Difference between revisions of "Rapid film"

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[[Agfa]]'s '''Rapid''' film system used 35mm film with two cassettes for 24×24 exposure format. It appeared in 1964 as a rival to Kodak's [[126 film]], but whereas the Rapid system used a standard film pressure plate, 126 relied on the close tolerances of its cartridge to hold the film flat. The two-cassette system simplified film loading, since the film did not have to be threaded onto a take-up spool. The new full cassette is laid into the camera with the film reaching the opening of a second cartridge into which is wound the exposed film. Then the camera is closed and can be used after winding for the first exposure. The film does not need to be rewound. The empty cassette is used as take-up cartridge for the next roll of film.
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<div class="floatright">
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/mobilene/4228526760/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4228526760_17428921c2.jpg
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|image_align=
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|image_text= Agfa color film in Rapid cassette
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|image_by= Jim Grey
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|image_rights= nc
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}}
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{{Flickr_image
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|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagefutures/9361693917/in/pool-camerawiki
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|image= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3725/9361693917_a9f7d05276.jpg
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|image_align=
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|image_text= Rapid film cassettes with different tabs (B, D, E)
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|image_by= Dirk HR Spennemann
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|image_rights= with permission
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}}
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</div>
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[[Agfa]]'s '''Rapid''' film system appeared in 1964 as a rival to Kodak's [[126 film]]. The Rapid system supplied otherwise-standard [[35mm film]] in special metal cassettes, which have no central spindle and are shorter in height than standard 135 cassettes. An identical, empty cassette is used in the camera's take-up compartment.
  
The Rapid film system was not entirely new, but a modification of Agfa's '''Karat''' film cartridge system of the mid-1930s. The Rapid system had the added capability of setting the camera's autoexposure mechanism (if any) to the proper film speed automatically, as did the 126 cartridge.
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Compared to standard [[35mm]] film, the Rapid system was easier to load, since the film did not have to be threaded onto a take-up spool. The new full cassette is simply placed in one side of the film chamber with a leader protruding, pre-cut in a bluntly rounded shape. The camera automatically guides this leader into the velvet light-trap of the takeup cassette; and after shooting a blank frame or two the camera is ready to make its first exposure. The film does not need to be rewound. At the end of the roll, the now-empty cassette is moved to the other side and used as the take-up cassette for the next roll.
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Whereas the Rapid system used a standard film pressure plate, 126 relied on the close tolerances of its cartridge to hold the film flat, a less reliable system. Nonetheless, the runaway success of Kodak's [[Kodak Instamatic|Instamatic series]] eventually pushed the Rapid system off the market (even Agfa began selling [[Agfa#126_film_cameras|126-film cameras]]).
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{| class="wikitable floatleft"
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|+ Rapid Code, [[Film speed]] and tab length
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|-
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! Code !! ISO (ASA/DIN) !! Tab Length in mm
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|-
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| A || 25/15 || 0
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|-
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| B || 32/16 || 0.5
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|-
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| C || 40/17 || 1.0
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|-
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| D || 50/18 || 1.5
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|-
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| E || 64/19 || 2.0
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|-
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| F || 80/20 || 2.5
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|-
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| G || 100/21 || 3.0
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|-
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| H || 125/22 || 3.5
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|-
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| I || 160/23 || 4.0
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|-
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| K || 200/24 || 4.5
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|-
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| L || 250/25 || 5.0
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|-
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| M || 320/26 || 5.5
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|-
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| N || 400/27 || 6.0
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|}
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The Rapid film system was actually not new, but rather a modification of Agfa's '''[[Agfa Karat|Karat]]''' film cartridge system of the mid-1930s. The Rapid system had the added capability of setting the camera's exposure-metering mechanism (if any) to the proper [[film speed]] automatically, as did the 126 cartridge. A silver metal plate affixed to the side of the Rapid cassette has a central tab, whose length increases with higher film speed. This tab has no function when a finished, empty cassette is swapped over to a camera's take-up compartment (instead, the emulsion type of an exposed roll is indicated by punched markings in the tail of the film). The cartridges were also letter coded for the film speed, see table.
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A similar system to the Rapid cartridge was made in East Germany, called [[SL System]].
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{{brl}}
  
 
===Rapid film cameras===
 
===Rapid film cameras===
  
* [[Agfa Iso-Rapid I|Agfa ISO-Rapid I]]
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* [[Adox]]
* [[Agfa Isoflash-Rapid I]]
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** Adox Golf IA Rapid
* [[Agfa Optima Rapid 250]]
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*[[Agfa]]
* Fujica Rapid S (1965)
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** Agfa Isette Rapid
* Fujica Rapid S2 (1965)
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** Agfa [[Iso-Rapid C]]
* Fujica Rapid D1 (1965)
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** Agfa [[Iso-Rapid I]]
* Fujica Rapid SF (1966)
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** Agfa [[Iso-Rapid Ic]]
* [[Minolta 24 Rapid]]
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** Agfa [[Iso-Rapid IF]]
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**[[Isomat Rapid|Agfa Isomat Rapid]]
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** Agfa [[Isoflash-Rapid]]
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** Agfa [[Isoflash-Rapid C]]
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** Agfa Isoly Rapid
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** Agfa [[Isomat Rapid]]
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** Agfa [[Isomat Rapid C]]
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** Agfa Optima-Rapid 100 C
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** Agfa [[Agfa Optima Rapid 125C|Optima-Rapid 125 C]] 
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** Agfa Optima-Rapid 150
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** Agfa [[Optima Rapid 250]]
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** Agfa [[Optima-Rapid 500 V]]
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** Agfa Silette Rapid
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** Agfa Silette Rapid L
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** Agfa Silette Rapid F
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** Agfa Silette Rapid I
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*[[Canon]]
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** [[Canon Dial Rapid]]
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** [[Canon Demi EE17|Canon Demi Rapid]]
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* [[Dacora]]
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** Dacora Rapid 101
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** Dacora Rapid 202
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** Dacora Rapid 303
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** Dacora Rapid 404
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*[[Ferrania]]
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** [[Ferrania Lince|Ferrania Lince Rapid]]
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*[[Fujica]]
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** [[Fujica Rapid S]] (1965)
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** [[Fujica Rapid S2]] (1965)
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** [[Fujica Rapid D1]] (1966)
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** [[Fujica Rapid SF]] (1966)
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*[[Hanimex]]
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** Hanimex 101 Rapid
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** Hanimex 101F Rapid
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** Hanimex 202 Rapid
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** Hanimex 404 Rapid
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* [[Ilford]]
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** [[Ilford Sportina Rapid]]
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*[[KMZ]]
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** KMZ [[Zorki 12]]
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** Lomo Smena Rapid
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*[[Mamiya]]
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**[[Mamiya Myrapid]]
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*[[Minolta]]
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** [[Minolta 24 Rapid]]
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*Oehler
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**[[Oehler Infra]]
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*[[Olympus]]
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**Olympus Pen Rapid EE.D
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**Olympus Pen Rapid EE.S
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* [[Petri]]
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** Petri Auto Rapid 28
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* [[PMC]]
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** PMC Automatic Rapid
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* [[Regula]]
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** Rapid SE
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** Rapid SL
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** Rollop 35
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*[[Ricoh]]
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** [[Ricoh 35K Rapid]]
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** Ricoh EE Rapid Half
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*[[Voigtländer]]
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** Voigtländer [[Vitoret Rapid D]]
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*[[Yashica]]
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** [[Yashica Half 17 Rapid]]
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** [[Yashica Half 17 EE Rapid]]
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*[[Welta]]
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** Welta [[Penti]]
  
===Links===
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==Links==
  
 
*[http://www.kameramuseum.de/2filme/agfa-rapid-patrone.htm Rapid film at Kurt Tauber's site]
 
*[http://www.kameramuseum.de/2filme/agfa-rapid-patrone.htm Rapid film at Kurt Tauber's site]
 
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*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/vox/51329438943/in/pool-camerawiki/ Several ad panels] from a 1966 ''Popular Photography'' magazine where Agfa promotes the Rapid system; scans courtesy [https://www.flickr.com/photos/vox/ Voxphoto on Flickr].
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*[https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4614923 AGFA rapid film recharge project] 3D printed model of cartridges and recharge by Jelger VanDijk in [https://www.thingiverse.com/jelgervandijk/designs Thingiverse]
 
[[Category:film formats]]
 
[[Category:film formats]]
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[[Category:Rapid film]]

Revision as of 14:11, 3 April 2023

Agfa's Rapid film system appeared in 1964 as a rival to Kodak's 126 film. The Rapid system supplied otherwise-standard 35mm film in special metal cassettes, which have no central spindle and are shorter in height than standard 135 cassettes. An identical, empty cassette is used in the camera's take-up compartment.

Compared to standard 35mm film, the Rapid system was easier to load, since the film did not have to be threaded onto a take-up spool. The new full cassette is simply placed in one side of the film chamber with a leader protruding, pre-cut in a bluntly rounded shape. The camera automatically guides this leader into the velvet light-trap of the takeup cassette; and after shooting a blank frame or two the camera is ready to make its first exposure. The film does not need to be rewound. At the end of the roll, the now-empty cassette is moved to the other side and used as the take-up cassette for the next roll.

Whereas the Rapid system used a standard film pressure plate, 126 relied on the close tolerances of its cartridge to hold the film flat, a less reliable system. Nonetheless, the runaway success of Kodak's Instamatic series eventually pushed the Rapid system off the market (even Agfa began selling 126-film cameras).

Rapid Code, Film speed and tab length
Code ISO (ASA/DIN) Tab Length in mm
A 25/15 0
B 32/16 0.5
C 40/17 1.0
D 50/18 1.5
E 64/19 2.0
F 80/20 2.5
G 100/21 3.0
H 125/22 3.5
I 160/23 4.0
K 200/24 4.5
L 250/25 5.0
M 320/26 5.5
N 400/27 6.0

The Rapid film system was actually not new, but rather a modification of Agfa's Karat film cartridge system of the mid-1930s. The Rapid system had the added capability of setting the camera's exposure-metering mechanism (if any) to the proper film speed automatically, as did the 126 cartridge. A silver metal plate affixed to the side of the Rapid cassette has a central tab, whose length increases with higher film speed. This tab has no function when a finished, empty cassette is swapped over to a camera's take-up compartment (instead, the emulsion type of an exposed roll is indicated by punched markings in the tail of the film). The cartridges were also letter coded for the film speed, see table.

A similar system to the Rapid cartridge was made in East Germany, called SL System.


Rapid film cameras

Links