Agfa Isolar

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The Isolar and Isolar Luxus are folding double-extension plate cameras made by Agfa from about 1926 until the 1930s. The 9×12 cm Luxus model was originally a Rietzschel camera (the Condor Luxus); Agfa took over Rietzschel works from its owner Bayer as part of the reorganisation when Agfa joined the IG Farben conglomerate.

McKeown[1] shows a 9×12 cm Isolar in the normal black-leather finish, with an f/4.5 Solinear lens and dial-set Compur shutter, and Isolar Luxus cameras (with the brown leather finish as illustrated here) in both 9×12 cm and 6.5×9 cm sizes. He states that early examples of the Agfa camera still have a Rietzschel-branded lens (a Rietzschel Doppelanastigmat; however, examples of the Rietzschel Condor Luxus have also been seen with a Solinear). Early cameras also have a dial-set Compur shutter, as shown here while cameras after about 1931 have the rim-set one. An Agfa brochure of the 1930s offers the Isolar only in 9x12, and only with a Solinar (though the lens in the illustrated camera is still engraved Solinear) and Compur shutter; the same catalogue does not offer the 9x12 Standard camera.[2]


Notes

  1. McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover). p24-25.
  2. Agfa brochure, Die Agfa Photographie, undated but clearly of the 1930s (the Standard cameras are still listed in all but the largest size), and not before 1931 (the Agfa Billy Jgetar 8.8 has been redesignated the Billy I).


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