Sold Agfa Isolette III - Solinar - New Bellows.

[Alex Varas]

For your consideration this Agfa Isolette III with Solinar 75mm f/3.5 and Synchro-Compur MXV.
This is the latest model of the series.

I got the camera from a seller claiming bellows were fine and he removed the usual green grease from Agfa. Well… bellows were not that fine and I decided to put new ones from Sandeha Lynch, this time a new brown he makes. They fitted perfectly, drag and drop basically thank to Sandeha’s excellent work.
I serviced the shutter and now it’s working correctly, self-timer included.

Photos taken with this camera can be seen here, test roll went well, really nice photos and camera handling is great.
Double exposure and winding knob work fine, front gate opens strongly and remains closed.
Rangefinder is accurate and viewfinder glasses were cleaned.
Included a carry case with long strap in very good condition.

250€ shipped and paypaled, both EU and USA/Canada.

Any questions please let me know and thank you for looking.
Alex

 

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[peoplemerge]

I must say I’m curious about these. I had a folding camera with a triplet lens, it was handy but not a keeper. I don’t really know anything about Agfa camera manufacturing, or their lenses. I’d love someone to enlighten me, given the asking price must be worth it.

 

[binglebugbob]

The Solinar is a tessar. The Apotar was Agfa's better triplet. The Agnar was its entry level triplet.

I worked with a guy who used a camera similar to this one with an Apotar lens. He had no trouble selling travel photos taken with it for commercial use. The Solinar should be even better.

 

[Alan9940]

I had one of these and, though I really enjoy my Zeiss Super Ikonta III, I've always regretted selling the Agfa. It's a nice camera and the Solinar lens does not disappoint.

 

[BMbikerider]

Pardon me for saying it but I think you are under pricing this camera. There is one for sale in a shop in London for close on £500 and it is not in as good condition as this one.. I would love to buy yours but I don't use Payppal.

I will go along with the comments about the Solinar. it is a brilliant lens. I had a similar Agfa camera, more or less the same as yours, but with an uncoupled rangefinder. Sadly I can't for the life of me remember what I did with it.

 

[Alex Varas]

Thank you for the comments.

Small addition to the camera features, I’m so familiar with different folders that I made the mistake of not saying that Isolette III model has uncoupled rangefinder, you focus with the knob on the top, match the image in the viewfinder, read the distance mark and you turn the front lens to match the same distance mark.
The one with coupled rangefinder is the Super Isolette and yes, that goes for 500€ nowadays.

Agfa was one of the main players in 50’s with 35mm cameras with Silette series and in medium format with Record and Isolette series.
Apotar and Solinar are really good lenses, some people prefer Apotar and some Solinar.

About payment, I can do with bank transfer as well (IBAN/SWIFT), usually people prefer Paypal and only some EU customers choose bank transfer since no commission for any part.

 

[toulcaz31]

Great deal especially for a camera in such shape. Solinar lens cameras should definitely command higher prices but so many folding cameras are still undervalued in the market.
Something people don't see also on the pictures is how compact the camera is for a 6x6. It's even more pocketable than my beloved Super Ikonta III.

 

[Alan9940]

It's even more pocketable than my beloved Super Ikonta III.

And, because you use the red window to advance to the next frame you don't get the uneven frame spacing so common in the Super Ikonta III. I love mine, too, though...

 

[Hilo]

PM sent

 

[Alex Varas]

Sold, thank you.