The Argus C-3 - the camera with the quirkiest lens change ever!
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
- Hey there! In this video, I'll have an in-depth look at the Argus C-3. This was the most successful 35mm camera of its time. An American legend!
0:00 Intro
3:05 How to operate the Argus C-3
4:41 Inside & shutter
6:00 "Matchmatic" - a masterpiece in marketing!
7:16 The short rise of the American camera industry
8:52 "The brick"
10:59 The good
11:56 The bad
13:51 The crazy - how to change the lens!
17:11 The awesome
18:37 If you want one today ...
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The Argus C-3 camera manual can be found on this excellent website:
www.butkus.org/chinon/argus/a...
Many thanks to Flintsauctions for providing product photos of classic cameras! Check out their website here:
www.flintsauctions.com
My instagram:
/ my7views
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Score:
Jane Street - TrackTribe
(Available on CZcams Audio Library) - Zábava
Thanks for this video. I first saw the Argus C3 in 2003, in the 1940 movie “The Philadelphia Story”. Being in the US, I found loads of them on eBay in the $5-$15 range. I collected them for a decade or so, and gradually overhauled them, both camera and lens, so that now I have 22 restored Argus C-series cameras; 2 of them are original “C” models 4 are C2’s, and the rest are C3’s.
The 50mm f/3.5 Cintar lenses were uncoated until after WWII. Starting in 1946, they were single-coated. They are a 3-element Cooke triplet design, on a 33mm screw mount, very nice and sharp when you get a good copy. The post WWII lenses tend to be better, particularly the late uncoated and early coated versions from 1945-1946. The lens variant from that period has an 11-blade iris diaphragm, whereas every other version, before and after, has a 10-blade iris. I have taken some of my favorite photographs with these cameras.
The Philadelphia Story! It's ages that I watched that movie - I obviously have to watch it again because I don't even remember the Argus C-3 in it! I do remember that in High Society - the 1950's remake starring Grace Kelly - there was a gorgeous Nikon S2!
Thanks for your information about the different versions of Argus lenses. Very much appreciated!
3:48 That silver plate is the access point for the rangefinder calibration screws.
You can also reposition the shutter priming lever by unscrewing it clockwise and adjust the height of the small nut hidden beneath. It might be on there tight.
Many thanks for your explanation! I greatly appreciate it!
Just picked up a C3 from an antique store for $25 with original box, instructions and flash attachment. The flash plugs into 2 holes in the side with no flash bracket on top.
Beautiful camera and soon to be in my collection of well used cameras. Have not determined exactly what year it is yet.
Thanks for the great video ☺️
I am also not an expert in exact dating of Argus C3 cameras. Overall they didn’t change a lot in all those years.
The original flashes all use flash bulbs so either you manage to source some of those for a truly vintage flash experience… I have also seen folks who have modified their Argus to work with a modern flash, but that involves some modifications also to the camera itself as the timing of modern electronic flashes and vintage bulbs is different. (Which is why many cameras back in the day had two settings for flash use, but the Argus C3 doesn’t.)
Thanks for your comment and I hope you have a lot of fun with your Argus!
I’m from Ann Arbor, remember the Argus factory, my father had a C3, and he knew someone that worked there. In the early 1970s I got into photography, and explored my father’s closet where he kept the family cameras, a Rolleicord and a C3 among others. Sorry I never used it. It never seemed a serious camera with myself being into Leica. I had a 21mm Leitz external finder at that time that was in unusable condition. So with Argus in mind I took it to the factory and met with an optical engineer. They took it apart, cleaned, coated, and put it together, at no cost! It was just an interesting project for him. The C3 is now a bit iconic in its brick look. From my family photographs the lens was ok, and that outside gear between the lens and the rangefinder coupling is kind of crazy funny.
Many thanks for sharing your memories and that insight. What a great story that the engineer at Argus helped with refurbishing the Leitz Finder. After all, optics are a universal language I guess! I heard and read various comments that the Argus lenses were of a good quality, something you maybe wouldn’t expect at first glance from this brick shaped camera!
The Argus C3 was my first rangefinder camera. I used it for years before I learned that it had interchangeable lenses.
I now own three bodies and three lenses (100mm f/4.5, 50mm f/3.5, and 35mm f/4.5).
I keep a lens permanently attached to a body so I do not have to spend time switching lenses.
The C3 is the oldest camera that I still use. I especially like using it when I am photographing antique auto shows.
I had to laugh reading that you used the camera for years before realizing that you can change the lens 😃
By the way, do you know if the two interchangeable lenses (35 + 100) are really made in Germany? I wonder why they won't produce those in the U.S. just as well as they did the 50!
I got one of these through an estate about a year ago. It's in great shape, but I've never shot it. I've taken quite a few pictures of it though. It makes a great model for nostalgic photos.
Great video!
It really does look super cool !!! :D
Thanks for the memories! My dad had a C3, which was all I knew until at least the 70s. He must have bought it in the mid 50s before I was born. When my grandfather died, I ended up with the tele lens and some kind of electronic flash, I believe. The split prism focus was terrific and all of my family memories come from slides taken on that camera. I never got a "proper" SLR until
the 1980s (Minolta x700).
Well you’re welcome and I am happy that my video brought back those nice memories for you! Yes there was an electronic flash that would be mounted to the side of the camera. And also the Argus was actually a great camera for flash use because the shutter would work at all settings with the flash - something that more „modern“ cameras with a focal plane shutter couldn’t do!
I just bought one of these, love it
That sounds great, it’s definitely a camera with a lot of character! I hope you’ll have a lot of fun with it!
For a camera from 1939 it looks excellent. I don't know what they cost at the time, but my guess is they cost a fraction of what a German camera cost. So I would think value for money was a selling point as well.
Yes, the Argus was very affordable and as you say, that was part of its success!
Fine summary of this camera. I learned the basics on a used C-3 bought second hand. Still have, but don’t use it. Not good for sports - need to cock shutter each time, separate film advance really slows one down. Same for top shutter speed. Came with durable leather case. Lots were made, so you can get them at flea markets for less than $20.
Many thanks for your feedback! Yes, it's not for sports or fast action - on the other hand, back then folks used cameras like that for all those moments, cause they were all that was available. I totally admire the skills of the photographers of these times!
Enjoyable video Thomas! I have a C-3, C-4, and C-4 Geiss in my collection. A friend of mine used a C-3 in the early 80’s. A fun machine. Hope you shoot with yours soon. Thanks!
The photographer Duane Michals famously began his career shooting in Moscow using a borrowed Argus C-3
Thanks for your insight. I didn't know that. Now that I googled, I found this very interesting article on Imaging Resource that also mentions him using the Argus-C3, actually also because it made producing double exposures so easy:
www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/11/22/duane-michals-the-photographer-who-invented-himself
Nice history intro. Love the design!
Thanks Georgios! And yes, the design is an icon!
Happy New Year Tom, I have one of those Argus cameras, Never got to use it yet! Always great to see some of these cameras get love! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, you're welcome! And Happy New Year to you too!
The C3 with the green markings was used in the Harry Potter movies.
Ohh! I have to check that out again! I do remember the Argus from Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow though! They put a giant "fake" frame counter on it because the dwindling number of remaining frames was a running gag in that movie ...
Thank you for the video on one my favorite cameras. I was a bit let down that you didn’t shoot it and share samples, because it can make really superb images. I have serviced several C-3 cameras (and have plenty of spare bodies). I’d be happy to provide you with one ready to shoot. Just let me know. : )
Oh, thanks a lot for your generous offer! I greatly appreciate it!
Great presentation video as always Tom. The looks of this camera is super cool - it's quite Steam Punk.
Thanks! And yes, I love its looks as well!
At least one Japanes co. mad interchangeable lenses for them. I have a 35mm 3.5 lens for it marked Fujinon. I can find no info on the co. on line though.
Nice review!
Fujinon? That's maybe some very early lens from the same Fujinon corporation that still exists and makes all the Fuji cameras and lenses these days ?
@@tomscamerasThis lens is not synced with the rangefinder. Must use zone focusing.
Thanks for this. I've overlooked these until now, but I think I may hunt one down.
It's definitely not the most ergonomic camera to use today, but definitely it's a great classic!
@@tomscameras I like cameras like this because of their quirks, not despite them. I think that anyone looking for a perfect vintage camera to use regularly is missing the point and should probably stick to digital 😄.
this was known as the Argus brick. the edges of the camera are shap enough to open a can. A painful camera to hold. I had one in 1967 and did not like it too much so I bought a CZ Jena Exakta 500 in '68 and then on to minolta in 1970, and I still use that camera.
Yes, that brick shape is pretty unique for 35mm cameras :)
Would be great to try to test this lens with mirrorless camera.
BTW interesting info about the bakelite, I didn't know about that.
Now that you say it: there are lens adapters for Sony and maybe also other mounts available e.g. on eBay!
It's not straight 😣
What do you mean?
@@tomscameras That painting there on the wall. Took my focus little bit away
oh, haha. Well it is straight (I can see that in reality) but it might look like it is not because of the camera angle! It's a photography by the way that I took in Iceland.
@@tomscameras I thought it might be straight, but it just seemed to be so skewed that all my eyes could see was a crooked line. I really didn't think the picture would be of Iceland when there seem to be only a few places to take pictures. When you know that the image is from there, it gives you a lot more time for the image. Well done 👍🏻
Like cockroaches, the C3 will be the last thing on earth.
🤣