Nettel Argus
The Argus is a small plate camera, disguised as a monocular, designed to take photographs covertly, at right angles to the direction the monocular appears to be pointed. It was made by Nettel Camerawerk in Sontheim, southern Germany, from about 1909. The model was continued by Contessa-Nettel, who renamed it the Ergo, and under this name by Zeiss Ikon.
The camera takes 4.5x6 cm plates in single dark slides. The lens is either one of Nettel's own Anastigmats or Rapid Aplanats, or an f/4.5 Zeiss Tessar. In early cameras, there are only two aperture settings; for example f/4.5 and f/9,[1] selected by a lever on the body. Later cameras by Contessa-Nettel have a full range of apertures, selected with the rim of the false 'front lens' of the monocular.[2]
The shutter of the early camera is a simple 'I' and 'B' one. The Contessa-Nettel example cited above appears to have a selector for more shutter speeds.[2]
Notes
- ↑ Nettel Argus with f/4.5 Tessar; two aperture settings f/4.5 and f/9; and both right-angle finder and a Newton finder (perhaps added by the owner). Sold at the December 2010 Westlicht Photographica Auction.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Contessa-Nettel Argus] with f/4.5 Tessar, full aperture range to f/36, (apparently) more shutter speeds, and with right-angle finder and ground-glass focusing hood. Sold at the December 2009 Westlicht auction.
