just sold 1035 model... Maybe I will regret it. It was a nice camera, good IQ, but i did not use it much and I am not a collector.

 

[petronius]

I sold my first 1535 and a 335 too; they are too nice to have none, so I bought two other 1535 and a 1035 since then (luckily quite cheap on fleamarkets) and I am looking for the rest of the series too.
Here are some pictures from different Optimas.

 

[valdas]

I sold my first 1535 and a 335 too; they are too nice to have none, so I bought two other 1535 and a 1035 since then (luckily quite cheap on fleamarkets) and I am looking for the rest of the series too.
Here are some pictures from different Optimas.

At one point I considered starting collecting optimas, bought Optima Flash model, but then decided that I am not really a collector, despite how nice those Optimas are...

 

[petronius]

Kudos to your self-control. I wish I had it!

 

[btgc]

Today I tried to lowball two of them but someone wanted to pay more. Each time I loose I think this sums up for a purchase of GRD when they get a tad cheaper. Or replacement of DP1.

 

[johannielscom]

I own and shoot two 1535s. They are insanely priced here in Germany. Since I collect cameras I only saw four of them on different markets. One is broken (and sold) now, two work well. I use LR44 batteries instead of silver oxide cells.

The smooth advance and the very bright finder are my favourite features. The distance ring is not as smooth as I like it. The rangefinder patch is very well visible in my 1535s.

I add a photo for size comparison, not with a 1535, but with a 1035, that has nearly the same body, only the finder housing is a bit different.

eBay Germany completed auctions seems to indicate differently though... Seeing them having sold from EUR 22,50 up to EUR 60...

I know one for sale for EUR 50 but apparently that's a decent price, not even a bargain😱

 

[petronius]

I consider a price of 22,50 Euro for an Agfa in Germany as insane 😉

 

[CliveC]

Then perhaps I have overpaid for my 1535. Ah well, very uncommon in North America.

 

[petronius]

Some new photos from my 1535 (Polypan F @ 100 ASA):

http://classicameras.blogspot.de/2013/12/agfa-optima-1535-sensor-iii.html

 

[CliveC]

The batteries I ordered finally came in today so I was able to power up my 1535 for the first time. Which leads me to a stupid question: This camera is completely automatic in shutter/aperture, right? Changing the aperture ring doesn't seem to do anything, but that is perhaps for flash pictures only? The aperture does stop down when I point it at a light. Speaking of flash, I plugged in my eBay special (Changyin CY-20) and the flash does not fire when the shutter does, but when I advance the frame, it pops. Does the camera use a proprietary flash unit or do I have a wonky mechanism?

I have not yet been able to locate an English manual. Saw a German one though

 

[btgc]

Aperture scale is for flash, right. Can't add on flash triggering when advancing, I think, any flash should work just fine.

 

[Austerby]

I've accidentally acquired both a 1535 and a 1035 in the past week. I bid low amounts for both, thinking I might win one, but ended up with two.

I remembered them from my youth, when I had an Agfa 110 camera which was of a similar house design, so decided to see if they were still around as I was after a pocket 35mm camera.

I put one film through the 1535 last week, developed today, and I'm very impressed with the results - completely Program AE so no input from me apart from composition and timing.

The cameras are small but not too small, quiet, light, and with results I'm pleased with so far. As usual I give the first film a bit of a challenge - into the light, night exposures etc - and this sweet little camera actually did very well.

Not sure why they aren't better known as a good pocket p&s camera.