farlymac
PF McFarland
Yes, if you don't mind all the fidgeting one has to do with them, the Argus C3 can be a very capable system camera.
Argus Gear by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Vacation Bound by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The Visitor by P F McFarland, on Flickr
PF
Argus Gear by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Vacation Bound by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The Visitor by P F McFarland, on Flickr
PF
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
I thought all film photographers loved fidgeting. And fondling. And GAS attacks. Etc., etc. Looks like you coaxed some pretty nice results out of your Argus gear, farlymac! This is not helping with my GAS, by the way. It's a shame the Argus looked more like a kitchen appliance than a camera, but from another perspective, perhaps that's some of its charm.
farlymac
PF McFarland
The only GAS attacks I got with the Argus was buying the lenses. People were giving me the cameras every time I turned around.
PF
The lens on the C3 is a really good Cooke Triplet. I converted the one Raid has to Contax mount, he used with an adapter for the Leica. The camera was dead.
The Argus C3 and C2- remind me of the Contax I styling.
The Argus C3 and C2- remind me of the Contax I styling.
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
I only have 3 or 4 of them (C3). They are each slightly different. I'm sure there is an Argus C3 collectors site and society somewhere... I bet there are as many variants of the C3 as there are LTM Leicas.
I also have C4 and C44 models...and maybe others? All but one of my Argi came to me free of charge when friends, colleagues, and even strangers learned that I like and collect old cameras. I make it a point to use all of my cameras (if in working condition) at least once. The Argi were plenty enjoyable in use and images were good. Limitation was with the user.
How hard is it to convert a Cintar (lens) to LTM? [Looking at you Brian.]
I also have C4 and C44 models...and maybe others? All but one of my Argi came to me free of charge when friends, colleagues, and even strangers learned that I like and collect old cameras. I make it a point to use all of my cameras (if in working condition) at least once. The Argi were plenty enjoyable in use and images were good. Limitation was with the user.
How hard is it to convert a Cintar (lens) to LTM? [Looking at you Brian.]
The focal length is close enough to the Leica standard, and the aperture mechanism stays with the lens. It is not hard. I have spare Contax 5cm F1.5 mounts from converting Sonnars, and used it out of convenience. It was done years ago, but remember using a variable stand-off shim to set the focus and then using epoxy to set in place, with a heavy-duty vice to set in place. I've done the same with a couple of 5cm F2.5 Tessars in Exakta mount, picked up for $10 each.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Never did a mount conversion on the Cintar 50, but a friend of mine had me flip the middle element on one for that center sharp look which was kind of a fad for a while. There is an adapter for sale on eBay for C-44 lenses to M mount. For your research on the variations of the C-3 go to The Argus Collectors Group
PF