Argus C3

[tkluck]

In a wave of nostalgia and patriotism, I bid on an Argus C3. Had one in high school, made in USA, yada, yada.
Mail person handed my the box. Opened the box, slashed through the bubble wrap. Held one in my hands again after over 40 years.

What a piece of crap. Reminded me of when I swapped bikes at a rest stop with a pal who was ridding a Harley. Expected the Argus to leak oil, shed parts, and damage my kidneys. (why my luck Paul Sr. will trun out to be a RF addict...)

...guess I'll have to bid on that Crown Graphic for Fourth of July.

 

[kvanderlaag]

I'll take it off your hands!

 

[jlw]

Yeah, the C3 is a piece of crap, but it's an amusing piece of crap.

They do tend to be very reliable, though, and the design is actually rather clever when considered as an answer to the question, "How can we make a dependable, low-cost camera that doesn't require a lot of skilled labor or expensive materials to assemble?"

 

[kvanderlaag]

The trick is to be able to LOVE it for the piece of crap that it is.

I gotta pick one up.

 

[Al Patterson]

My dad had one for years...

My dad had one for years...

I still have a 28mm wide lense for it somehwere. Unfortunately, my mother broke the camera a while back.

I too will pick one up just for the heck of it.

 

[jan normandale]

They're fun to dress up too. 🙂

Very cool!
But it looks like there is one less lizard skin purse in this world though.. ;- )

 

[jan normandale]

Actually it was a pair of ladies slacks. We have some kinky Goodwills around here. 🙂

Craaazy!
I want to live in Ohio for sure. Women in lizard slacks.. what a fantasy ;- )

 

[jan normandale]

I've got a C3 too and I love that little hard plastic brick! I might buy a second so I could chrome the entire camera. Take that you 'black camera people'

 

[ddunn]

Cheetah fur? 😉

Nah! For a C3, yak would be better. 😛

 

[DaveP]

They are reliable pieces of crap with a nice lens.Plus they go around the world.
http://argusargosy.tripod.com/

 

[Dougg]

Amazing piece of crap! 😀 I got one in 1983 for $10 for a project shooting multiple exposures through color-separation filters. Using one is sorta reminiscent of driving a Model T. And the results are surprisingly good. Knew a guy who, back in the 60's, used one around Waikiki and other touristy sites with Kodachrome and sold a lot of slides to postcard makers. Must be a "pro" camera huh...