Some time in December I read a lot about middle format cameras. I found out I couldn’t afford a medium format SLR. Than this site selling vintage folding cameras caught my attention. After trying to resist the temptation I gave up and searched for those cameras in local second hand photo shop. I found one Agfa Isorrete (Not a typo, I don’t know why it is spelled with R when almost all web resources talk only about Isolette with L).
It looks quite well given it’s price about 20EUR. Next I bought my first roll film ever, managed to load it in (not as easy as a 35mm film user might think) and went shooting. I must admit I usually shoot with some sort of automatic exposure metering, so the fact that the developed film contained only a few pictures well exposed didn’t surprise me. However the once that were, seem to be very good for a camera half a century old.
The photo is scanned from a 15×15cm print on my crappy scanner so in reality it looks even better. I like the photo, but I also really like the camera. How it opens, how it looks and how easy it is to carry it around (compared to medium format cameras, not camera phones obviously).
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Was lookin’ for this… I might even
have to throw down a bookmark.
Nickster
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I have an Isorette (as appears on the front) that belonged to my dad. Took it to England & back during WW2. Took many photos with it including som Dufaycolour(?) colour slides around 1939-1940 (some views overlooking the 1940 centennial site in Wellington New Zealand). I’ve just been regreasing the focus thread. Mine has a 300th of a second shutter - Compur - with an Apotar 8.5cm lens. One problem with these old cameras was the red windows in the back tended to let light in, and the bellows can crack. You will definitely need an exposure meter to get the good shots.
Wow, Christmas is just around the corner! I should just keep the decorations up year round.
2Tony: I haven’t had any problems with the red window so far, but the bellows crack all the time. I use black color to fix the holes. An exposure meter would definitely help, however this photo was a lucky guess.
Actually, Agfa started branding “Isorette” the very first batches of Isolettes. That was sometime between 1937 and 1938. They changed back to Isolette then, and all the cameras were branded that way until 1954.1960 when production of Isolettes and Super Isolettes ceased. So take care of the one you have, it’s worth the 20EUR (easily three or four times this if camera is in good shape), a little piece of history ;-) Add a small lightmeter and you’re done!
Further to my post about my Isorette, I also have the original box and instruction manual.