Difference between revisions of "Argus C4"

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{{Flickr image
 
{{Flickr image
 
| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/1510540015/in/pool-camerawiki
 
| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/1510540015/in/pool-camerawiki
| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/1510540015_a0de2a8362.jpg
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| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/1510540015_a0de2a8362_z.jpg
| image_align=left
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| image_align=right
 
| image_text=Argus C4 outfit, with fixed lens
 
| image_text=Argus C4 outfit, with fixed lens
 
|image_by=Mark O'Brien
 
|image_by=Mark O'Brien
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
}}
 
}}
{{Flickr image
 
| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/2109980502/in/pool-camerawiki
 
| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/2109980502_60e447c82f.jpg
 
| image_align=right
 
| image_text= [[Geiss]]-modified for interchangeable lenses
 
|image_by=Mark O'Brien
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
}}{{br}}
 
  
{{Flickr image
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The '''Argus C4''' is a 35mm fixed lens, couple rangefinder manufactured by [[Argus|Argus, Inc]]. In the 1950s, Argus sold over 300,000 Argus C4 [[35mm]] [[rangefinder camera]]s. It had one of the best implementations of a viewfinder with superimposed [[rangefinder (device)|rangefinder]], an easy film load concept and a [[hot shoe]] for attaching and connecting a flash without cable. It had a modern design, but no interchangeable lenses.
| image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/2109980500/in/pool-camerawiki
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| image=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2253/2109980500_3579bc78c4_m.jpg
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The C4 design is an improvement over the [[Argus 21|Argus 21 Markfinder]], which did not have a coupled rangefinder. The popularity of the camera led to consumer demand for an interchangeable lens version. At first, this demand was met by a [[Geiss]]-modified version of the C4, known as the [[Argus C4 Geiss]], that could accept Lithagon lenses. Later Argus released the [[Argus C44]], which became their standard interchangeable lens rangefinder.
| image_align=right
 
| image_text=with Enna 45mm f1.9
 
|image_by=Mark O'Brien
 
|image_rights= with permission
 
}}
 
[[Argus]] sold over 300,000 '''Argus C4''' [[35mm]] [[rangefinder camera]]s in the 1950s. It had one of the best implementations of a viewfinder with superimposed [[rangefinder (device)|rangefinder]], an easy film load concept and a [[hot shoe]] for attaching and connecting a flash without cable. It had a modern design, but no interchangeable lenses.  
 
There are several versions of the C4, with the earliest (Version 1) sharing main body elements of its precursor, the [[Argus 21]], or Markfinder. The initial maximum shutter speed was 1/200, but the latter versions featured 1/300 sec maximum shutter speed, and X-synch on the hot shoe. An all-black version - highly prized and rare, with less than 10 known examples was most likely done to attract US Government interest, but by then, the Korean War was over and the days of fat optics contracts were gone. Although the C4 did not have interchangeable lenses, the [[Geiss]] company of Chicago customized C4 cameras for interchangeable lenses which were made by [[Enna]] in Munich, Germany.{{br}}
 
  
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There are several versions of the C4, with the earliest (Version 1) sharing main body elements of its precursor, the [[Argus 21]], or Markfinder. The initial maximum shutter speed was 1/200, but the later versions featured 1/300 sec maximum shutter speed, and X-synch on the hot shoe. An all-black version also exists but is rare and highly prized by collectors. There are less than 10 known examples of the Black C4. Some collectors have theorized that the black versions are prototypes created to attract US Government interest, but no evidence has been found explaining the company's motivation for this version. The black version does not have a stamped serial number.
  
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According to photo magazine ads, the Argus C4 retail price was $99.50 USD in 1952.<ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/4405572791/ Argus C4 for Christmas, Ad]</ref> A 1954 ad, lists the C4 retail price at $84.50.<ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/5035958950/ Argus C4 1995 ad]</ref>
  
== Links ==
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==Specifications==
* [http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/instructionmanuals.html Manual available on  the Favorite Classics section of .kyphoto.com]
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{{br}}
* [http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-120.html How it Works: The Argus C4 Shutter]
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{{Flickr_image
* [http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-127.html C4 Repair notes]
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/5669643800/in/pool-camerawiki
* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/argus/html/argus_c4.php Argus 4] at [http://www.collection-appareils.fr www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand
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|image= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5021/5669643800_87b83a775f.jpg
* [http://www.cameraquest.com/arggeiss.htm Geiss modified C4] at cameraquest.com [http://www.cameraquest.com]
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|image_align= right
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|image_text= Rare black C4
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|image_by= Mark O'Brien
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
  
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* '''Badging:''' Argus C-Four
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* '''Manufacturer:''' [[Argus]]
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* '''Film Format:''' [[35mm|135 (35mm)]]
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* '''Shutter:''' behind lens leaf type shutter
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* '''Shutter Speeds:''' 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300, Bulb (early version only went to 1/200)
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* '''Flash sync:''' Hot shoe, X-sync or M-sync selector switch (1/50 or 1/100 sync)
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* '''Lens:''' Argus Cintar f/2.8 coated anastigmat, Series IV (20.6mm) filters
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* '''Aperture:''' 10-blades, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22
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* '''[[Viewfinder]]:''' Eye-level
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* '''Focusing:''' coincident image type coupled rangefinder
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* '''Meter:''' none
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* '''Battery:''' none
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* '''Weight:''' n/a
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{{br}}
  
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==Advertisements==
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/4405572791/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4028/4405572791_6f35d80e12_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= 1952 C4 ad<br/>
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|scan_by= Nesster
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|image_rights= cc
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}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/6151796668/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6064/6151796668_1b5343e164_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= 1952 US Camera Annual<br/>
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|scan_by= Mark O'Brien
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|image_rights= (c)
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}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/5035958950/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4127/5035958950_f28ab2367d_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= 1955 C4 ad<br/>
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|scan_by= Nesster
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|image_rights= cc
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}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/5855318409/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5032/5855318409_54b7ba49d6_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= 1958 Sears Catalog<br/>
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|scan_by= Nesster
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|image_rights= cc
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}}
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{{br}}
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==Photos==
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/raulm/6172152013/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6162/6172152013_c0ebb2f2d4_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= Argus C4
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|image_by= Raúl Sá Dantas
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/gymeedee/7522411936/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7522411936_3b13274c52_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= Argus C4
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|image_by= Jim Keeling
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrizzle/3639802489/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3601/3639802489_238ded3d69_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= Argus C4
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|image_by= Christopher Robin Roberts
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|image_rights= wp
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}}
 
{{Flickr_image
 
{{Flickr_image
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/5669643810/in/pool-camerawiki
 
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mfobrien/5669643810/in/pool-camerawiki
|image= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5669643810_2c4c9a9dee.jpg
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|image= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5141/5669643810_2c4c9a9dee_m.jpg
 
|image_align= left
 
|image_align= left
|image_text= Extremely rare black C4
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|image_text= Rare black C4
 
|image_by= Mark O'Brien
 
|image_by= Mark O'Brien
|image_rights= with permission
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|image_rights= wp
 +
}}
 +
{{Flickr_image
 +
|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/26262745@N08/3087342753/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3222/3087342753_21f77f459d_m.jpg
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|image_align= left
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|image_text= Grey recovered C4
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|image_by= Rick Oleson
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|image_rights= wp
 
}}
 
}}
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{{br}}
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== Links ==
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* [http://www.arguscg.org/manuals/c4/c4camera.pdf Argus C4 manual] from the [http://www.arguscg.org/ Argus Collectors Group]
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* [http://www.cameramanuals.org/argus/argus_c4.pdf Argus C4 manual] from [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Butkus Orphan Cameras website]
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* [http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-120.html How it Works: The Argus C4 Shutter] at [http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/ Rick Oleson's]
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* [http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-127.html C4 Repair notes] at [http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/ Rick Oleson's]
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* [http://www.cameraquest.com/arggeiss.htm Geiss modified C4] at cameraquest.com [http://www.cameraquest.com]
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* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=629 Argus C4] at [http://www.collection-appareils.fr www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand (in French)
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==References==
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<references />
  
 
[[Category: 35mm rangefinder]]
 
[[Category: 35mm rangefinder]]

Revision as of 05:16, 30 March 2017

The Argus C4 is a 35mm fixed lens, couple rangefinder manufactured by Argus, Inc. In the 1950s, Argus sold over 300,000 Argus C4 35mm rangefinder cameras. It had one of the best implementations of a viewfinder with superimposed rangefinder, an easy film load concept and a hot shoe for attaching and connecting a flash without cable. It had a modern design, but no interchangeable lenses.

The C4 design is an improvement over the Argus 21 Markfinder, which did not have a coupled rangefinder. The popularity of the camera led to consumer demand for an interchangeable lens version. At first, this demand was met by a Geiss-modified version of the C4, known as the Argus C4 Geiss, that could accept Lithagon lenses. Later Argus released the Argus C44, which became their standard interchangeable lens rangefinder.

There are several versions of the C4, with the earliest (Version 1) sharing main body elements of its precursor, the Argus 21, or Markfinder. The initial maximum shutter speed was 1/200, but the later versions featured 1/300 sec maximum shutter speed, and X-synch on the hot shoe. An all-black version also exists but is rare and highly prized by collectors. There are less than 10 known examples of the Black C4. Some collectors have theorized that the black versions are prototypes created to attract US Government interest, but no evidence has been found explaining the company's motivation for this version. The black version does not have a stamped serial number.

According to photo magazine ads, the Argus C4 retail price was $99.50 USD in 1952.[1] A 1954 ad, lists the C4 retail price at $84.50.[2]

Specifications


  • Badging: Argus C-Four
  • Manufacturer: Argus
  • Film Format: 135 (35mm)
  • Shutter: behind lens leaf type shutter
  • Shutter Speeds: 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300, Bulb (early version only went to 1/200)
  • Flash sync: Hot shoe, X-sync or M-sync selector switch (1/50 or 1/100 sync)
  • Lens: Argus Cintar f/2.8 coated anastigmat, Series IV (20.6mm) filters
  • Aperture: 10-blades, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22
  • Viewfinder: Eye-level
  • Focusing: coincident image type coupled rangefinder
  • Meter: none
  • Battery: none
  • Weight: n/a


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Photos


Links

References