Want to check there are no obvious camera issues

moggi1964 · Jan 8, 2021

I bought an Agfa Isolette II that appears to be in fine working condition. I had a roll of 8 year expired Lomography 400 colour and quickly ran it through. There was a glitch where I didn't wind on far enough on one frame (see below) but otherwise I don't see any light leaks and the close focus (see the pillar box where it says Royal Mail) and infinity focus on the block of flats seem to be relatively accurate. Former was shot at F/11 1/250 and latter at F/8 1/125.

Does anything jump out at you as an issue that I'm missing? Not looking for image critique, just checking the camera appears okay based on what I shot. Thanks.

Donald Qualls · Jan 8, 2021

Can't really evaluate sharpness on the basis of a small scanned image, but I see nothing there to complain about. As you say, no obvious light leaks, major exposure errors, or focus problems.

bdial · Jan 8, 2021

Looks ok to me.

moggi1964 · Jan 8, 2021

Thanks to you both. I felt the basics were fine but there was no harm in checking with more experienced film photographers.

The scans were direct from the lab (cheapest option) and I haven't had the negatives back yet to scan at a higher resolution. The next set of images will be on new stock XP2 so should give me an opportunity to evaluate the sharpness.

Andrew O'Neill · Jan 8, 2021

They look pretty good to me...

pentaxuser · Jan 8, 2021

Looks fine to me as well

pentaxuser

moggi1964 · Jan 8, 2021

Thank you gents. The lens is the Solinar 75mm F/3.5 which seems well liked. £35 shipped was a good deal by the looks of it.

If I wasn't isolating for the next 10 days minimum (wife tested positive - I'm waiting on a home test arriving tomorrow) I would go on a few exercise walks and take the Agfa with me. I think I have explored every inch of our garden a dozen times already

Donald Qualls · Jan 9, 2021

A Solinar Isolette without bellows leaks for £35 shipped isn't a deal, it's larceny! You stole that camera!!

ic-racer · Jan 9, 2021

It would be nice to see the negatives rather than prints.

wyofilm · Jan 9, 2021

moggi1964 said:
Thank you gents. The lens is the Solinar 75mm F/3.5 which seems well liked. £35 shipped was a good deal by the looks of it.

If I wasn't isolating for the next 10 days minimum (wife tested positive - I'm waiting on a home test arriving tomorrow) I would go on a few exercise walks and take the Agfa with me. I think I have explored every inch of our garden a dozen times already

I have the identical camera, but CLA'd and replaced bellows. I of course paid more than 35 pounds for it. But nonetheless, I love this camera. It is one of my favorites. Slips into the front pocket of pants; has double exposure lock-out. Of course, zone focussing and sunny 16 rule, but that works > 80% of the time for me. My most portable, walk around camera. Then at the end of the day, you get nice big 6x6 negs. Have fun with it.

Might want to check the shutter speeds. Bellows must be good, because you saw no light leaks.

moggi1964 · Jan 9, 2021

ic-racer said:
It would be nice to see the negatives rather than prints.

Negatives are still at the lab sadly. I expect them back at some point though we are on lockdown so not sure when.

moggi1964 · Jan 9, 2021

Donald Qualls said:
A Solinar Isolette without bellows leaks for £35 shipped isn't a deal, it's larceny! You stole that camera!!

I would NEVER do something like that. I paid a rough looking waif to steal it for me

I got lucky that's for sure, not all my ebay camera purchases have gone so well

moggi1964 · Jan 9, 2021

wyofilm said:
I have the identical camera, but CLA'd and replaced bellows. I of course paid more than 35 pounds for it. But nonetheless, I love this camera. It is one of my favorites. Slips into the front pocket of pants; has double exposure lock-out. Of course, zone focussing and sunny 16 rule, but that works > 80% of the time for me. My most portable, walk around camera. Then at the end of the day, you get nice big 6x6 negs. Have fun with it.

Might want to check the shutter speeds. Bellows must be good, because you saw no light leaks.

I was amazed how compact it was, not what I was expecting. Thanks for sharing your love for yours.

The two slowest shutter speeds seem a bit off but otherwise the others seem pretty close. I will likely get a CLA done next year some time just to get it back to how it should be and hopefully keep it going for another 60 odd years.

She's not the prettiest example but I've never been bothered about that sort of thing.

Want to check there are no obvious camera issues

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