Agfa Silette

[Murray Kelly]

Anyone have tips on getting the film to get past #1? I seems to stick at the felt inside the cassette first time round and the sprocket holes tear at #2 or 3.
I am using a film with a thin base so maybe it's that.
I cut the leader the same as the factory loads with the double bump (top and bottom).
Having cassettes that don't disassemble makes it hard to imagine exactly what is going on.
Thanks
Murray

 

[hanskerensky]

Anyone have tips on getting the film to get past #1? I seems to stick at the felt inside the cassette first time round and the sprocket holes tear at #2 or 3.
I am using a film with a thin base so maybe it's that.
I cut the leader the same as the factory loads with the double bump (top and bottom).
Having cassettes that don't disassemble makes it hard to imagine exactly what is going on.
Thanks
Murray

My Super Silette also put much tension on the film during transport.
This tension was noticably reduced after cleaning and greasing the rewinder axis.

 

[Ranger Copy]

Cannot Focus Silette-Apptar

Cannot Focus Silette-Apptar

I have been going through an Agfa phase, which includes the half-frames, various Karats, Silettes, Optimas and others. Agfa always seemed to have some kind of camera for the amateur and advanced amateur market.

The Silette and Solinette are nice little cameras with the Solinette having the advantage of being folding cameras. The Super Solinette is a sweet little camera with a coupled rangefinder.

In 35mm, the Apotar is a very good lens for a triplet, while the Solinar is a Tessar type (four elements in three groups).

I've gotten some very nice photos with the Apotar.

And of course, the downside with the Agfas are the frozen focusing helicals.

Once that's been sorted out, you have a mighty fine camera.

and out do you get it all sorted out? and a good day to you as well.
regards,

 

[Vince Lupo]

I had an Ambi Silette kit with three lenses, cases, etc but I didn't think much of the quality of the camera. The rangefinder on this camera was a bit dodgy, and overall the materials just felt 'lesser' in quality to me. Sold it about two years ago, and wouldn't buy another.

 

[Murray Kelly]

My Super Silette also put much tension on the film during transport.
This tension was noticably reduced after cleaning and greasing the rewinder axis.

Well, I finally nailed it! 🙂
I carefully prised one end off the cassette to see just exactly was inside. The 2 brass (phosphor-bronze, actually) pairs of clips on the outside are the anchors for two spirals over the edges of the film about the level of sprocket holes and direct the film into a roll as the camera pushes the film across the gate and into the take-up side.
However, in their wisdom, the engineers have put a bulky roller of PVC tube inside that and reduced the available space for film to between the springs and the roller. I removed the roller and reassembled the cassette (that was a whew!) and the Hawkeye Surveillance film which is on a thin base now works beautifully.
I note I have 2 kinds of cassette marked 'E' and 'G' and I have worked out the 'E' is ISO 80 and the 'G' is ISO 100. The metering on the Isomat appears to be OK since it's been in its box and case since forever but does anyone know if other cassettes exist and the marking on them and maybe describe the bar on the cassette's side which sets the camera's auto speed?

TIA
Murray

 

[farlymac]

I've got an Ansco Memar and an Agfa Super Silette. Of course, both lenses were frozen. I've gotten the Memar cleaned up and ready for relube, assembly, and colimating. The Super is going to have to wait until I can get a donor body in able to replace the front and rear lens elements. The front is all scratched up, and the rear looks like it has some fungus etching on it. Will have to do a complete teardown and overhaul as the shutter needs work, so I might as well do it up right.

They do feel like very comfortable cameras to use, and I am looking forward to seeing what results I get.

PF