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AGFA OPTIMA III
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It has not got a rangefinder at all.
You might refer to the model Optima IIIS. It got a rangefinder indeed. As the Optima IIS.
In case you actually got an S-model, the coating of the mirror inside the rangefinder might have deteriorated and thus that patched vanished.
You might refer to the model Optima IIIS. It got a rangefinder indeed. As the Optima IIS.
In case you actually got an S-model, the coating of the mirror inside the rangefinder might have deteriorated and thus that patched vanished.
Arbitrarium
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Guess.
Arbitrarium
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It's a zone focus camera, there should be symbols on the lens that indicate focus distances (mountains, group of people, head and shoulders) and that's about as accurate as it's going to get!
Not at all. That was the Standard for decades.
Rangefinder cameras and SLRs were the exception. Let alone autofocus cameras.
These Optima cameras have two distance scales at their focusing barrel: one with symbols, one with a meter scale. For critical situations you can measure the distance and set the focus ring accordingly.
summicron1
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if it does not have a rangefinder, you have to guestimate -- but for most images that is good enough. It probably only has an f 3.5 lens, if you shoot your images at f 8 or 5.6, even, your depth of field is wide enough so that your pictures come out just fine. Remember that these cameras were aimed at the consumer market, folks got, at most 4 inch pictures, so focus that was "good enough" was, well, good enough.
MattKing
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Many of my first cameras were scale focus cameras and I still use at least one of them with reasonable success. For instance, I have a large number of Kodachrome slides that were satisfactorily exposed without benefit of either a rangefinder/focus aid or a meter.
Some of the cameras I have acquired recently are also scale focus cameras, and with a reasonable amount of care, I can make well exposed and well focused photographs.
It requires a bit of practice, but you would be surprised how accurately you can estimate distance and exposure.
This was shot in a Baby Bessa - no built in meter or rangefinder available:
Some of the cameras I have acquired recently are also scale focus cameras, and with a reasonable amount of care, I can make well exposed and well focused photographs.
It requires a bit of practice, but you would be surprised how accurately you can estimate distance and exposure.
This was shot in a Baby Bessa - no built in meter or rangefinder available:
Please learn to read the dof scale on the lens. Set the aperture and see how much room you have...
Luckily my arm length is 1 meter long and it is kind of helping to scale focus closer object.
Luckily my arm length is 1 meter long and it is kind of helping to scale focus closer object.
hi, it looks very good and sharp that nice,,,and encouraging, i also using voightlander vito II but with a MEDIS Rangefinder to find the right zone and then i can define it on the lens. on the apotar ther is the 3 marks and at the bottom ther is only one choice: 3.5 fit/, anyway, i will start and check it out.
thank you very much.
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hi,
thank you, yes i will.
Bud Hamblen
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You also could get an accessory range finder. They were available from many manufacturers. You would measure the distance using the range finder and then transfer the distance to the scale on the lens. I have an Eastman Kodak Service Range Finder that will clip in the accessory shoe of my Kodak Monitor Six-20 or my Kodak 35.
hi bud, i am also using voightlander vito II but with a MEDIS Rangefinder to find the right zone and then i can define it on the lens. but on this apotar lens ther is the 3 marks on the top and at the bottom ther is only one choice: 3.5 fit to select, it's autu allaround.
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E. von Hoegh
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Here - http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCARCE-CHEL...126548?hash=item3aea302394:g:sUYAAOSw-89ZTP8Vwell, i dont know,,, "good enough" sound a very low expectation in any point of view to start, i hope i will learn to find a way to get a better result then
these "folks".
thanks.
A rangefinder that attaches to the accessory shoe, if the camera has one. If no shoe, hold it in your hand.
Transfer the distance from the rangefinder to the camera and you're focussed.
pbromaghin
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Since you already are using an accessory range finder, you are sitting better than you may believe. Go here:http://www.butkus.org/chinon/agfa/agfa_optima_ii_iiis/agfa_optima_ii_iiis.htm
to get the instruction manual that will show you how to set the camera to the distance your rangefinder is telling you.
Oh, and be sure to give the guy a few bucks.
to get the instruction manual that will show you how to set the camera to the distance your rangefinder is telling you.
Oh, and be sure to give the guy a few bucks.
i
Thanks pbromaghin, I allready got this instruction manual it is not for the optima III, becuse it's not a rangefinder, i couldn't find the III model it's very similar, but, you can't use the diamond mark in the viewfinder to be sure about the focus its all auto and have to learn by guessing the distance. using the medias rengfinder can help to learn even if there is no choice to select manualy beside the 3 auto option and the 3.5 fit for minimum fucos. that okay i fill much more convenient now.
pbromaghin
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You're welcome, and I hope you have a lot of fun with this camera. I used an old Zeiss folding camera with guess focusing and no meter for a couple of years and learned an awful lot from it. It's easier than you might think.
TheRook
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If you generally feel insecure about guessing distance to subject, you can get an accessory rangefinder and slide it into the camera's shoe. Then read the distance off the rangefinder. However, adjusting the camera's focusing ring between symbols will still be a bit of a guess, but a bit easier because you will know exactly which distance you are aiming for. I own and regularly use an Agfa Optima III, and it is indeed a fun camera.
pbromaghin
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That document does tell you the distance each symbol represents. I believe there are also detentes for distances between the symbols.
If a camera should only have distance symbols and if it got a B setting for the shutter, then with a target, a tape measure and a matte screen on the proper film rails one can put distance figures onto the focusing barrel.
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