My first Argus

[JohnRichard]

Argus C3 Matchmatic. Just went through it top to bottom.
$14 at the thrift shop. Quick fix for EI to seconds.

Missing the light meter, so I'll have to find one. Otherwise, decent shape.
Gonna go shoot some HP5 and see how it does.

 

[summicron1]

very stylish -- i just got an older C3 in a thrift store purchase i want to try out as well. The lenses on those were actually pretty good so your images should be as well.

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Love the Argus C-3s. While in college, I worked in a camera store in my home town which was where the Argus cameras were made (Ann Arbor, MI) during the late '50s and early '60s, and made many trips to the factory to pick up cameras and projectors. The local camera club used to meet in the Argus plant cafeteria.

 

[jmccl@yahoo.com]

Missing the light meter, so I'll have to find one.

What's a "light meter":confused:

Mine's a circa 1941, no meter. Just use sunny 16. Taking it to Normandy the end of August and pretend I'm Tony Vaccaro.

 

[DWThomas]

I have a regular C3 which I purchased new around the end of 1957. I have done a CLA and rangefinder calibration on it in recent times, and it still works -- surprisingly well in basic outdoor conditions. I wouldn't claim it's my "go to" camera, but I get it out at least once a year...

There's an organization called the Argus Collectors Group that started doing an "Argus Day" event in 2001. Folks are encouraged to get out an Argus camera and put it to use; submitting two results to the ACG. The group is small and doesn't seem too organized, but so far the annual event has happened, sometimes on short notice.

At the moment there is no mention of 2013, but I just raised that question on the Argus Flickr discussion group, another resource. The original day in 2001 was held on August 1st -- proclaimed "Argust 1st" for the occasion. The day has been moved along corresponding to the last digits of the year. Last year was Argust 12th, etc. Don't know what happens in 2032, but given my age I likely won't be worried about it! (Actually the website now says a year and a day after the previous, so maybe it goes to September 1st, but that doesn't lend itself to the clever word play!) I originally learned of the event here on APUG in 2006 and have participated since.

The ACG also has some manuals and repair information on line.

 

[one90guy]

I use my C-3's regularly, I buy a few each year to over haul and resale. It is a very easy camera to work on and enjoy tinkering with them. And as said the lens can give nice results.

David

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I live about three blocks from the old Argus building. It's now owned by the University of Michigan but they maintain a small display of old Argus cameras and equipment.

 

[Terry Christian]

I'm a big Argus devotee too. The Matchmatic is pretty, but I hate the proprietary aperture/shutter numbers. The plain black ones are more functional to me. I find the lowly C3 to be a vastly underrated and under-appreciated camera.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Enjoy!!

 

[colrehogan]

Was there ever a lens longer than 100 mm for the Argus C3 camera?

 

[Prof_Pixel]

Was there ever a lens longer than 100 mm for the Argus C3 camera?

No ... at least not from Argus.

 

[colrehogan]

Thanks for your reply!

 

[bsinmich]

One of my C3s doesn't have any flash sync on it. No little holes on the side of the camera for the flash.

 

[michr]

Was there ever a lens longer than 100 mm for the Argus C3 camera?

Well, it's an old thread, but Soligor made a 135mm. There's also the uncommon/rare Fujitar/Robin 135mm lenses.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

... The original day in 2001 was held on August 1st -- proclaimed "Argust 1st" for the occasion. The day has been moved along corresponding to the last digits of the year. Last year was Argust 12th, etc. Don't know what happens in 2032, but given my age I likely won't be worried about it! (Actually the website now says a year and a day after the previous, so maybe it goes to September 1st, but that doesn't lend itself to the clever word play!) ...

Ok, the date plan was clever. Well, at least that way Argus Day will eventually cover all the seasons and days.

 

[ransel]

As a new Argus owner you are now obliged to attend the Annual Argus Gathering in Eden NC (held every May). I have been to almost every gathering since they started in 2002 - good times, good times.
http://www.arguscg.org/events/gathering/

 

[Theo Sulphate]

As a new Argus owner you are now obliged to attend the Annual Argus Gathering in Eden NC (held every May). I have been to almost every gathering since they started in 2002 - good times, good times.
http://www.arguscg.org/events/gathering/

That event is astonishing. I belong to all sorts of clubs related to things far more popular or exciting than a vintage consumer-grade camera - and yet this event seems to be thriving and have enthusiasm: a four day event that's been active for 15 years. That's impressive.

Might just have to get an Argus...

 

[DWThomas]

This year they had a "Mid-America" event in the St. Louis area (a first I believe) in July also. And there's some sort of event at the Argus Museum in Ann Arbor MI coming up as we e-speak. Not being an avid collector, and said events being quite a distance away, I have not thus far indulged. I have continued to do the Argus Day thing each year -- Argust 14th and 15th I celebrated with some genuine Kodak Panatomic-X from a bulk roll I was gifted; old meets old, handled by old!

 

[ransel]

It has been a real pleasure attending the Argus Gathering in Eden. I am not an Argus collector (I have two C3's, an Argus A, and an Argus 75 - all gifts from my Argus friends) but am good friends with the two gentlemen who have hosted this event since the beginning (I meet with them monthly). Just a great crowd who have a passion for what they love - all things Argus. Unfortunately, as age catches up with us all, I don't know how much longer the event will continue. If we all were 20 yours younger I have no doubt that this event would continue for at least 20 more years.

 

[TheRook]

It has been a real pleasure attending the Argus Gathering in Eden. I am not an Argus collector (I have two C3's, an Argus A, and an Argus 75 - all gifts from my Argus friends) but am good friends with the two gentlemen who have hosted this event since the beginning (I meet with them monthly). Just a great crowd who have a passion for what they love - all things Argus. Unfortunately, as age catches up with us all, I don't know how much longer the event will continue. If we all were 20 yours younger I have no doubt that this event would continue for at least 20 more years.

Perhaps taking action to reach out to younger Argus enthusiasts is what needs to be done. All social institutions eventually fade away without the influx of new members. With the abundance of Argus cameras on the market and the Argus company's interesting history, it should not be impossible to attract new, youthful members to rejuvenate future events.

 

[one90guy]

Plus a neat camera for not a lot of dollars and even easy for me to work on. Been trying to keep one of my grandsons interested in film cameras. I think I still have enough parts to build one more.

David