Review: Agfa Karat IV

[outfitter]

FYI Aktiengesellschaft means stock company (i.e. similar to an American corporation). Agfa was formed in the 19th century as a German aniline dye manufacturer but joined forces with, Gevaert a Belgium photo company. Aniline dyes were just part of the revolution in the chemical industry resulting from the synthesis of coal tar; a chemical company is a natural to join with a photo paper manufacturer like Gevaert.

During WWII Agfa’s American assets were seized as enemy property and renamed ANSCO (which was a 19th century American photo company - Anthony & Scoville Co - that merged with Agfa in the 1920s). Later ANSCO was renamed General Aniline & Film (GAF),

I have a Karat 36 with the Solagon 2/50 ($5 at a flea market) and my impressions of the fine quality of the lens are similar. A press on Kodak 1 ¼ inch series VI adapter ring with a Kodak series VI “A” type lens hood (easy to find a camera shows) helps a lot.

 

[bmattock]

FYI Aktiengesellschaft means stock company (i.e. similar to an American corporation). Agfa was formed in the 19th century as a German aniline dye manufacturer but joined forces with, Gevaert a Belgium photo company. Aniline dyes were just part of the revolution in the chemical industry resulting from the synthesis of coal tar; a chemical company is a natural to join with a photo paper manufacturer like Gevaert.

During WWII Agfa’s American assets were seized as enemy property and renamed ANSCO (which was a 19th century American photo company - Anthony & Scoville Co - that merged with Agfa in the 1920s). Later ANSCO was renamed General Aniline & Film (GAF),

I have a Karat 36 with the Solagon 2/50 ($5 at a flea market) and my impressions of the fine quality of the lens are similar. A press on Kodak 1 ¼ inch series VI adapter ring with a Kodak series VI “A” type lens hood (easy to find a camera shows) helps a lot.

Thanks for the information, I keep learning! For what is it worth, I have several of the Agfa Karat IV's with various lenses, and I love them. I had a 36 and sold it, it was a fine camera but I could not get used to having the entire image split instead of a center spot as in more traditional rangefinder cameras.

I think the 36 & IV Karats are overlooked and undervalued pocket-cameras. Well-made and easy to work on, the exemplify the best German workmanship of the period - at a price anyone can afford.

I'm a huge Agfa fan - but you can tell that, can't you?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[kendle]

Hi Bill,

I just recently joined this forum, and at the same time purchased an Agfa Karat IV with the Solinar lens. The camera is in almost mint condition except for the usual grease-locked focus which I easily repaired using your information. I also freed-up the advance lever by the same method. The problem now is that since then, the shutter does not cock when the advance lever is pulled. All of the linkage works correctly, but the shutter does not fire. What did I do wrong, and how can I fix it? Any help that you or others can offer will be greatly appreciated, Thank you and Regards, Ken.

 

[RANDALL]

Hello Bill...I notice the original post was March of '04. Since then- now Jan 08- have you indeed been able to compare the sologon lens with the xenon lens in this Agfa camera? What is your personal take on the tessar v biogon? BTW I loved your review and purchased a IV based soley on it. Thanks...RANDALL

 

[RANDALL]

Hello again.. answered my own question by rumaging in the archive section. Thanks