Hollywoodland

Stephen , I have seen the Argus C44 in a RFF meet here in Toronto and thought I recognized the lens, but the shape of the camera was not the shape of the model that I held. were there variants or subsequent models for that camera?
 
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A bit of trivia: Adrien Brody's mother is Sylvia Plachy, the noted photographer.

Maybe he borrowed the camera from mom's kit.
 
jan normandale said:
Stephen , I have seen the Argus C44 in a RFF meet here in Toronto and thought I recognized the lens, but the shape of the camera was not the shape of the model that I held. were there variants or subsequent models for that camera?

two C44 variants that I know of
1st has rewind knob as in Hollywoodland film pic
2nd has rewind knob recessed in camera body like the camera on my site

Argus made over 3 MILLION C3's ! diabolically inconvenient interchangle lens cameras. IF anyone has an IVORY Argus A, email me!

Hollywoodland was the original name of a housing development, which built the famous Hollywood sign which originally read Hollywoodland -- to promote the housing development

the former Hollywoodland housing tract office(now private home) sits across the street from the Beechwood Cafe on Beechwood. Kevin Costner and I used to have have lunch there in the 1988/89. Well, almost anyway. He usually sat at the counter, I usually sat at one of the window booths. At that time I believe the former Hollywoodland tract office was owned by actor Charles Durning.

Stephen
 
CameraQuest said:
damn,
doesn't anyone here shoot Argus? -- America's 35mm rangefinder sales leader?
he is shooting the first version of the Argus C44 with the legendary 100/3.5 Cintagon
see http://cameraquest.com/argc44.htm
for all the Argus fun, see the book Argomania by Henry Gambino
Stephen
Stephen,
I almost wish I had read your review of the C-44 before I bought one(with three lenses--35,50, 100. meter, boostercell for the meter,cases flash--maybe with some bulbs(I hope!), and assorted accessories) a few days ago...I do have a C-4 that I got a while ago from a local garage sale but that one is non-functioning--someone decided to take the lens off and didn't get it put back together correctly. It's too bad 'cause otherwise, the C-4 seems basic but capable. So when I saw the kit, I bid on it and won. As inconvient as it may be, I'm happy I spent the 40 bucks for it.
One thing (about the C-4 I have, at least): the camera sure proves that not all leaf shutters are quiet😀
Rob
 
Well. My Argus C-44 finally was delivered today. The most astonishingly bad packing I have ever seen. The camera, lenses, flash, and miscelaneous stuff were thrown into the box and the cases for them were apparently used as packing material. Nothing was wrapped, padded, or in any other way isolated from banging around inside the packing box.:bang:
But they are a fairly hardy breed so every thing seems to work as it could be expected to.
The 100mm and the 35mm lenses came with hoods attatched that have a Series VI filter slot. That's pretty handy. Nice looking as well. The VF is dim/dirty.
Only one flash bulb, though.🙁
To quote from Stephen Gandy's article about these:
These Argus (Argi?) get my vote for the worst interchangeable 35mm bayonet mount of all time. "Bad Design" does not begin to describe this photographer torture system.
Oh boy do I agree with that copyrighted statement. 😀
Argus got some things right about this camera, I think: single latch on the bottom to open it for loading, nice shape--fits me well anyway, frame counter is very much better than the counter on the C-3.
The meter and its booster cell seem to have been used very little and if the meter works it will be good on top of my other cameras. I do like that it has a useful film speed range.
Hoping for the best,
Rob
 
CameraQuest said:
two C44 variants that I know of
1st has rewind knob as in Hollywoodland film pic
2nd has rewind knob recessed in camera body like the camera on my site

Argus made over 3 MILLION C3's ! diabolically inconvenient interchangle lens cameras. IF anyone has an IVORY Argus A, email me!

Hollywoodland was the original name of a housing development, which built the famous Hollywood sign which originally read Hollywoodland -- to promote the housing development

the former Hollywoodland housing tract office(now private home) sits across the street from the Beechwood Cafe on Beechwood. Kevin Costner and I used to have have lunch there in the 1988/89. Well, almost anyway. He usually sat at the counter, I usually sat at one of the window booths. At that time I believe the former Hollywoodland tract office was owned by actor Charles Durning.

Stephen

I'll make you a deal. If you come across any of the other lenses for the C3 you email me. If I come across an ivory A I'll email you. Deal? 😀
 
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