Agiflite
The Agiflite is an aerial camera made by the UK company AGI in the 1980s. AGI had by this time stopped making general-purpose cameras, and the company's business was aeronautical and military instruments. Some or all of these cameras were supplied to the US Navy. Dan Fromm, in a post at Photo.net, states that AGI based the design on one from Williamson when that company failed.[1]
The Agiflite kit comprises a camera body, with two lenses and detachable 70mm film magazines. Most examples seen are finished in white, but one black camera has been seen. The camera (shutter and film advance) is powered by nickel-cadmium batteries. The auctioneer's notes at Westlicht (linked below) give the format as 66x67mm.
The lenses supplied with the camera vary, but are by Carl Zeiss (although early examples may have Taylor-Hobson 4-inch f/2 and 12-inch f/4 lenses[1]). There is usually one lens of 100 or 150mm length, and another of 250 or 350mm: see the linked examples below. Each lens is fitted with a pistol-grip, and a 'gun-sight' viewfinder.
Examples reported in auction sales
All of these are described as Mk2D of the camera.
- Agiflite serial no.58, with 110mm f/2 Planar T* and 250mm f/5.6 Sonnar T* (serial no.s not given), all white; sold by Tennants in June 2015; one photo.
- Agiflite serial no.1106, with 100mm f/3.5 Planar T* serial no.2595267 and 250mm f/5.6 Sonnar T* serial no.6264038, all black; sold by Flints in November 2022; several photos. The blue cylindrical item is the NiCd battery.
- Agiflite (serial no. and colour not given) with 150mm f/2.8 Sonnar T* serial no.6264115 and 350mm f/5.6 Tele-Tessar T* serial no.6224050, sold by Christie's in March 1999; no photo.
- Agiflite serial no.2426, with 150mm f/2.8 Sonnar T* serial no.6628429 and 350mm f/5.6 Tele-Tessar serial no.6571200 lens, all white, with yellow filter and battery charger unit; sold by Flints in November 2021; several photos.
- Agiflite serial no.2324, with 150mm f/2.8 Sonnar serial no.6931079 and 350mm f/5.6 Tele-Tessar serial no.6392988, all white; sold at the eighth Westlicht Auction, in November 2005.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Forum post Agiflite Aerial Camera at photo.net, March 2003. One of the posters has the camera, others have one or more of the lenses. Dan Fromm (3rd post) states that the camera is based on one by Williamson, and that it was originally supplied with Taylor-Hobson lenses, of which he has examples.
