68degrees
Well-known
Ive seen one with 50 and one with 75? On 120 format what is that equal to on a 35mm? Would a 50mm be a wide angle? Does anyone know the angle it would be or compared to an 35mm slr? Would it be like a 24mm or so?
Pioneer
Veteran
Mine has the Agfa Apotar 85/4.5 triplet. There were probably other options but I have never handled one with a 75 nor a 50mm lens.
NeeZee
Well-known
Always thought it's the same as the Agfa Super Isolette. Are you sure the 50mm wasn't a 35mm film camera? I don't think there are any classic MF folders with a wide angle...
NeeZee
Well-known
I think there are 75mm and 85mm versions of the Isolette.
NeeZee
Well-known
This might be the 50mm versions you've seen, but that's another camera which takes 35mm film: http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Ansco_Super_Regent
So you basically always get a 'normal' lens in classic folders, no matter which format...
So you basically always get a 'normal' lens in classic folders, no matter which format...
Pioneer
Veteran
Yes, the 50 would have been a Super Regent, and now that you remind me I remember the Super Isolette and Super Speedex were supplied with a 75mm Solinar, which was reputed to be a very nice lens.
kuzano
Veteran
Agnar, Apotar, Solinar....
Agnar, Apotar, Solinar....
Can't speak specifically about the Speedex, but the triad of lenses used on most Agfa folders were a three element, and up the scale were the Apotar, and the Solinar. What vaguely recall the element count in the two upscale lenses, the Apotar and Solinar.
The Apotar is a triplett also, and the Solinar was 4 elements I believe.
One of the things to remember about all old folders. There was not much consistency in which model came with which grade lens. It's not a given that ALL Speedex models would have a Solinar. It appears a customer might be able to custom order a specific lens, but it's just as likely that the remaining lenses on the parts rack went on the cameras going out, if supply of a higher or lower grade lens might be in order for that camera.
Agfa and Ansco both shared a lot of model names, as there was an Ansco speedex. The also shared the same lens selections.
Agfa's were notorious for needing early bellows replacement or repair.
Agnar, Apotar, Solinar....
Can't speak specifically about the Speedex, but the triad of lenses used on most Agfa folders were a three element, and up the scale were the Apotar, and the Solinar. What vaguely recall the element count in the two upscale lenses, the Apotar and Solinar.
The Apotar is a triplett also, and the Solinar was 4 elements I believe.
One of the things to remember about all old folders. There was not much consistency in which model came with which grade lens. It's not a given that ALL Speedex models would have a Solinar. It appears a customer might be able to custom order a specific lens, but it's just as likely that the remaining lenses on the parts rack went on the cameras going out, if supply of a higher or lower grade lens might be in order for that camera.
Agfa and Ansco both shared a lot of model names, as there was an Ansco speedex. The also shared the same lens selections.
Agfa's were notorious for needing early bellows replacement or repair.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Wadda ya mean "were notorious"? They still are! Haven't got one yet that wasn't holed on some way or another. Some folks steal the bellows off of junk Zeiss Nettars, or find NOS ones to fix their Agfa/Ansco. Or you can get Sandeha Lynch (look him up, he's a member) to make you one, in four great colors.
The Apotar is a very good triplet, without all that swirl in the OOF areas that you get with a Zeiss Novar. The Solinar is a Tessar design, and I love the one on my Karat 36 (also available as the Ansco Karamat). For almost all Agfa models, there is an Ansco equivilent, up to the point when Ansco folded, which I can't recall. The Ansco Speedex Special "R" is the same as an Agfa Isollette III, and came with either the Apotar, or Solinar. Some Agfas came with a Soligon lens, which is a nice six element design, but flare prone.
Another lens to watch out for is the Rodenstock Heligon, which happens to be on my second Karat.
PF
The Apotar is a very good triplet, without all that swirl in the OOF areas that you get with a Zeiss Novar. The Solinar is a Tessar design, and I love the one on my Karat 36 (also available as the Ansco Karamat). For almost all Agfa models, there is an Ansco equivilent, up to the point when Ansco folded, which I can't recall. The Ansco Speedex Special "R" is the same as an Agfa Isollette III, and came with either the Apotar, or Solinar. Some Agfas came with a Soligon lens, which is a nice six element design, but flare prone.
Another lens to watch out for is the Rodenstock Heligon, which happens to be on my second Karat.
PF
charjohncarter
Veteran
Mine is the same, but some, I think, came with Agnar lenses.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Just dug my Standard Speedex out of the junk box, and it has the 90mm f6.3 Anastigmat.
PF
PF
jnoir
Well-known
Ansco (Anthony Scottville) was, by an agreement before WW2, US distributor for Agfa. Agfa products were then rebadged to Ansco when sold in the US. Not sure if these cameras were imported or made in the US, though.
There were several models of Isolette / Speedex. The original ones from the 30's and early 40's do make extensive use of plastic and bakelite, while post-war units have more metal, specially the Isolette II and Isolette III (and, of course, the Super). Early ones, such as the B2, had single meniscus or simple f/6.3 lenses, although there was the 45 available. Later models, most notably the II and III (especially the latter) had Solinar lenses in 85mm and 75mm (own both), older models have the 85mm on Compur-Rapid (not really common, but not rare either).
As a side note, the Apotar (a great triplet, close to the Radionar in performance, both two of the triplets that I like best and therefore use most) was not an Agfa design, but something aquired from their merge with Rietschel in 1920s IIRC.
There were several models of Isolette / Speedex. The original ones from the 30's and early 40's do make extensive use of plastic and bakelite, while post-war units have more metal, specially the Isolette II and Isolette III (and, of course, the Super). Early ones, such as the B2, had single meniscus or simple f/6.3 lenses, although there was the 45 available. Later models, most notably the II and III (especially the latter) had Solinar lenses in 85mm and 75mm (own both), older models have the 85mm on Compur-Rapid (not really common, but not rare either).
As a side note, the Apotar (a great triplet, close to the Radionar in performance, both two of the triplets that I like best and therefore use most) was not an Agfa design, but something aquired from their merge with Rietschel in 1920s IIRC.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
From 1928 to 1941, Ansco was a Agfa subsidiary. And I don't think Agfa ever designed/made lenses prior to the Rietschel affiliation/acquisition - they only expanded into the camera market at around the same time, early cameras all have Rietschel branded lenses, and the Agfa camera factories were located at the former Rietschel plant.
graywolf
Well-known
Ansco was a Agfa's US distributor. When Ansco went bankrupt in the 1930's Agfa bought them lock stock and barrow. During WWII, the US government confiscated all of Agfa's property in the US, and had a hired management team run it. They (the US government) finally sold it off in the 1950's, and Ansco soon went bankrupt again. Sounds like the plot of a cheap novel, huh?
There are even conspiracy theories woven around all this.
There are even conspiracy theories woven around all this.
graywolf
Well-known
As far as I know the Super Speedex/Super Isolette only came with the top of the line Solinar. Also, I have never heard that they had bellows problems. Being Agfa's top of the line camera they had leather bellows, and an entirely different frame than the cheaper cameras. Superb cameras if you do not mind the weight. Almost all the TOL coupled rangefinder 6x6 folders were very heavy (for a folder). Typically a kilogram (2.2lbs) or more.
Let me add that most of them were the End of the Line for folding cameras. They came out when interchangable lenses were becoming the norm, so they did not have a long product life. Wedding photographers were switching from folders (including the Speed Graphic) and going with the Rolleiflex or the new Hasselblad 500C (I think the 500C now holds the record for the camera that was produced the longest time). News photographers were switching from the Speed Graphic to the Rolleiflex, which itself was replaced by the Nikon F a few years later. The industrial photographers were the ones who held on to their Press Cameras the longest.
As an aside, this was also the time when that fellow "graywolf", still a kid, got interested in photography. Next came credit cards (prior to that you had to get credit at the store you were shopping in) and the end of the Vietnam War and all the returning GI's using their new credit cards to buy cameras, stereos, and motorcycles which wound up causing incredible inflation. It seems strange to realize that half the people in the US were not even born back then.
Let me add that most of them were the End of the Line for folding cameras. They came out when interchangable lenses were becoming the norm, so they did not have a long product life. Wedding photographers were switching from folders (including the Speed Graphic) and going with the Rolleiflex or the new Hasselblad 500C (I think the 500C now holds the record for the camera that was produced the longest time). News photographers were switching from the Speed Graphic to the Rolleiflex, which itself was replaced by the Nikon F a few years later. The industrial photographers were the ones who held on to their Press Cameras the longest.
As an aside, this was also the time when that fellow "graywolf", still a kid, got interested in photography. Next came credit cards (prior to that you had to get credit at the store you were shopping in) and the end of the Vietnam War and all the returning GI's using their new credit cards to buy cameras, stereos, and motorcycles which wound up causing incredible inflation. It seems strange to realize that half the people in the US were not even born back then.
jdriffill
Established
I have an Agfa Super Isolette that has a Solinar 75mm f3.5 lens in a Synchro Compur shutter. It seems a very solid camera. The bellows -- I think original -- seem in good shape and light tight. The only weakness of these, I understand, is that the wind-on mechanism (it doesn't use a red window on the back of the camera; the wind-on knob comes to a stop after the film has been wound one by one frame) contains a pin that can be broken if you are not careful with it. But maybe this is another internet myth. It weighs 800 grammes.