Argus and Yashica

[one90guy]

Does any one have or use the Argus C-3? I just have to take the Argus or Yashicas out occasionally. My GL was fairly recent purchase from Japan, it had been CLAed and works prefect, my other Yashica is the Lynx 5000E with a dead meter. IMHO some of my best B/W was taken with the Lynx.

 

[1L6E6VHF]

I have an Argus C3 and a Yashica Electro 35 GSN (and have used both more than once. I also had owned a Lynx 14E until it was sadly claimed by an inland lake in Upstate Michigan.

The optics on the Yashicas run circles around the Cintar (a Cooke triplet, sharp only at narrow aperture), with the 100 mm telephoto even less impressive.

However, the simpler shutter on the Argus is far more likely to withstand the test of time. Leaf shutters that are both large and made of thin leaves (necessary for fast exposures with fast lenses) love to rust shut or get slowed down by dust.

 

[ic-racer]

I have a C3 that I got to go with my C44. I can't say I ever used the C3, though.

 

[DWThomas]

I have an Argus C-3 I bought new at the end of 19-ought-57 which I get out at least once a year and shoot a roll for Argus Day. This coming year the day will be "Argust" 17th.

I have done a CLA on it, calibrated the rangefinder, and two years ago did a significant tear-down of the 50mm Cintar after the aperture stopped working. What's not to like about a camera you can work on with needle-nose pliers and a screwdriver!

I freely admit it's pretty fiddly to use by modern standards, and the viewfinder and rangefinder windows seem to have shrunk since I was 16 ... But within its basic capabilities it gives a decent account of itself.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

When in my teens I shot many rolls of Kodachrome with "The Brick." The camera belonged to the company that my father worked for. We were able to borrow it for our vacations. Some years ago I bought separately two for old times sake. There was also an Argus C-4. A bit more ergonomically designed successor.

 

[TheRook]

Concerning the usage of my (eight different) cameras, I have them on rotation. However, since I acquired an Argus C-4 two years ago, I have quit using the Argus C-3 altogether. Although a reliable and rugged camera with an adequate enough lens, I simply don't find the C-3 comfortable to work with. But many people find them fun to shoot, so I guess it's really a matter of personal preference.

 

[ransel]

Have a couple Argus C3's but they don't get used much at all. Just much prefer the ergonomics of my Canon P. I used to have a Mamiya C3 also. That confused my Argus club members when I pulled it out of my camera bag to show it off, or when I showed off some beautiful 8X8 prints exclaiming that I made them with my "C3".

 

[BAC1967]

I take my Argus C3 out every now and then. It's not my favorite camera but it is fun to shoot with.

Hammerhead Float by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Dolphin Fenders by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

I actually had one of my C3 photos get explored on Flickr. I guess the software that picks explored photos liked something about it, I didn't think it was my best work.

F-8 Crusader by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

 

[narsuitus]

Does any one have or use the Argus C-3?

The Argus C3 35mm rangefinder is the oldest camera that I own that I still use. I keep one of the following lenses permanently attached to a body so I do not have to spend time switching lenses:

35mm f/4.5 Tele-Sandmar
50mm f/3.5 Coated Cinta
100mm f/4.5 Tele-Sandmar



My Oldest Big Three by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[michr]

The Argus C3 35mm rangefinder is the oldest camera that I own that I still use. I keep one of the following lenses permanently attached to a body so I do not have to spend time switching lenses:

35mm f/4.5 Tele-Sandmar
50mm f/3.5 Coated Cinta
100mm f/4.5 Tele-Sandmar

I do the same thing with my Argus C3s. I felt like I had a stroke of insight when I realized the cameras were so cheap that I could just buy one for every focal length.

On the subject of having and using the Argus C3, my only real problem with the camera is the lack of strap lugs on the body. If you want to carry it with a strap around your neck, it's necessary to attach the bottom half of the case. Someone online called the case a lunch bucket, which gives you an idea of the size of the thing.

In general though, I can't say enough good things about the C3. They're cheap and reliable, supposed to be easy to repair (though I've only cleaned the viewfinders and adjusted the rangefinder on mine). Part of the appeal to me is the fact that they're common; virtually no one treats them as precious, and no one goes to great trouble and expense having them repaired. I'm not ashamed to admit I think Argus C3s are cool though it is the moped of the camera world.

My project these days is finding one in bad enough shape that I can work on it, replace the leather and adjust the sync for electronic flash. Any bodies in bad enough shape on eBay usually go for more the ones in good shape (I've seen this perversity too with folding cameras missing bellows and lens).

 

[DWThomas]

Actually my next Argus repair project if/when I get to it is restitching the leather "never-ready" case, it's falling apart with the stitching disintegrating. I already replaced the very dried and fragile leather strap with some brown nylon dog leash.
One has to remove the camera from the case to change the film, but at least with 35mm it doesn't happen that often.

 

[ransel]

I take my Argus C3 out every now and then. It's not my favorite camera but it is fun to shoot with.

F-8 Crusader by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr

Bryan, when I was a kid and my dad was in the US Navy, the F-8 was my favorite plane.

 

[ron917]

I have both an Argus C3 and a Yashica Elctro 35 GSN.

The Yashica was my brothers, he gave it to me a couple of years ago. I haven't used it yet.

The Argus C3 was purchased new by my father in 1956. It's the camera that I learned photography with when I was a teenager. I shot, processed and printed miles of Tri-X using it to take photos for my high school newspaper. Then I put it in a box where it stayed for more than 30 years while I used "better" cameras.

I took the C3 out last year, and did a CLA myself before using it for Argus Day 2015. The shutter was sticky and the rangefinder was way off. Very easy to clean and adjust! The shutter is still a little off, the mid-range speeds seem to run too fast and hence tend to underexpose. Slow and top speed are fine.

I use the C3 occasionally. It's fun to take it out now and again.

c3r2_img_009 by Ron DeBlock, on Flickr

01-014 by Ron DeBlock, on Flickr

 

[one90guy]

Sorry to take so long replying, now that the weather has cooled down been busy catching up on RV up grades for the fall fishing and camping. Nice to hear from Argus and Yashica users and some great photos. Thanks everyone.

David