New half frame camera from Agfaphoto

[pentaxuser]

So it must be a 50mm f5.6 lens unless the pic of the camera in #23 is a total fake. Unless there is some kind of an explanation that covers this, we may have just got it wrong

pentaxuser

 

[Don Heisz]

So it must be a 50mm f5.6 lens unless the pic of the camera in #23 is a total fake. Unless there is some kind of an explanation that covers this, we may have just got it wrong

pentaxuser

The option we have so far is that it's a ~30mm lens and is shows as a 50mm equivalent for the half-frame. And who knows how the 5.6 is supposed to work. 50mm at 5.6 gives a 9mm pupil. Is that lens even 9mm?

 

[reddesert]

Thanks for that, so the camera does really look like that and says 50/5.6. I withdraw my objections about possible photoshopping of the PR image.

I am sure that lens isn't 50mm. It looks much closer to the film plane than 50mm (I don't believe it's a telephoto). I could believe that it is a ~30-35mm f/5.6 lens ("50mm equivalent", sorta).

 

[Huss]

View attachment 331789

From Instagram -- that says 50 5.6.

Is it just me, or does this camera look like one of those joke ones that squirts water at its unsuspecting subjects?

 

[Flighter]

Yep, ~50mm is almost certainly the effective focal length rather than the physical one; the camera is half-frame mirrorless, after all.

Agreed, looks like they have assumed a crop factor of 1.61 and therefore taken the (actual) 31mm lens as being equivalent to 50mm. They have then divided the (actual) f number of 9 by the assumed 1.61 crop factor to get the quoted f number of 5.6.

 

[foc]

I think the lens is around 30mm , which would be a normal view lens for half frame.
I also think that the manufacturer got the printing on the lens the wrong way around.


This camera is half frame and the lens says 50mm f5.6.


This camera is full frame 35mm and the lens says 31mm f9.

 

[reddesert]

Agreed, looks like they have assumed a crop factor of 1.61 and therefore taken the (actual) 31mm lens as being equivalent to 50mm. They have then divided the (actual) f number of 9 by the assumed 1.61 crop factor to get the quoted f number of 5.6.

Dividing the f-number is simply wrong. I don't know what they have or have not done, but an 31mm f/9 lens exposes like an f/9 lens regardless of the crop factor. Further, it has a pupil diameter and a depth of field that is like a 50mm f/14 lens ( 9*1.6). IOW, if anything the f-number would be multiplied, not divided.

 

[xkaes]

If "Agfa" is selling a small, light, inexpensive, full-frame camera with a 31mm lens and built-in flash, I might be interested. It all depends on the results!

 

[Huss]

If "Agfa" is selling a small, light, inexpensive, full-frame camera with a 31mm lens and built-in flash, I might be interested. It all depends on the results!

The results will be the same as all the other 31mm fixed focus built in flash cameras out there, reskinned in whoever is trying to sell it.

But really, why don't you pick one up anyway? They're like $20.

 

[Flighter]

Dividing the f-number is simply wrong. I don't know what they have or have not done, but an 31mm f/9 lens exposes like an f/9 lens regardless of the crop factor. Further, it has a pupil diameter and a depth of field that is like a 50mm f/14 lens ( 9*1.6). IOW, if anything the f-number would be multiplied, not divided.

Agreed, I suspect that whoever did it had a vague idea about crop factor affecting depth of field but what they appear to have done didn't make much sense to me.

 

[tokam]

I think I'll stick with my old Agfa Paramat. (Once I've sorted out a small problem whereby it leaves scratching on the negs. I have a similar problem with a Vito B. Too many old cameras to play with.)

 

[xkaes]

The results will be the same as all the other 31mm fixed focus built in flash cameras out there, reskinned in whoever is trying to sell it.

But really, why don't you pick one up anyway? They're like $20.

I said "FULL-FRAME". I already have a half-frame with a "31mm". That's NOT wide in half-frame, but it is in FULL-FRAME. That's the difference.

 

[Don Heisz]

I said "FULL-FRAME". I already have a half-frame with a "31mm". That's NOT wide in half-frame, but it is in FULL-FRAME. That's the difference.

AgfaPhoto has been selling (before this half frame camera existed) a full frame camera with the 31 f9 lens - that's what Huss was talking about.

 

[Huss]

AgfaPhoto has been selling (before this half frame camera existed) a full frame camera with the 31 f9 lens - that's what Huss was talking about.

Exactly. Just get that full frame one $20.

 

[xkaes]

OK. I found it. It is also sold as the Harmon Reuseable and the Ilford Sprite II. The reviews are mixed -- either very good or bad. Apparently some have had major mechanical problems. And here's this:

"It’s no secret that the Ilford Sprite 35-II cameras do not capture sharp images. But that’s not what this camera is about.

The corners are completely unsharp while suffering from vignetting, lens flare, chromatic aberration, and dramatic distortion. The center of the frame is a little better, but that’s about where it ends. If you’re capturing landscapes, this camera isn’t going to capture photos that get featured in National Geographic (though, they could probably make it in Vogue!) "

 

[Huss]

Agreed, I suspect that whoever did it had a vague idea about crop factor affecting depth of field but what they appear to have done didn't make much sense to me.

I think we are overthinking this and what actually is going on is marketing BS. “Ooh look, our camera has a 50mm 5.6 lens! Because that is what it says on it..”

 

[Huss]

OK. I found it. It is also sold as the Harmon Reuseable and the Ilford Sprite II. The reviews are mixed -- either very good or bad. Apparently some have had major mechanical problems. And here's this:

"It’s no secret that the Ilford Sprite 35-II cameras do not capture sharp images. But that’s not what this camera is about.

The corners are completely unsharp while suffering from vignetting, lens flare, chromatic aberration, and dramatic distortion. The center of the frame is a little better, but that’s about where it ends. If you’re capturing landscapes, this camera isn’t going to capture photos that get featured in National Geographic (though, they could probably make it in Vogue!) "

Yes, we know. These are all cheap plastic cameras made by one mfg. easy to find anywhere.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1621177-REG/agfaphoto_603000_analog_35mm_foto_kamera.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A514&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgaGgBhC8ARIsAAAyLfFbDsOgA0Qy5vzBaDjrrRwvZZ0FHQ0UIUI6Xl_v8AvqlbKtQR2e1kwaAnTzEALw_wcB

 

[xkaes]

I think I'll stick with my SUPERHEADZ TELEPATHY halr-frame with a 22mm wide-angle lens, f-stops of f8.5 & f11, and a hot shoe for my flash -- for complete auto-exposure control -- when I want LOMO shots.

 

[Huss]

All these cameras are super fragile, especially the really flimsy rewind mechanism. It is stuff like that which actually makes them very bad cameras for inexperienced users, as they can easily be broken.
even though I am aware of it, I can still see it failing if I used it a lot.

In the review she mentions it is better built than the Kodak version.. same camera but I guess that pretty much sums up the review.

 

[Flighter]

I think we are overthinking this and what actually is going on is marketing BS. “Ooh look, our camera has a 50mm 5.6 lens! Because that is what it says on it..”

They got 'focus free' marked but forgot to add 'optical lens'!

 

[xkaes]

I can see why the half-frame versions of these cameras would be popular -- the price of film is cut in half, and the LOMO effects are double those of the full-frame version.

So when I want LOMO, I'll stick with my TELEPATHY half-frame.

 

[pentaxuser]

I think we are overthinking this and what actually is going on is marketing BS. “Ooh look, our camera has a 50mm 5.6 lens! Because that is what it says on it..”

I am confused. Is stating that it 50mm f5.6 marketing B.S. that is totally and deliberately wrong i.e. the equivalent of selling a 2 litre car but putting 3 litre on the car's bodywork and in the brochure which is getting close to being fraudulent and thus criminal is or marketing B.S. in the sense that as a half frame camera it is the equivalent of a 50mm lens on a full frame camera?

If it's the latter where does F5.6 come into it?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[xkaes]

They got 'focus free' marked but forgot to add 'optical lens'!

I guess the Marketing Department can't spell "Meniscus"

 

[Roger Cole]

I can see why the half-frame versions of these cameras would be popular -- the price of film is cut in half, and the LOMO effects are double those of the full-frame version.

So when I want LOMO, I'll stick with my TELEPATHY half-frame.

Not necessarily. Though the image will be enlarged more the film will also be placed (presumably) in the center of the lens coverage. Any badly deteriorated performance of the lens at the corners won't appear (or appear as much) on the half frame.

 

[Roger Cole]

I guess the Marketing Department can't spell "Meniscus"

But it isn't a meniscus, at least not if it's the same lens on the Kodak version. Two element, if I recall correctly.