Difference between revisions of "Rapid film"

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[[Agfa]]'s '''Rapid''' film system used 35mm film with two cartridges for 24&times;24 exposure format. It appeared under this name in the 1960s as a rival to Kodak's [[126 film]] for square format and was the better system since the film was not fixed on the film plane by the film cartridge. The camera defined the film plane, as for other 35mm or roll film cameras.<!-- How did this make it better? Really, I don't understand. (asks Hoary) --> The two-cartridge system should simplify film loading.<!-- Compared with regular 135, or with 126 as well? Actually I don't understand how it's simpler than 135: it seems to me that it just avoids the inconvenience of rewinding, but I've never tried Rapid so don't know. (says Hoary) --> The new full cartridge 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 cartridge can be used as take-up cartridge for the next film.
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[[Agfa]]'s '''Rapid''' film system used 35mm film with two cassettes for 24&times;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.
  
The Rapid film system was not new, but a relaunch of Agfa's '''Karat''' film cartridge system of the mid-1930s.
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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.
  
 
===Rapid film cameras===
 
===Rapid film cameras===

Revision as of 20:33, 1 June 2007

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.

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.

Rapid film cameras

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