fraley
Beware of Claws
Any fans of the Argus C4 out there? I just got one, if you have any tips or tricks to share. I took a test roll with ISO 200 drugstore film and processing. No scans, just prints, otherwise I'd post one or two.
I'm thinking of sending it to the health spa for a CLA. I found this info on the internet. Does anyone have experience with getting an Argus CLA'd?
"Former Argus Service Manager Dick Kinsey specializes in the
repair of Argus cameras and equipment. His firm is the Ikon Company, located
in Columbia, South Carolina. His phone number is (803) 787-1626."
Things I like about the camera:
* On an overcast day, the colors and contrast are good
* Very sharp Cintar f:2.8 coated anastigmatic lens
* No flare or light leaks
* Good film transport (even spacing between frames)
* Good visibility of rangefinder patch
* Good viewfinder, quite bright
* Hefty feel to die-cast camera body (28 oz)
* "Genuine Cowhide" ever-ready case has snaps to remove top half
* Behind lens leaf shutter is easily accessible for lighter fluid treatment
* The shutter, aperture and focus controls are manual, simple and reliable
Things I'm not so fond of:
* Could use more standard shutter speeds -- it has B, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300
* I can't quite make out all four corners of the viewfinder with glasses on
* No brightline or parallax compensation
* Fixed lens, 50mm only (ask Bill Mattocks about the modified version with removeable lenses
)
* Non-standard filter size: 33mm slip-on adapter ring and 41mm or Series VI filters
(threaded inside diameter will take Kodak No. 26 Series VI screw-in adapter ring)
* Would be nice if the shutter speeds snapped into place instead of a free-turning wheel
Conclusion:
This is a solid likeable camera, very reminiscent to me of a Zorki with table manners. The edges have been smoothed off, if you know what I mean. A Zorki what went to finishing school. Okay I am deranged. My family shake their heads and tisk-tisk as I try the shutter for the umpteenth-thousandth time. But it's got that certain something...
I'm thinking of sending it to the health spa for a CLA. I found this info on the internet. Does anyone have experience with getting an Argus CLA'd?
"Former Argus Service Manager Dick Kinsey specializes in the
repair of Argus cameras and equipment. His firm is the Ikon Company, located
in Columbia, South Carolina. His phone number is (803) 787-1626."
Things I like about the camera:
* On an overcast day, the colors and contrast are good
* Very sharp Cintar f:2.8 coated anastigmatic lens
* No flare or light leaks
* Good film transport (even spacing between frames)
* Good visibility of rangefinder patch
* Good viewfinder, quite bright
* Hefty feel to die-cast camera body (28 oz)
* "Genuine Cowhide" ever-ready case has snaps to remove top half
* Behind lens leaf shutter is easily accessible for lighter fluid treatment
* The shutter, aperture and focus controls are manual, simple and reliable
Things I'm not so fond of:
* Could use more standard shutter speeds -- it has B, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300
* I can't quite make out all four corners of the viewfinder with glasses on
* No brightline or parallax compensation
* Fixed lens, 50mm only (ask Bill Mattocks about the modified version with removeable lenses
)* Non-standard filter size: 33mm slip-on adapter ring and 41mm or Series VI filters
(threaded inside diameter will take Kodak No. 26 Series VI screw-in adapter ring)
* Would be nice if the shutter speeds snapped into place instead of a free-turning wheel
Conclusion:
This is a solid likeable camera, very reminiscent to me of a Zorki with table manners. The edges have been smoothed off, if you know what I mean. A Zorki what went to finishing school. Okay I am deranged. My family shake their heads and tisk-tisk as I try the shutter for the umpteenth-thousandth time. But it's got that certain something...
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Argus cameras are interesting... Each year on the 4th Saturday of April there's a big photo swap meet at the Puyallup Fairgrounds (near Tacoma WA). Each time I've gone to it there's been an informative display of Argus cameras and company history. Last April there were a bunch of Argus movie cameras in the exhibit. Clearly there's a bunch of collectors out there!
The annual swap meet is put on by Puget Sound Photo Collectors Society: http://www.geocities.com/pspcs/index.html
On that primitive website you'll find a couple of Argus articles by Bob Kelly, and in the find-the-experts page for Argus, there's Bob Kelly's contact info. Might be interesing to email him.
Yours is certainly a nice looking kit!
The annual swap meet is put on by Puget Sound Photo Collectors Society: http://www.geocities.com/pspcs/index.html
On that primitive website you'll find a couple of Argus articles by Bob Kelly, and in the find-the-experts page for Argus, there's Bob Kelly's contact info. Might be interesing to email him.
Yours is certainly a nice looking kit!
fraley
Beware of Claws
Thanks Doug, I'll follow up on that link. By the way, if anyone has a C4, the lid of an opaque Fuji film canister makes a snug lens cap
Dean
Established
I won? a $10.00 older model (no x sync) on Ebay.
Thanks to Rick Oleson http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-128.html
the shutter is working and I am shooting a test roll.
I think it's a nice camera for the price and I plan on getting a newer model with the x sync setting.
I'll make a note to let you know how the first roll goes.
Dean
Thanks to Rick Oleson http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-128.html
the shutter is working and I am shooting a test roll.
I think it's a nice camera for the price and I plan on getting a newer model with the x sync setting.
I'll make a note to let you know how the first roll goes.
Dean
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
If not for the extremely loud shutter, which sounds like a gunshot,
I would have kept my Argus C4 - an otherwise very nice camera.
Chris
I would have kept my Argus C4 - an otherwise very nice camera.
Chris
Austintatious
Well-known
Another Argus fan !
Another Argus fan !
I have also "won" a nice Argus C-3 rangefinder. This one was in great shape. Also it is fully working! Just cleaned it up a bit. Ran a test roll through it. Most were good pics. The RF was a bit off on the verticle. They are quite easy to adjust. It is spot on now.
A little fussy to use, but I like this camera a lot. My dad bought one to take photos of me when I was born.
Charles
Another Argus fan !
I have also "won" a nice Argus C-3 rangefinder. This one was in great shape. Also it is fully working! Just cleaned it up a bit. Ran a test roll through it. Most were good pics. The RF was a bit off on the verticle. They are quite easy to adjust. It is spot on now.
A little fussy to use, but I like this camera a lot. My dad bought one to take photos of me when I was born.
Charles
Attachments
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
For a reasonably priced CLA on that Argus I recommend
you send it to Karl Bryan in Beaverton OR. His email is:
karl.kathy@verizon.net
Chris
you send it to Karl Bryan in Beaverton OR. His email is:
karl.kathy@verizon.net
Chris
jody
Broke User
I have a very clean c4 but, but the shutter is rusted and sticks sometimes. Can the shutter be repaired. The only thing I hate about camera is hard to open. I have the interchageable lens version. To me this is the belair of cameras with all that chrome. I have two bricks i've never used but, when I saw the shiny chrome c4 I had to have it.
Austintatious
Well-known
This is a pretty good site for info on Argus cameras. I have found it most helpful.
http://arguscg.tripod.com/index.html
Hope others find it helpful also!
Charles
http://arguscg.tripod.com/index.html
Hope others find it helpful also!
Charles