Super Solinette
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| Agfa Super Solinette image by Raúl Sá Dantas (Image rights) |
The Super Solinette is a folding 35mm camera made by Agfa in the mid-1950s (1953-58). It is a continuation of the Solinette line, where "Super" designates a model including a coupled rangefinder. This folding camera is similar in the design to the larger Isolette 120 film cameras. With a pleasing symmetrical design and circular knobs for film advance and rewind. Super Solinettes came in several combinations of lenses and shutters, with the top of the line having a 50mm/3.5 Solinar set in a Synchro-Compur shutter, others combinations used Apotar lenses, Prontor and Compur shutters. The diaphragm iris has 10 blades, providing an almost circular shape which provides very pleasing out of focus area. In early models, the f/stps are stepless, while later models have an EV system shutter in which the speed and f/numbers move together. Unfolding is performed by pressing a button on the left side, opposed to the top on the Solinette. Once unfolded, the lens bed is quite rigid, as it is locked in place by 2 struts. The camera can be set on tables or other surfaces for long exposures. Like her sister Solinette the focusing is done by moving the whole front unit; by rotating a serrated dial at the base of the shutter/lens assembly, in the super Solinette, a coupled rangefinder helps with focusing from 1m (3.5ft) to infinity. Shutter must be cocked by hand, and a double exposure prevention system allows to make only 1 shot per frame.
The Agfa Super Solinette was also sold in the US as the Ansco Super Regent
Notes:
- Bellows is usually made of leather; pay attention to it as it tears in the corners.
Also the bellows can get pinched in the edge during folding and can tear at the camera side
- Focusing unit might be stiff, due to the grease in the helicoid hardening (Agfa grease problem).
It takes patience, solvent and qtips to loosen it.
- Rangefinder adjustment is possible and requires lifting the top cover; which is achieved by loosening both rewind and advance dials.
- The double-shot prevention is very finicky, and has many small parts, don't force it or it can be ruined.
