Difference between revisions of "Clack"

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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrys_stienstra/3159788581/in/pool-camerawiki
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The '''Clack''' was manufactured by [[Agfa]] from 1954–65. Earlier models had a metal body, later ones were made of plastic. It is a simple camera not unlike certain tea-tins, with a single-element 95mm [[meniscus lens]]. While the lens does not focus, a secondary close-up lens may be flipped into place for nearer subjects. It takes 6&times;9 cm pictures on [[120 film]].
  
The '''Clack''' camera was manufactured by [[Agfa]] 1954-65. Earlier models had a metal body. Later ones were made of plastic. It is a simple, box like camera. It had a single element 95mm meniscus lens with built in close up filter and yellow filter. It takes 6&times;9 cm pictures on 120 Roll Film.
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== Designed for economy ==
  
== Intelligent solutions ==
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To enable a simple meniscus lens to achieve reasonable sharpness, it is permanently stopped down to a small aperture (f/10 or less). The large 6&times;9 cm negative size requires little or no enlargement to create usable prints, so any flaws in the image are less noticeable. One feature to note is rounded camera back. There's no pressure plate inside the camera—the film isn't supposed to be held flat. The camera body is oval shaped when viewed from above, and the film is fed around the curved back of the camera to help match the curved plane of focus of the meniscus lens. This is a clever engineering solution to help keep camera costs low (one later adopted by many plastic 35mm [[trashcam]]s).
  
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==Specifications==
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodimages/130189350/in/pool-camerapedia/ http://static.flickr.com/44/130189350_ecd571b793_m.jpg]</div>
 
  
To enable this camera to take quality pictures with such a simple lens, it is allways stopped down to f/11 ot further. The large negative size allows contact prints of an acceptable size. When enlarged, they need not be enlarged by great factors. Best feature of all is the curved film plane. There's no pressure plate in the back of the camera, the film isn't supposed to be flattened. As is visible in the pictures, the camera body is oval shaped. The film is led around the curved back of the camera to create maximum sharpness. An intelligent solution to create a low cost decent quality camera.
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* Two apertures, roughly f/13 (sun icon) and f/10 (clouds icon)
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* Shutter about 1/30 plus B
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* Built-in yellow filter (on some examples)
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*Zone focusing with two steps:
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** 1-3m (3-10 feet) with a built-in close-up lens (whose aperture is the same ~f/10 as the "cloudy" setting)
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** 3m (10 feet)-infinity (with either of the open aperture stops in place behind the lens)
  
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== Shooting with a Clack ==
  
More data:
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While somewhat bulky, the Clack is a fun, lightweight camera to use. The 6&times;9 image format means that a roll of 120 film is finished after 8 shots, which may be an advantage for those impatient to see their results. Exposures using the "weather" symbols are suitable for film speeds in the range of ISO 125 down to ISO 50 (so even Velvia slide film might be tried). For greatest versatility, an ISO 400 negative film would give better exposures in deep shade or heavy overcast, but would have the latitude to tolerate a few stops of overexposure in full sun.  
* Aperture f/11 and f/12.5
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* Shutter about 1/30 plus B
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Some samples are equipped with a yellow filter, useful when shooting Black & White film to help deepen skies and reduce haze. Unusually for this class of camera, the Clack offers a tripod socket and accepts a cable release, so even some night photography using the "B" shutter setting becomes possible.
* Built in yellow filter
 
Zone focusing with two steps:
 
* 1-3m (3-10 feet) with a built-in close up lens.
 
* 3m (10 feet)-infinity with just an aperture ring between the lens and     the film
 
  
== A useable camera ==
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== All-around views ==
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<div> [http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/272119833/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://static.flickr.com/96/272119833_5aba0f237d_m.jpg][http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/272119831/in/pool-camerawiki http://static.flickr.com/117/272119831_76429683ee_m.jpg][http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/272119834/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://static.flickr.com/83/272119834_68b615b7b1_m.jpg][http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/272119837/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://static.flickr.com/92/272119837_97158ee4d7_m.jpg][http://www.flickr.com/photos/50678983@N00/272119836/in/pool-camerawiki/ http://static.flickr.com/108/272119836_925aed01bb_m.jpg]</div>
  
The Clack is a light viewfinder camera, originally designed for 50 speed B&W film. Most negatives were contact printed. The [[Agfa]] '''Clack''' works great with 50 speed slide films like Velvia, so use it while you can still get that film. Black and White 50 speed films, and overexposing 100 speed color negative by one stop ought to be fine.
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Images by [[:Category:image by Dries van den Elzen|Dries van den Elzen]] {{with permission}}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
* http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/clack/index.htm
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*[https://www.butkus.org/chinon/agfa/agfa_clack_6x9/agfa_clack_6x9.htm Agfa Clack user manual] at [https://www.butkus.org/chinon/ Butkus.org]
* http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/clack/clack.html
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* [http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/clack/index.htm AGFA Clack] at [http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/ Alfred's Camera Page]
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* [http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/clack/clack.html AGFA Clack] at [http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/ Roland and Caroline's Homepage]
  
[[Category: 6x9 viewfinder]]
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[[Category: German 6x9 viewfinder]]
[[Category: Germany]]
 
 
[[Category: Agfa]]
 
[[Category: Agfa]]
 
[[Category: C]]
 
[[Category: C]]
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[[Category:image by Dries van den Elzen]]
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[[Category:120 film]]

Latest revision as of 05:35, 12 March 2023

The Clack was manufactured by Agfa from 1954–65. Earlier models had a metal body, later ones were made of plastic. It is a simple camera not unlike certain tea-tins, with a single-element 95mm meniscus lens. While the lens does not focus, a secondary close-up lens may be flipped into place for nearer subjects. It takes 6×9 cm pictures on 120 film.

Designed for economy

To enable a simple meniscus lens to achieve reasonable sharpness, it is permanently stopped down to a small aperture (f/10 or less). The large 6×9 cm negative size requires little or no enlargement to create usable prints, so any flaws in the image are less noticeable. One feature to note is rounded camera back. There's no pressure plate inside the camera—the film isn't supposed to be held flat. The camera body is oval shaped when viewed from above, and the film is fed around the curved back of the camera to help match the curved plane of focus of the meniscus lens. This is a clever engineering solution to help keep camera costs low (one later adopted by many plastic 35mm trashcams).

Specifications

  • Two apertures, roughly f/13 (sun icon) and f/10 (clouds icon)
  • Shutter about 1/30 plus B
  • Built-in yellow filter (on some examples)
  • Zone focusing with two steps:
    • 1-3m (3-10 feet) with a built-in close-up lens (whose aperture is the same ~f/10 as the "cloudy" setting)
    • 3m (10 feet)-infinity (with either of the open aperture stops in place behind the lens)

Shooting with a Clack

While somewhat bulky, the Clack is a fun, lightweight camera to use. The 6×9 image format means that a roll of 120 film is finished after 8 shots, which may be an advantage for those impatient to see their results. Exposures using the "weather" symbols are suitable for film speeds in the range of ISO 125 down to ISO 50 (so even Velvia slide film might be tried). For greatest versatility, an ISO 400 negative film would give better exposures in deep shade or heavy overcast, but would have the latitude to tolerate a few stops of overexposure in full sun.

Some samples are equipped with a yellow filter, useful when shooting Black & White film to help deepen skies and reduce haze. Unusually for this class of camera, the Clack offers a tripod socket and accepts a cable release, so even some night photography using the "B" shutter setting becomes possible.

All-around views

272119833_5aba0f237d_m.jpg272119831_76429683ee_m.jpg272119834_68b615b7b1_m.jpg272119837_97158ee4d7_m.jpg272119836_925aed01bb_m.jpg

Images by Dries van den Elzen (Image rights)

Links