Argus STL 1000

Rebadged Hi-Lite version image by Voxphoto (Image rights)

The late-version STL 1000 made by Petri; photographed at the Argus Museum in Ann Arbor image by Voxphoto (Image rights)

After Argus Camera found it impossible to compete in the market with its US-built cameras, the company decided to offer SLRs made for them by Japanese manufacturers; but confusingly, changed plans several times. Argus STL 1000 was the branding briefly used on two models, which bracket the more successful Argus/Cosina STL 1000.

The first was evidently a rebadging of the Cosina Hi-Lite; but the Cosina branding only appears on the lenses and not the body. This version is easily identified by the location of the shutter speed dial on the face of the camera. The second was a Petri FTX (aka Petri TTL), a camera introduced in 1974. This version is easily identified by the location of the shutter release button on the face of the camera. Both versions use 42mm screwmount lenses; but otherwise look quite different from each other or the Argus/Cosina versions.

Links

• Cosina Hi-Lite and Petri FTX manuals at Mike Butkus's OrphanCameras.com

• Object records for the "Hi-Lite" STL 1000 in silver and in black at the Argus Museum collection database
• An object record for a variant of the Petri-made STL 1000 but labeled TTL; from the Argus Museum collection database
• The "Hi-Lite" Argus STL 1000 pictured at Matt's Classic Cameras (note that the Petri version is actually last in the chronology).