Episode 96: The AGFA Episode with Very Little AGFA

If there ever was an episode that epitomizes the concept of the “first and only open source film and digital photography podcast” it is this episode! We started off with the idea of devoting a large part of it to AGFA, makers of Rodinal, Karat film, and a large number of really cool cameras from the mid 20th century. From the moment we got started, we immediately got off topic and wouldn’t come back to AGA until an hour into the recording. Never fret, but in the shortened time we covered Germany’s version of Kodak, we covered a lot of ground.

Joining Anthony, Paul, Stephen, Theo, and Mike are returning callers A.J. Gentile, Fernando Villava from Germany, Mike Litwin, Pat Casey, Will Pinkham, and first time callers David Palumbo and Zack Lothamer.

From the moment the show got started, we feel down the Kodak Instamatic (type 126) wormhole, discussing a large number of Instamatic cameras, what kinds of films can be used in 126 cameras today, the Fakmatic 3D printed adapter, and other oddball cameras. We meander around, somehow winding up on the Ricoh GXR Interchangeable module digital camera, and Anthony’s love for Kodak 5220XT Film.

When we finally get into the world of AGFA, we discuss some of the group’s favorite films like AGFA Professional Pan 25, APX25, HDC 100, Scala, and AGFA’s original AGFAColor film from the 1930s. Eventually, wet get into AGFA GAS with some really cool cameras like the Parat and Optima Parat half frame cameras, the cool twin lens Flexilette and Optima Reflex, the large orange button AGFAs like the Optima 1035 and 1535, the Optima Electronic Flash, Ambi Silette, and the Selectaflex SLR. By far, the most time is dedicated to the postwar AGFA Karat rangefinder with the split image viewfinder, which Mike says is the best rangefinder camera for people with terrible vision.

Sprinkled throughout the show we answer questions about how long expired film can be used when refrigerated, what is a recommendation for a good entry into 6×9 cameras, and some warnings about not trying to repair the Zeiss-Ikon Contaflex SLR.

As always, the topics we discuss on the Camerosity Podcast are influenced by you! Please don’t feel like you have to be an expert on a specific type of camera, or have the level of knowledge on par with other people on the show. We LOVE people who are into shooting or collecting cameras, no matter how long you’ve been doing it, so please don’t consider your knowledge level to be a prerequisite for joining!

The guys and I rarely know where each episode is going to go until it happens, so if you’d like to join us on a future episode, be sure to look out for our show announcements on our Camerosity Podcast Facebook page, the Camerosity Discord server, and right here on mikeeckman.com. We usually record every other Monday and announcements, along with the Zoom link are typically shared 2-3 days in advance.

For our next episode, the entire Camerosity Podcast crew went crazy over a $35 Chinese digital camera. Each of us bought the same camera and played with it for a couple of weeks in an effort to see what happens if expectations are low enough, can you really enjoy a toy camera? In addition, Mike has now gone on two treks across the country to move large collections of cameras, and he has some thoughts (here is a preview, if you are a collector, don’t die!) Of course, if anything is certain, is that nothing is certain and Episode 96 is a perfect example where we might plan on talking about one thing and end up on something else. Will we stay on track or end up finally discussing large format? You’ll only know if you turn into Episode 97 which will be recorded on Monday, August 18th at 7pm Central Daylight Time and 8pm Eastern Daylight Time.

In This Episode

Asking David About the Mysterious Curtain on Bronica S2 Backs / Other Cameras with Curtain Dark Slides / Mamiya Six
Koni-Omega Rapids / Bronica Lenses / Dave Ditched His Bronica for a Hasselblad 500CM
Kodak Instamatic Type 126 Cameras / Olympus Quickmatic / Bell & Howell Autoload 342
Fakmatic 126 Adapter / Using 35mm Film in Instamatic Cameras
Magic Cubes vs Flash Cubes / Motor Driven Instamatic Cameras
Verichrome Pan is Your Best Bet for Using Original 126 Film Today / Rolleiflex SL26 SLR
Theo Wants an “I’m Back” for 126 Cameras / Ricoh GXR Interchangeable Sensor Digital Camera / Horseman Convertible
How Long Can Expired Film Be Stored Frozen or Refrigerated? / Does Slower Film Last Longer?
Anthony Loves Shooting Expired Eastman 5220XT Film
Slide Film Ages Poorly / Some Films Degrade Even After Being Developed
Anthony Loves AGFA HDC 100 Color Film / AGFA Pan Professional 25 / APX25
AGFAColor Color Film from the 1930s / Other AGFA Films / Ultra 50 and Scala
Developing Early Slide Film Required You to Expose the Developing Film to Light
What is Stand Developing? / Benzotriazole / Mike Has Tried All Kinds of HC-110
We Finally Talk About AGFA Cameras / Anthony only Has an AGFA Pioneer
The AGFA Optima 1535 Looks Kinda Like the Plaubel Makina 67 / Optima Sensor
AGFA Flexilettte and Optima Reflex 35mm TLRs
Some AGFA Cameras Using the Film Advance Lever to Rewind the Film
More About the Flexilette / Mike Loves the AGFA Selectaflex
Don’t Bother Trying to Repair the Zeiss-Ikon Contaflex SLR
AGFA Ambi Silette / AGFA Parat I / Mike Raves About the AGFA Karat
The 6×6 AGFA Isolette and Ansco Speedexes are Great Affordable Medium Format Folders
What is a Recommendation for a Good 6×9 Folder? / Voigtländer Bessa
The AGFA Compact Electronic Was the Last AGFA Camera Made in Germany

Links

The Camerosity Podcast is now on Discord! Join Anthony, Paul, Theo, and Mike on our very own Discord Server. Share your GAS and photography with other listeners in the Lounge or in our dedicated forums. If you have questions for myself or the other guys, we have an “Ask the Hosts” section as well where you can get your question answered on a future show! Check it out! https://discord.gg/PZVN2VBJvm.

If you would like to offer feedback or contact us with questions or ideas for future episodes, please contact us in the Comments Section below, our Camerosity Facebook Group, Instagram page, or Discord server.

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