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best American Made 35mm

Dan Fromm said:
Is a lens a camera? I thought the OP asked about cameras.

Is Canada part of the US? I thought that was settled once and for all in the war of 1812.

Oh, and by the way, Elcan made mediocre lenses to order as well as good ones.
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I guess I am not just that clear, next time I will have my attorney read my post before posting.
American meaning made in the United State of America (USA), including Porto Rico, the District of Columbia and the trust territories, Alaska and Hawaii prior to statehood, excludes occupied Japan and Germany. Excludes branding or relabeling of cameras made outside of the USA by USA based firms.

35 mm means single lens reflex, rangefinder, or simple view still type camera using standard 35mm film. Excludes 828 and 126 film formats. Excludes cameras primarily designed to take moving type pictures or “movies”.

American made meaning body, lens and shutter with 90% or greater of parts manufactured in the USA. May be owned in part or in total by foreign company or individual.
 

So anyone come up with anything better than the Argus? How about the Kardon camera, a Leica copy made in USA during the war for the military as US military wouldn't use German Leica.
 
If you want to equate " best and 35mm camera" you have to look elsewhere.
 
I have my doubts that an Argus lens would compare to the Ektar on a Signet 35, but maybe I will buy one and see for myself.
 
Hatchetman said:
I have my doubts that an Argus lens would compare to the Ektar on a Signet 35, but maybe I will buy one and see for myself.
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The Cintar, generally found on the C 3 and C 4, is a triplet. The Ektar is, of course, a 4 element Tessar formula, far superior to a triplet. However, IIRC, the Cintegon, available at least on the C 44, is four element and I seem to remember, pretty well regarded. Now, Kodak in a "sneaky" moment, used what was called an Ektanar or some such, which was a 3 element. Hoping for a halo effect? Go figure.
 

I have a C 4 with the 50mm Cintar, at F 8 not all that bad. The C 44 came with the Cintar as standard lens, but a German made 35, 50 and 90 were optional, from I have read not an easy lens change. I have a Kodak "How to Take Better Pictures" from 1945 which lists the Ekatar 1.9 for the Ekatar as 7 elements. I think I will pick up a Kodak 35 with rangefinder a C 3, and C 44, Boley B 22, the Ektar, Foton, Kardon and Geiss were made in samll numbers and collectable, more than I am willing to pay.
 


That's better!!!


Steve.
 
PDH said:
American made meaning body, lens and shutter with 90% or greater of parts manufactured in the USA.
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Is there a legal base for this definition?


I ask as in Germany there still is not. In case of doubt one has to call for a judge to decide on his parameters on unfair trading.


There only is acEU-wide applied customs definition, that says that the last essetial, economic justifiable steps must have taken place in the country stated as country of origin. Well...

EU now passed regulation to be implemented in natinal regulations that says that this customs definition is to be applied on "made in" designations too.
 

My thinking may be wrong, but there is a differance between how a product's country of orgin is allowed to be listed and a personal or other perferance. My Isuzu Axiom has a sticker that says Made in Indaina, but likley over 90% of the parts were made in Japan. But I can request and purshase a car with 70% of its parts are made in the US.
 
PDH said:
But I can request and purshase a car with 70% of its parts are made in the US.
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Just because you could, doesn't mean you should!!


Steve.
 
The Bell and Howell Foton has *British*lenses*... mind you, the first generation Summicron had British glass
 
Shot a roll recently with my Signet 35. My cheap scanner doesn't really do it justice, but anyway....Ektar film. The indoor shot is "wide" open at f3.5, shutter speed as low as she goes 1/25. A Leica it ain't but I suspect the 44mm Ektar lens was a sharp as any glass around in the 1950s.
 

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Yes, I agree! Super little 4-element coated lens, very good rangefinder and built like a little tank. Also, very easy to repair if it ever gets knocked out of whack. Oh, and truly American made. JW
 
The Kardon, I suppose is the closest to the best conventional 35mm camera made totally in the USA. Canada boasts Leica III M3 M2 M4-2 M4-P.

David
 
It's sad that my Argus C3 is the only American made camera I have
 
I would say maybe a Mercury II, half frame but used 35mm film, really interesting design, and quite fast shutter speeds for that time period. Or maybe a Stereo Realist Rare Earth model with the 2.8 lenses and modifications. That is one snazzy camera.
 
Did the original Bremson/Camerz model 10 long roll school-portrait camera shoot 35mm or was it 46mm? The later ones were 46mm and 70mm.

There's a 35mm Hulcher-- http://www.hulchercamera.com/page13.htm
 
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Maybe the lack of american made cameras was caused more by a lack of knowledge and skill rather than high labor costs. i imagine it takes specialized engineering knowledge and also specialized equipment to fabricate the tiny miniaturized 35mm cameras and lenses. Much of the engineering talent could have been gobbled up by the defense and auto industry. Any new US cameras were probably designed by less experienced folks, which then their first try were less than successful. Japan and Germany were not allowed to have big war budgets, so the talented engineers had to find other avenues.
 
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