Ansco Speedex wth Agnar Lens

[Lucadomi]

I was given a Ansco Speedex with Agfa Agnar Lens to try.
I like the size of the camera, it is very small and portable.
It does need some cleaning. I was wandering if anybody had any experience with this camera. Is the lens acceptably good? Is it worthed to spend the time cleaning it and maybe add an accessory rangefinder?
Thanks.

 

[charjohncarter]

Here are some photos taken with the Agnar and Isolette:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/isolette/pool/tags/agnar/

Be prepared to replace the bellows, they all leak. I bought a rangefinder for $7 on Ebay, I'm in the US. I don't think they are in demand here.

I do use mine (Apotar) all the time; it is a vacation camera for me.

 

[jnoir]

Personally, I do not find the Agnar a good triplet lens, and therefore I tend to avoid it. In my opinion, it qualifies somewhere in the "lomography" region, quality-wise. The best bang for the buck goes for the Apotar.

The point about bellows is a good one. If you can feel pointy edges when smoothly passing your fingertips on the corner of the bellows, chances are that there are pinholes. How many, and if they affect the image, depends on different factors.

Since the camera was given to you for free, it depends if you want to spend some 60USD or more (plus bellows, if they need replacement) on the service of an Isolette V / Isolette I / Isolette II (yours may be any of those). As I said, given the quality of the lens, vignetting, etc. I don't find it worth the CLA. But, YMMV. And since the camera is not that much valuable, maybe you want to try to do the clean by yourself (not that easy, but not impossible to accomplish)

 

[Lucadomi]

Thanks charjohncarter.
Some of those picture are actually very interesting. The camera came with a film inside. I am finishing the film and then I will be able to verify the bellows. Looking from the outside they seem light-tight but I will have to verify that.
It could be a fun camera, also for travel, once you learn to adapt to its limitations.
I don't want to get into bellows replacement; I had a bad experience with a Fuji gs645. I only hope that the focus works properly (it is a little stiff) and that the speeds are right. I was planning to remove the top and clean the viewfinder, and maybe polish the metal that is a little rusty. The lens seems clean.
Any other comment is welcome.
Thanks.

 

[Lucadomi]

jnoir,
I really would like to stay away from the "lomography" thing, meaning plastic cameras with plastic lenses. I am surprised there is a significant difference between Agnar and Apotar, since thay seem to have a very similar design. I definetly don' want to spend money on it.
The accessory rangefinder could be an option if the pics will be good.
Thanks.

 

[jnoir]

jnoir,
I really would like to stay away from the "lomography" thing, meaning plastic cameras with plastic lenses. I am surprised there is a significant difference between Agnar and Apotar, since thay seem to have a very similar design. I definetly don' want to spend money on it.

It all comes down to the kind of photography you like to do. If you shoot most of your pictures with the lens wide open, I recommend to stay away of the Agnar lens (nevertheless it is only a recommendation and an opinion, not a definite statement 😉 ), but if you tend to stop down your lenses to f/11 or f/16, then the difference is less noticeable.

 

[Lucadomi]

@ jnoir,
I will try to stop down and get the best out of it.
I am going through your web page now. A lot of good info there too.
Thanks

 

[jnoir]

Thanks! I'm on my way to rebuild the site for making it more accessible.

Don't hesitate to ask any question you may have! I'll be glad to be of any help.

 

[charjohncarter]

The only successful bellows repair that I have ever done (and I've tried many approaches) was working on the inside. I used Black Silicone Adhesive. With needle nose pliers and a sewing pin that had a ball head of about 1.5mm, I wound the pin around the pliers so the needle head stuck out about 8mm. Then the head was dipped into the adhesive and pushed in the corners where the leak was. It has worked for a year on one of mine.

The Agnar is better than a Lomo or Holga. Stopped down it is pretty good and wide open it is soft but women like it for portraits. I tried to buy one just for that reason but was unsuccessful.

 

[Corto]

I've been lucky that my Isolette II has had no leaks at all. (knock on wood.)
The Focus ring gets really stiff and sometimes freezes up, Common on these as the grease dries up.

Good write up on Fixing some common issues here: http://www.davidrichert.com/AGFA%20rebuild/agfa.htm

And of course great info here too: http://www.certo6.com/

They are Great Little folders. Very Capable IMHO