Post by johnbear on Nov 14, 2015 11:26:29 GMT -5
I thought I'd share my latest acquisition.
In 1976 Agfa introduced it's compact point and shoot (well zone focus, point and shoot) Optima Sensor Electronic series of cameras, and the "Flash" model was added in 1981. It's an unusual camera in many respects.
* The shutter release is a two stage electromagnetic type, where a half press activates the meter. It's very smooth in use, and was designed to eliminate camera shake.
* The shutter itself is a Paratronic, which comprises two blades. The first blade is released when you press the shutter release, and the second is held back by an electromagnet for a period of time determined by the amount of light collected by the CdS cell, which in turn is converted to an exposure time by the camera's auto exposure circuitry.
* Shutter speeds are infinitely variable between 1/45th and 1/1000th of a second.
* The lens is a four element Tessar type f/2.8 "Solitar", which I guess stops down to f/22 (because all the other models in this series do). It has a feet/metres focusing scale, but is click-stopped for zone focusing.
* Exposure is fully automatic (nothing to set except the film speed), with an over/under exposure viewfinder warning light.
* The fold-out flash is equally fully automatic; it charges when opened, and the camera selects an aperture according to the focus setting.
* The film loading mechanism comprises a closed receptacle with a slit, through which the film leader is inserted and gripped by a sprocket wheel (no slots in spools or their variations), such that exposed film disappears behind a door and is (apparently) protected against accidental opening of the back cover.
* The film transport mechanism is also unusual, inasmuch that a small lever marked R reverses the transport gearing so that the film advance lever rewinds the film.
* Finally, it has a very large viewfinder, but the camera itself is tiny.
I like the weird and wonderful, and this camera is a bit of both. It may not be a candidate for a main camera, but it sure invites you to pop it in a pocket as a travelling companion.
If anyone has any information about this camera that I've failed to uncover, please let me know.
the Agfa Optima Sensor Electronic Flash
In 1976 Agfa introduced it's compact point and shoot (well zone focus, point and shoot) Optima Sensor Electronic series of cameras, and the "Flash" model was added in 1981. It's an unusual camera in many respects.
* The shutter release is a two stage electromagnetic type, where a half press activates the meter. It's very smooth in use, and was designed to eliminate camera shake.
* The shutter itself is a Paratronic, which comprises two blades. The first blade is released when you press the shutter release, and the second is held back by an electromagnet for a period of time determined by the amount of light collected by the CdS cell, which in turn is converted to an exposure time by the camera's auto exposure circuitry.
* Shutter speeds are infinitely variable between 1/45th and 1/1000th of a second.
* The lens is a four element Tessar type f/2.8 "Solitar", which I guess stops down to f/22 (because all the other models in this series do). It has a feet/metres focusing scale, but is click-stopped for zone focusing.
* Exposure is fully automatic (nothing to set except the film speed), with an over/under exposure viewfinder warning light.
* The fold-out flash is equally fully automatic; it charges when opened, and the camera selects an aperture according to the focus setting.
* The film loading mechanism comprises a closed receptacle with a slit, through which the film leader is inserted and gripped by a sprocket wheel (no slots in spools or their variations), such that exposed film disappears behind a door and is (apparently) protected against accidental opening of the back cover.
* The film transport mechanism is also unusual, inasmuch that a small lever marked R reverses the transport gearing so that the film advance lever rewinds the film.
* Finally, it has a very large viewfinder, but the camera itself is tiny.
I like the weird and wonderful, and this camera is a bit of both. It may not be a candidate for a main camera, but it sure invites you to pop it in a pocket as a travelling companion.
If anyone has any information about this camera that I've failed to uncover, please let me know.
the Agfa Optima Sensor Electronic Flash