Argus C3 Fans ?

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nwcanonman

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So, how many of us are fans of the venerable Argus C3/Match-Mates?
What do you like about them?
Are the pics sharp and contrasty, as some web sites say?
Wadya think about em' ?
:confused:
 
A roll of Kodachrome through the C3 was always impressive. Only an FTbn was able to "tear" it from my grip. Check a 50's slide in my Gallery. :)
 
argus

argus

my first 35mm camera was an argus, model a, i believe. it had a collapsbile lens and was fun to use... i graduated to an aires 35V that had an incredible 1.5 lens... i'll look around in my negative archive and see if i can locate some of those early images for posting...
 
I had a C-3 in high school. It was in horrible adjustment and I could't get a focused image at all.
my luck at the time. It was only 3 bucks at a flea market.

I will be receiving a c-44 sometime soon. Mainly because it is 50’s Americana and I hear the glass is good.
 
Yes, most C3's are going at under $10usd these days. Some are in beautiful shape, and with flash, manual, meter too.
There are manuals and repair/adjustment instructions on the web too.
 
I use a C3 quite a bit. I bought my favorite C3 for 99 cents! :D Right now, I have another one apart trying to figure out how to get strap lugs installed. When compared back to back with my Minolta Hi-matic 9, (both running TriX souped in D-76) the pics I get from it have a very nice vintage bokeh.

On a side note, unlike most of the reviews I have read on the web, I do not find the seperate film and shutter knobs to be a bother. I find that it makes the camera quicker on the draw than my Minolta. As long as you do not need to take too many pictures in a row and learn to fire the shutter with your middle finger.

Plus people keep asking me how I like my Leica!!! ;)

Richie
 
I have 14 various "bricks", I like them all. Photos are reasonably sharp and contrasty. Nice if you can find a 100mm Sandmar to go with them. Other lenses were available including I believe a 135 Soligor? I've never had trouble with any of mine, just with C4's (I have 2 that work well and 3 parts only now due to shutter woes) and Autronics/Autronic 35 (dead/faulty meters). C44's are also good, A's, AF's etc. I have a few but no great deal of experience with. I like the A four and A Automatics as well. One thing to watch for is the shutter cocking lever. It is prone to giving your fingers a healthy whack if you're not careful.
 
nwcanonman said:
So, how many of us are fans of the venerable Argus C3/Match-Mates?
What do you like about them?
Are the pics sharp and contrasty, as some web sites say?
Wadya think about em' ?
:confused:
Click to expand...

I think you are asking about the model LC3 Matchmatic. Not inherently different in image quality from the C3, sharing the same body and lens (where would be the difference, then?) The Matchmatic of course had a selenium meter mounted on an accessory shoe, by which you would derive a number to correspond to the correct exposure. This was matched up with numbers on the shutter speed dial and the aperture setting, and voila the perfect exposure would surely result. No 'x/100ths' or 'f/whatevers' to worry about. The meter shows '6', dial that in on the lens and shutter speed dial, take the shot of your daughter in her poodle skirt, and get back to your martini and the latest issue of Argosy (cough).
On a more practical note, most of the meters for these cameras are dead. I happen to have one that works, and it's a less than practical system to read. Also, the RF windows tend to become a cloudy yellow mess, rendering them useless and forcing one to resort to scale focusing. This is difficult at best, since the only distance related measure consists of some small numerals on the focusing wheel.
Someone at Argus had a great idea---- when they had a little too much to drink.
There is no question, however, that the LC3 is the most remarkable, and quintessintially "50's" looking camera. I can never look at mine without thinking "RadarRange".
 
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Another interesting note, a few years back one of these appeared in a Harry Potter movie (missing the meter), I think the second one, but don't hold me to it--- soon after these cameras were selling on ebay as 'Harry Potter Cameras' for upwards of $100. A search at the same time for an 'LC3' would find listings for, say, $11, which is how and what I paid for mine.
 
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I have my Grandfather's C-3, and still occasionally shoot with it. It came with the original flash and case, a Weston meter, and the original box, with receipt! As wierdcollector stated though, watch your finger when you trip the shutter release!

- Randy
 
KZ,
The one I just won off epay looks just like that - Tan and Brown, with the meter on top.
No problem if it's not functional. I've got a handheld meter and the "sec's/F-stop" conversion is printable from a web page. Should be be fun!
 
Just put a roll in my C3 to make sure it is ready for the annual Argus Day -
I assume it will be Argust the 5th . The Argus Collectors group usually organizes it. See:

http://arguscg.tripod.com/index.html

I like to take it out just to mystify the digital users. I'm thinking of putting some sort of 14 mega pixel logo on it.

The direction of the cocking lever can be changed - I have mine pointing towards the lens. It's a better position for me, but it has to pushed up to cock the shutter.

Dean
 
Just a side note: the LC3 designation is for the meter. The camera name was (and still is)C3 Matchmatic. Argus also made the same style meter calibrated for the f/ stop - shutter speed system. The Matchmatic was one of any number of cameras (foreign and domestic) that used the short-lived EV system.
 
Count me as a fan.

My C-3 sits out as a "display piece" in my home office, but it's also fully functional and I've shot a few rolls of consumer 200/400 film with it. It's a fun, quirky user and the Cintar 50mm is a decent performer. The size of the RF/VF leaves a bit to be desired, but it actaully focuses faster than my Hi-Matic 7.

I guess the highest compliment that I can give the C-3 is that it's the camera I'd feel most comfortable dropping. Man, that thing is built like the proverbial brick outhouse!
 
nwcanonman said:
KZ,
The one I just won off epay looks just like that - Tan and Brown, with the meter on top.
No problem if it's not functional. I've got a handheld meter and the "sec's/F-stop" conversion is printable from a web page. Should be be fun!
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Congratulations!
 
Maybe we should talk Jorge into starting an Argus section??? I mean it is the most sold camera from 1939 to 1966, and is supposed to be the main reason we all shoot with the 35mm format. ~ ; - )
 
I have 2 C3s. I bought each for just one dollar. They were purchased about fifteen years apart for the same price. They don't seem to be effected by inflation. I put a wide angle lens one one. I also got the lens for one dollar. I would like one more so I could have one with a telephoto lens on it. I don't know if my neck could stand the strain of carrying three bricks at once. I don't use my c3s much, I keep going back to another rangefinder camera I have. This one also has a 3 in the name, but there is an M in front of the three instead of a C.
 
how many pounds does the brick weigh? i have one that i just got. i love that it looks so different. and i love that it requires alot of fiddling with the dials to get a shot, requires no batteries. and also i am very impressed by an american made object that is 60years old that still works and probably will keep going for another 60. i am so sick of disposeable stuff. i actually saw a disposeable digital camera the other day.

i also just got the A2B. that is really cute! i am running film in it now to see if it works. less is more.
 
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