Difference between revisions of "Isolette"

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(Added the Isolette I, noted the pressed-metal top housing of the I and the V.)
(Added doubt about the DOF scale on the Isolette I (because of Heritagefutures' camera in the pool, which doesn't have this))
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This first model was a dual format camera. It has hinged masks in the film chamber (they pivot around the spindle of the film rollers each side of the film gate), to change it from the 6×6 cm format to 4.5×6 cm. There is also a mask for the viewfinder.
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This first model was a dual format camera. It has hinged masks in the film chamber (they pivot around the spindle of the film rollers each side of the film gate), to change it from the 6×6 cm format to 4.5×6 cm. There is also a mask for the viewfinder, put in place with a selector lever by the eyepiece.
  
 
It first came on the market as the '''Iso''r''ette''' (embossed in the leatherette of the front door/lens bed as <small>''J''SORETTE</small><ref>The name is written as Jsolette simply because the capital "I" resembles a "J" in German typography of the time. The embossing on the camera was changed to a modern "I" in 1937. See: [http://www.kindredroots.com/What/germanletters/germanletters_caps.htm Old German Letters]</ref> ), but the name was changed to '''Isolette''' (again, marked on the camera as <small>'''''J''SOLETTE'''</small>) within a year.
 
It first came on the market as the '''Iso''r''ette''' (embossed in the leatherette of the front door/lens bed as <small>''J''SORETTE</small><ref>The name is written as Jsolette simply because the capital "I" resembles a "J" in German typography of the time. The embossing on the camera was changed to a modern "I" in 1937. See: [http://www.kindredroots.com/What/germanletters/germanletters_caps.htm Old German Letters]</ref> ), but the name was changed to '''Isolette''' (again, marked on the camera as <small>'''''J''SOLETTE'''</small>) within a year.
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One of the distinctive features of the camera is the top housing, made of a plastic called "Trolitan"; the post-War camera has a cast aluminium top housing. This camera also has loops to attach a strap, the only version of the Isolette to have these.
 
One of the distinctive features of the camera is the top housing, made of a plastic called "Trolitan"; the post-War camera has a cast aluminium top housing. This camera also has loops to attach a strap, the only version of the Isolette to have these.
  
Different lens and shutter combinations were available, allowing a wide range of levels of specification. All have front-element focusing. The shutter release is on the body. This model was called the "Soldatenkamera" (soldier's camera) in Germany during the War.
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Different lens and shutter combinations were available, allowing a wide range of levels of specification. All have front-element focusing. The shutter release is on the body. Film advance is by a wide, flat knob, using a [[red window]]; there are ''two'' red windows in the back, one for each film format, and a swivelling cover for the upper (4.5×6 cm) one.
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There is a swing-out spool holder on the supply side of the film chamber. This model was called the "Soldatenkamera" (soldier's camera) in Germany during the War.
  
 
* Year of release: 1938<ref name=McK></ref>
 
* Year of release: 1938<ref name=McK></ref>
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==Isolette (1945-50)==
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==Isolette 4.5 (1945-50)==
 
The first post-War model was made from 1945 till 1950. It is not adjustable to 4.5×6 cm format. The top housing of this model is cast from Hydronalium (Nüral: an aluminium alloy). There were less lens and shutter combinations, offering only the higher levels of specification (no Agnar, nor Vario or Pronto shutters). Most of the lenses are still uncoated.<ref name=McK></ref> Some of the shutters available are synchronised. The camera has an accessory shoe (above the viewfinder).
 
The first post-War model was made from 1945 till 1950. It is not adjustable to 4.5×6 cm format. The top housing of this model is cast from Hydronalium (Nüral: an aluminium alloy). There were less lens and shutter combinations, offering only the higher levels of specification (no Agnar, nor Vario or Pronto shutters). Most of the lenses are still uncoated.<ref name=McK></ref> Some of the shutters available are synchronised. The camera has an accessory shoe (above the viewfinder).
  
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==Isolette I==
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==Isolette I (1951-58)==
 
The Isolette I  is, like the V, a rather low-specification model. It has a coated f/4.5 Agnar lens, and a synchronised Vario or Pronto shutter. Unlike the V, it has a body shutter release. There are two versions of it:
 
The Isolette I  is, like the V, a rather low-specification model. It has a coated f/4.5 Agnar lens, and a synchronised Vario or Pronto shutter. Unlike the V, it has a body shutter release. There are two versions of it:
 
* 1951-54: the early version has a disc-shaped depth-of-field calculator, mounted in a position matching that of the film advance knob, but on the right of the camera.
 
* 1951-54: the early version has a disc-shaped depth-of-field calculator, mounted in a position matching that of the film advance knob, but on the right of the camera.
* 1955-58: the depth of field brackets are now marked on the face-plate of the shutter, around the focus scale of the lens. This model also has a slightly different [[cold shoe]].
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* 1955-58: the depth-of-field calculator is now absent; some (but not all) examples have DOF brackets marked on the face-plate of the shutter, around the focus scale of the lens. This model also has a slightly different [[cold shoe]].
 
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Revision as of 23:14, 31 October 2011

The Isolette is a compact horizontal-folding camera for twelve 6×6 cm (2¼-inch square) pictures (or sixteen 4.5×6 cm (2¼×1⅝ inch) pictures, with the first model of the camera) on 120 film. It was made by Agfa Kamerawerk AG, Munich, Germany, from 1938.[1] It was the first of a series of cameras lasting until about 1960.


Isolette (1938-42)

This first model was a dual format camera. It has hinged masks in the film chamber (they pivot around the spindle of the film rollers each side of the film gate), to change it from the 6×6 cm format to 4.5×6 cm. There is also a mask for the viewfinder, put in place with a selector lever by the eyepiece.

It first came on the market as the Isorette (embossed in the leatherette of the front door/lens bed as JSORETTE[2] ), but the name was changed to Isolette (again, marked on the camera as JSOLETTE) within a year.

One of the distinctive features of the camera is the top housing, made of a plastic called "Trolitan"; the post-War camera has a cast aluminium top housing. This camera also has loops to attach a strap, the only version of the Isolette to have these.

Different lens and shutter combinations were available, allowing a wide range of levels of specification. All have front-element focusing. The shutter release is on the body. Film advance is by a wide, flat knob, using a red window; there are two red windows in the back, one for each film format, and a swivelling cover for the upper (4.5×6 cm) one. There is a swing-out spool holder on the supply side of the film chamber. This model was called the "Soldatenkamera" (soldier's camera) in Germany during the War.

The earliest cameras have Vario shutters which are not labelled as such.



Isolette 4.5 (1945-50)

The first post-War model was made from 1945 till 1950. It is not adjustable to 4.5×6 cm format. The top housing of this model is cast from Hydronalium (Nüral: an aluminium alloy). There were less lens and shutter combinations, offering only the higher levels of specification (no Agnar, nor Vario or Pronto shutters). Most of the lenses are still uncoated.[1] Some of the shutters available are synchronised. The camera has an accessory shoe (above the viewfinder).

  • Year of release: 1945
  • Film Format: 12 exp. 6x6 on 120 film.
  • Shutter: Prontor, Prontor-S or Compur-Rapid.
  • Lens: Apotar 8.5cm f/4.5 or Solinar 8.5cm f/4.5.
  • Double exposure prevention.
  • Viewfinder: reverse-Galilean viewfinder


Isolette V (1950-52)

The Isolette V has Agfa's entry-level f/4.5 Agnar triplet lens, and only low-specification shutters (Pronto or Vario). However, the lens is now coated on many examples, and the shutters are synchronised, with a PC socket. The camera's top housing is now of pressed, bright silver metal: this finish is retained for the rest of the series. The accessory shoe is either on top of the viewfinder or to one side of it (on earlier examples). There is no body-mounted shutter release.

Isolette I (1951-58)

The Isolette I is, like the V, a rather low-specification model. It has a coated f/4.5 Agnar lens, and a synchronised Vario or Pronto shutter. Unlike the V, it has a body shutter release. There are two versions of it:

  • 1951-54: the early version has a disc-shaped depth-of-field calculator, mounted in a position matching that of the film advance knob, but on the right of the camera.
  • 1955-58: the depth-of-field calculator is now absent; some (but not all) examples have DOF brackets marked on the face-plate of the shutter, around the focus scale of the lens. This model also has a slightly different cold shoe.



Succeeding models

After 1950, several different models of the Isolette were made at the same time, with different levels of specification:


Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 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). p25.
  2. The name is written as Jsolette simply because the capital "I" resembles a "J" in German typography of the time. The embossing on the camera was changed to a modern "I" in 1937. See: Old German Letters


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