Argus Super Seventy-Five question

[jay moussy]

An Argus Super Seventy-Five just arrived at my doorstep, seems to be in OK shape, after figuring out the film chamber stiff release button!

From the forum experience, is it strictly a re-spool-to-620 camera?
It seems the film chambers are on the small side.

 

[Donald Qualls]

From my experience, it was very much 620-only.

Here's how I fixed that:

The supply side film caddy (which swings out to ease installing the 620 supply roll) can be removed easily, by drilling off the heads of a pair of blind rivets (the freed shanks don't seem to cause trouble; they do into dead space in the camera body, separated from both film and shutter). Lift out the supply caddy, and a 120 film roll easily drops in. You will still need a 620 spool for the takeup side, but the camera should have come with one and if you process your own film, it's no problem to keep it after use.

BTW, the exact same fix can be applied to all generations of Kodak Duaflex, either lens type (Kodet, fixed focus/aperture, or Kodar, focusing with three aperture choices). If the value as a shooter is greater than the collector value (and that's each user's decision).

 

[jay moussy]

Thanks Donald.

I am not sure what the 'supply side caddy" is, not seeing any moving part, everything is riveted down.
At first pass, with an empty 120 spool, it seems like the spool is so wide that the two pin "arms" do not retract enough to allow the spool in.

 

[Donald Qualls]

That's exactly the problem -- the 120 spool is too long. It's been a while since I modified my 75, and I traded it away years ago for something I'd shoot more (don't recall what, at this moment). If there's no moving part, it's just a matter of removing the piece with the spring arms and pins to give enough clearance for a 120 spool.

I didn't find an inside photo of the 75 (or SeventyFive or Super SeventyFive -- focusing version with 3 apertures, akin to a Duaflex with Kodar, right?) in a quick search, but essentially that's what's needed to load 120 without respooling. Might be something that was different for different versions of the camera, or perhaps my memory has failed me and what I had was a different Argus pseudo-TLR.

 

[ic-racer]

Does yours have an adjustable lens? Mine is the "non Super" so the lens is fixed in focus, f-stop and speed. Mine looks to be f8 or f11. Do you have some 620 take-up spools? Re-spooling is not too difficult. Half-way through, be careful removing the tape so you don't bend the film, then re-position the tape so the film lies flat again and continue spooling.
Re-spooling is not too bad. I think Donald would agree that it is easier than re-loading 16mm cassettes.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Does yours have an adjustable lens? Mine is the "non Super" so the lens is fixed in focus, f-stop and speed. Mine looks to be f8 or f11. Do you have some 620 take-up spools? Re-spooling is not too difficult. Half-way through, be careful removing the tape so you don't bend the film, then re-position the tape so the film lies flat again and continue spooling.
Re-spooling is not too bad. I think Donald would agree that it is easier than re-loading 16mm cassettes.

Yep, I'll agree -- reloading Minolta 16 cassettes isn't hard, it's just a matter of being able to roll a narrow strip tightly enough to go into the supply chamber. Once you get the strip in, with the head in the slot, and the cover on, you can turn on the lights and finish the job with ease.

Respooling to 620 is still easier, though it does require some planning ahead ("How many rolls am I likely to want?" before you leave your darkroom behind). It's easiest if you spool from 120 to 620 in the forward direction, then 620 to 620 in reverse; that way, the film will already be adjusted to the smaller core diameter and you usually won't have to untape and retape the head end of the film.

Easier still, if you have a camera you're more interested in shooting than reloading, is to find a way to use 120 supply spools. With my Reflex II, I can trim the 120 flange flush with the paper (takes about a minute, because I always carry a nail clipper) and it fits; if I do a really smooth job trimming, I can even use the trimmed spool for takeup. My Brownie Hawkeyes have the little "ears" as well as being a little tight for length; I can make a 120 spool work, but the cameras like it better if I respool. All four of my Duaflexes (one of each model, even numbered ones with the focusing, 3-aperture Kodar) will require respooling, but if there's one I shoot regularly, I'll remove the supply caddy so 120 will just drop in. I don't recall which class my Brownie Bullseye is in. I should probably finish the roll (that's been in it for fifteen years) and check.

I think that covers all my 620 cameras...

And then there's 127. I'd love to support Rera (one B&W and one color emulsion, Rerapan and Rerachrome, fresh ISO 100 film native in 127) but there's only one or two sellers in the USA and none of my 127 cameras are particularly good ones; I just cut down 120, any emulsion I want, and get a two-roll strip to fit my Minolta 16 format cameras as a bonus.

 

[jay moussy]

Hmm.. I have a modified Tourist I got from @Rick A here on the forum, and it is 120 supply spool to 620 take up, so that's my candidate for 120>620>620. Darkroom operation, camera back off so I can better follow, by feel.

 

[gkardmw]

Since I have a Argus Super Seventy Five, I can confirm that you can just nibble off the edges of the 120 feed spool with toe nail clippers and it will fit. This is also true for the Argus/Argoflex 40. I think what Donald Q. was saying about a caddy does not actually exist in these cameras. I believe he is referring to the part that swings out to receive the spool like in a Bessa I or an Isolette II. I use a 620 spool on the take up side.

For those interested, the Argus Super Seventy Five has 1 shutter speed ( about 1/45 s) but has 3 apertures (F8, 11, 16), a focusing lens (3.5 ft to infinity) and a coated triplet. It is quite a capable camera as is the Argus 40 which has in addition shutter speeds B, 1/25-1/150 s. My father had an Argus 75 and it is not the same camera at all (meniscus lens, fixed aperture).

Jay - I hope you post some results to this thread as most would be surprised by the quality of the photos.

Dave

 

[Bud Hamblen]

Re-spooling is about like loading film onto a developing reel. The plastic 620 spools from the Film Photography Project work fine in an Argus Super Seventy-Five. Some other 620 cameras have to have the old metal spools.

 

[awty]

I just have the plain 75 and just use a 620 take up spool with 120 rolls. Don't even bother trimming the 120, but it does help if you do.
I love the 75 view finder, wish you could get a focus screen that bright.

 

[ic-racer]

I just have the plain 75 and just use a 620 take up spool with 120 rolls. Don't even bother trimming the 120, but it does help if you do.
I love the 75 view finder, wish you could get a focus screen that bright.

But then you could not focus

If you have never tried it, take the focus screen out of a 35mm camera (that makes the finder like the Argus viewfinder or a rangefinder viewfinder). The view is very bright, but you can't focus!

 

[Donald Qualls]

If you have never tried it, take the focus screen out of a 35mm camera (that makes the finder like the Argus viewfinder or a rangefinder viewfinder). The view is very bright, but you can't focus!

Replace the focus screen with an open grid in the same plane as the ground side -- this gives your eye something fixed to focus on (the eyepiece puts this optically close to infinity, so even aging eyes should be able to manage it), and lets you focus the aerial image so that the grid is also in focus. Align the grid carefully, and you can also use it for composition assistance and horizon leveling.