Argus C4

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The Argus C4 is a 35mm fixed lens rangefinder camera manufactured by Argus Cameras, Inc. starting in 1951. While not the runaway sales hit of the C3 "brick," Argus sold over 300,000 C4's.

The C4 (styled as "argus c-four" in lowercase on the lens trim ring) has one of the better implementations of a viewfinder with superimposed coupled rangefinder. Its design is much modernized compared to the bricklike C3, but (on a stock C4) the 50mm f/2.8 Cintagon lens is permanently attached.

The C4 design is an improvement over the Argus 21 Markfinder, which did not have a coupled rangefinder. The C4 includes the 21's (allegedly) simplified film-loading method, and its hot shoe for connecting a flash without cable. The popularity of the C4 led to consumer demand for an interchangeable-lens version. At first, this demand was met by a Geiss-modified version of the C4, known as the Argus C4 Geiss, that could accept Lithagon lenses. Later Argus released the Argus C44, which became their standard interchangeable lens rangefinder.

There are several iterations of the C4. The earliest shares the knobs and back style of the 21. The initial maximum shutter speed was 1/200, but the later versions featured 1/300 sec maximum shutter speed, and an X-synch option for the hot shoe. An all-black version also exists but is rare and highly prized by collectors. There are less than 10 known examples of the Black C4. Some collectors have theorized that the black versions are prototypes created to attract US Government interest, but no evidence has been found explaining the company's motivation for this version. The black version does not have a stamped serial number.

According to photo magazine ads, the Argus C4 retail price was $99.50 USD in 1951.[1] A 1955 ad lists the C4 retail price at $84.50.[2]

Specifications


  • Badging: Argus C-Four
  • Manufacturer: Argus
  • Film Format: 135 (35mm)
  • Shutter: behind lens leaf type shutter
  • Shutter Speeds: 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300, Bulb (early version only went to 1/200)
  • Flash sync: Hot shoe; sync selector switch (early: M & F, later: M & X)
  • Lens: Argus Cintar f/2.8 coated anastigmat, Series IV (20.6mm) filters
  • Aperture: 10-blades, f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f/16, f/22
  • Viewfinder: Eye-level
  • Focusing: coincident image type coupled rangefinder
  • Meter: none
  • Battery: none
  • Weight: n/a


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Photos


Links

Notes

  1. "The brilliant new Argus C-4" in the June 1951 Popular Photography, pg. 19; scan by Voxphoto on Flickr.
  2. Argus C4 1955 ad, scan by Nesster on Flickr.