Agfa Karat love.

Chrismat · Nov 18, 2018

Anybody use Agfa Karat cameras? I've always liked the Kodak Retina series of 35mm rangefinders, but I find myself starting to use my Agfa Karat IV more and more. I have a Karat 36 with a Solinar 2.8 lens but my favorite is my Karat IV with the Solagon six element 2.0 lens. I lucked out getting it a few years ago. It had the stiff focusing problem that most of these cameras suffer from, but I was able to remove most of the seized grease and re-lubed it with synthetic grease. The slower shutter speeds (1/5, 1/2 and1 second) hang up, but that isn't that important to me. I took photos this past September when I was at Fort Tryon Park and The Cloisters in NYC.

Portra 800, Unicolor C41 kit.

AgX · Nov 19, 2018

I guess the users of Karat cameras are limited as people no longer like Karat-, Rapid, SL-cassettes.

(Though later came Karat models for type-135.)

Chrismat · Nov 19, 2018

Both models I own are standard 35mm. The film advance lever takes a little getting used by having to pull the lever toward the back of the camera. Ergonomically I prefer the Retinas.

AgX · Nov 19, 2018

But with "Karat" cameras I first think of Karat cassettes. They were designed together with these innovative cassettes. Out of 81 versions only 29 were designed for type-135.
Likely from your american perspective with export models this looks different.

I hardly ever see Karat samples. Which is surprising with the number of variants and samples made.

Maybe with the success of type-135 and type-Karat seeming obsolete they were dumped. With the rebirth of that cassette in form of type-Rapid such cameras were suddenly popular again and Rapid cameras are ubiquitous over here.

Pentode · Nov 19, 2018

I enjoy using my Karat IV quite a bit despite its stiff focussing and film advance. It’s a nice camera. I’ve been on the lookout for a clean Karat 36.

Chrismat · Nov 19, 2018

The Karat 36 is nice but one thing that I find annoying is the complete horizontal split in the rangefinder, I prefer the standard spot focusing utilized by the vast majority of rangefinder cameras. Mine is off a bit so I mostly zone focus with it. One of these days I'm going to adjust it properly.

Deleted member 88956 · Feb 7, 2019

Chrismat said:
The Karat 36 is nice but one thing that I find annoying is the complete horizontal split in the rangefinder, I prefer the standard spot focusing utilized by the vast majority of rangefinder cameras. Mine is off a bit so I mostly zone focus with it. One of these days I'm going to adjust it properly.

Exact opposite feeling here as I find it most of the time easier to find a vertical element in majority of shots. I've shot only one roll so far (a side effect of having many different vintage bodies) but of all older bodies this one stands out, partly due to that horizontal split across the finder, then the flip out winding lever, then the overall look of this thing.

GRHazelton · Feb 7, 2019

I have a Karat IV with the Solagon f 2.0. A pleasant camera, good VF, good handling, really good lens. But woe betide one who buys a Katat IV without the ever ready case! The Karat IV has NO strap lugs! What was Agfa thinking? Here's a nice write up of this little jewel: https://www.cameraquest.com/agfakar4.htm

Deleted member 88956 · Feb 7, 2019

Just pulled out mine This one is with Schneider Xenon 50 f2.0. There were 3 different 6 element lenses supplied with this camera: Schneider Xenon, Agfa Solagon or Rodenstock Heligon, or on cheaper version the Agfa Solinar f2.8 4-element.

Chrismat · Feb 7, 2019

GRHazelton said:
I have a Karat IV with the Solagon f 2.0. A pleasant camera, good VF, good handling, really good lens. But woe betide one who buys a Katat IV without the ever ready case! The Karat IV has NO strap lugs! What was Agfa thinking? Here's a nice write up of this little jewel: https://www.cameraquest.com/agfakar4.htm

Yes, not having strap lugs is a pain. Mine came with its case, the top was beat up so I removed it. Since the bottom has strap lugs now I can carry the camera around with a strap.

The bigger sin Agfa did was using that grease stiffens, although it's not difficult removing most of it and replacing it with more modern grease.

Deleted member 88956 · Feb 8, 2019

Chrismat said:
... The bigger sin Agfa did was using that grease stiffens, although it's not difficult removing most of it and replacing it with more modern grease.

What exactly did you have to do to clean out the old grease? I just noticed stiffening on mine a little more than last used and it would make a slow shooter. Any grease recommendations?

Chrismat · Feb 8, 2019

Witold said:
What exactly did you have to do to clean out the old grease? I just noticed stiffening on mine a little more than last used and it would make a slow shooter. Any grease recommendations?

I opened up the back of the camera and used naphtha (lighter fluid) with a lot of Q-tips to remove most of the grease. I applied a little bit of the lighter fluid, and wiped off the old grease and kept repeating. I don't have the proper tools to dismantle the camera, but this method, although slow, worked. I ordered a basic multi use synthetic grease on-line.

Deleted member 88956 · Feb 8, 2019

Chrismat said:
I opened up the back of the camera and used naphtha (lighter fluid) with a lot of Q-tips to remove most of the grease. I applied a little bit of the lighter fluid, and wiped off the old grease and kept repeating. I don't have the proper tools to dismantle the camera, but this method, although slow, worked. I ordered a basic multi use synthetic grease on-line.

Thanks, worth trying before I jump onto total disassembly. Shutter works fin eon mine so I don't really need to get to this.

M-88 · Feb 10, 2019

I have Karat 6.3 which came to me from my coworker. He in turn got it from some late photographer. It's just a novelty item to me due to propietary casettes and difficulties with reloading them. I could never get more than 15 frames to work with it.

AgX · Feb 10, 2019

Most cameras using Karat/Rapid/SL casettes have a counter-stop to avoid releasing after the last bit of film has passes the gate.
These cassettes were intended for rather short strip of films.

Deleted member 88956 · Feb 10, 2019

AgX said:
Most cameras using Karat/Rapid/SL casettes have a counter-stop to avoid releasing after the last bit of film has passes the gate.
These cassettes were intended for rather short strip of films.

Since there is choice I would not subscribe to proprietary cassette Karats as standard cassettes make life so much easier. And the models with 6 element lenses are quite good too.

AgX · Feb 10, 2019

Cameras for these cassettes are ubiquous here, one cannot evade them.
Of course there are alternatives...

One may call these cassettes proprietary, but should not overlook that 6 camera manufacturers employed these cassettes.

Deleted member 88956 · Feb 10, 2019

AgX said:
Cameras for these cassettes are ubiquous here, one cannot evade them.
Of course there are alternatives...

One may call these cassettes proprietary, but should not overlook that 6 camera manufacturers employed these cassettes.

My point was there are Agfa Karats for regular cassettes so no point of going with something that is obsolete and on top of fusing a vintage camera face cassettes related issues.

AgX · Feb 10, 2019

Well, all our cameras are obsolete...

M-88 · Feb 10, 2019

Some cameras are more obsolete, than others, however. But it looks nice on the shelf and is a real head turner when I take it for a walk.

titrisol · Apr 27, 2023

I just got a Karat12 with the Karat-Xenar f/2.8 lens - 4 or 5 element?
It came in a box of AGFAs, of which I was interested in an Isolette III and Isolette II
It is very clean, all works after exercising it a little and the split-RF is awesome.
The focus was a tad stiff, but not anymore, thanks to some exercise and a quick clean of the helicoid with q-tips moist in electric contact cleaner

I refuse to accept it is a great mantle piece, so I need to find an alternative to the Rapid cassettes.
I found a 3D printed alternative, and will test it soon
Meanwhile I'll load some doubleX and see what happens

Donald Qualls · Apr 28, 2023

titrisol said:
I found a 3D printed alternative, and will test it soon

Rapid cartridges seem like a very good candidate for 3D printed replacements.

TheFlyingCamera · Apr 28, 2023

I have one with the Rodenstock f2.0 lens. It needs a whole bunch of stuff - the focusing is incredibly stiff, the shutter speeds are off, and the film advance has issues. I like the ergonomics of it and the overall quirkiness, but it may end up sitting on the shelf as a display piece because the quote I got for overhauling it was in the $600 range. If anyone here knows someone who would tackle it for less money, I'd be open to any suggestions.

GRHazelton · Apr 28, 2023

GRHazelton said:
I have a Karat IV with the Solagon f 2.0. A pleasant camera, good VF, good handling, really good lens. But woe betide one who buys a Katat IV without the ever ready case! The Karat IV has NO strap lugs! What was Agfa thinking? Here's a nice write up of this little jewel: https://www.cameraquest.com/agfakar4.htm

Tim at filterfind.net set me up with several screw-in filters and a lens hood for my Karat IV. Happily the case hood will close over the Skylight filter. Tim also set me up with a similar kit for my Agfa Super Silette with the f2 Sologon. Sadly the case hood will not fit with the Skylight filter mounted. And so it goes......

titrisol · May 3, 2023

TheFlyingCamera said:
I have one with the Rodenstock f2.0 lens. It needs a whole bunch of stuff - the focusing is incredibly stiff, the shutter speeds are off, and the film advance has issues. I like the ergonomics of it and the overall quirkiness, but it may end up sitting on the shelf as a display piece because the quote I got for overhauling it was in the $600 range. If anyone here knows someone who would tackle it for less money, I'd be open to any suggestions.

Overhauling it for 600, that is a lot!
The shutter is a Prontor/Compur which are not hard to overhaul, stiff focusing is an easy fix, the AGFA green goo curse is very common and rubbing a qtip with electrical contact cleaner on the focusing helicoid should improve it in a jiffy.

Agfa Karat love.

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

Deleted member 88956

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