Optima

Original 1959 Optima (not Optima I): left-handed exposure lock; scale focus icons image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)

The Optima is a family of 35mm cameras made by Agfa in the 1960s and beyond. The original Optima from 1959 was the first camera manufactured with automatic programmed exposure, using a selenium-meter-driven mechanical system. (The Paxette electromatic may have also appeared in 1959, but it was a simpler camera with just automatic aperture.)

The first (un-numbered) Optima appears to have a shutter release on the "wrong" side; in fact this lever is held down to operate the light meter. (The actual shutter release is on the top deck, in a conventional location.) But later models used a front-mounted shutter release operated by user's the right hand.

Other Optima models are summarized below:

List of the first series of Agfa Optima cameras

Model Name	Year	Lens	Shutter (max speed)	Note
Optima	1959	Color-Apotar S 3.9/39	Compur (1/250)	separate button for exposure meter
Optima I	1960	Color-Agnar 2.8/45	Prontor-Lux (1/250)
Optima Ia	1962	Color-Agnar 2.8/45	Optimat 103A (1/160)	plastic body
Optima II	1960	Color-Apotar 2.8/45	Prontormator (1/250)
Optima IIS	1961	Color-Apotar 2.8/45	Prontormator (1/250)	rangefinder
Optima III	1960	Color-Apotar 2.8/45	Compur (1/500)
Optima IIIS	1961	Color-Apotar S 2.8/45	Compur (1/500)	rangefinder
Optima 500S	1963	Color-Solinar 2.8/45	Compur (1/500)	rangefinder

For export the Optima III was called Optima 500. In Canada and probably in some other countries most models were sold as Agfamatic, e.g. "Optima Ia" changed into "Agfamatic Ia". Other cameras by Agfa are very close to the Optima design: the Agfa Selecta (with shutter priority automatic exposure) and some Agfa Silettes (manual exposure), like the Agfa Super Silette LK.

Agfa Optima-Parat image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)

So, the name Optima indicates a programmed shutter and in this way it was used on different cameras: The Optima Reflex was the sister of the Flexilette, but with automatic exposure. The Optima-Parat belongs to the Parat family of half-frame cameras.

Model Name	Year	Lens	Shutter (max speed)	Note
Optima Reflex	1960	Color-Apotar 2.8/45	Pontor (1/250)	35mm TLR
Optima-Parat	1963	Color-Solinar 2.8/30	Compur (1/500)	half-frame camera 18x24

In the mid-sixties the design of the Optimas was updated. The stylish look of the Parat cameras was taken, and the controls for the film transport moved to the bottom. The correspondent model of the Silette series is the Silette Record.

Model Name	Year	Lens	Shutter (max speed)
Optima 500	1964	Color-Apotar 2.8/45	Paratic or Compur (1/500)
Optima 500SN	1966	Color-Solinar 2.8/45	Paratic (1/500)

In 1965 Agfa resurrected the Karat film cartridge as the Rapid system in response to the Kodak Instamatic cassette. In the first place it was intended for simple cameras for the masses, like the Iso-Rapid I, but also some Optima Rapids were made which could benefit from the "easy film loading".

Model Name	Year	Lens	Shutter (max speed)
Optima Rapid 100C	1966	Color-Agnar 4.5/38
Optima Rapid 125C	1967	Color-Apotar 2.8/35	Paratic (1/125)
Optima Rapid 250	1965	Color-Agnar 2.8/45	(1/250)
Optima Rapid 250V	1966	Color-Apotar 2.8/35	Paratic V (1/250)
Optima Rapid 500V	1966	Color-Solinar 2.8/35	Paratic V (1/500)

Agfa Optima Sensor 200 image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)

In 1968 Agfa introduced the famous red-orange shutter button with the Optima 200 Sensor. The name "Sensor" should imply a very soft shutter release. The Optima 500 Sensor was the first Optima with CdS-cells for metering, it was available in silver and black. The 200 Sensor shares its body with the Silette LK Sensor, the black 500 Sensor is very close to the Agfa Selectronic Sensor.

Model Name	Year	Lens	Shutter (max speed)
Optima 200 Sensor	1968	Color-Apotar 2.8/42	Paratic (1/200)
Optima 500 Sensor	1969	Color-Apotar 2.8/42	Paratic (1/500)

In 1974 Agfa introduced 2 Optimas for the film format 110. They were of higher quality than common pocket cameras and equipped with the 4-element Solinar lens. The 6000 model even has a self-timer, a tripod bush and a cable release socket.

Model Name	Year	Lens	max speed
Optima 5000 Pocket Sensor	1974	Color-Solinar 2.7/26	1/1000
Optima 6000 Pocket Sensor	1974	Color-Solinar S 2.7/26	1/1000

Agfa Optima Sensor Electronic image by Jörg Krüger (Image rights)

In 1976 Agfa launched a series of completely new designed, very compact Optimas: the Optima Sensor electronic series. The Optima 935 was a single model, better known as Agfa Compact.

Model Name	Year	Lens	Shutter (max speed)	Note
Optima Sensor electronic	1982	Solitar 2.8/40	Paratronic (1/500)	like 535, made in Portugal
Optima 335 Sensor electronic	1978	Agnatar 3.5/40	Paratronic (1/300)
Optima 535 Sensor electronic	1976	Solitar 2.8/40	Paratronic (1/500)
Optima 1035 Sensor electronic	1976	Solitar S 2.8/40	Paratronic (1/1000)
Optima 1535 Sensor electronic	1979	Solitar S 2.8/40	Paratronic (1/1000)	rangefinder
Optima Sensor flash electronic	1981	Solitar 2.8/40	Paratronic (1/500)	specs like 535 model
Optima 935	1981	Solinar 2.8/39	(1/1250)	aka Agfa Compact

Links

• Optima user manuals at Butkus.org :
  • Agfa Optima (original 1959) user manual
  • Agfa Optima I user manual
  • Agfa Optima Ia user manual
  • Agfa Optima IIS user manual
  • Agfa Optima IIIS user manual
  • Agfa Optima 500 and 500S user manuals
• The original Optima camera series at UKCamera.com (archived)
• Optima I, optima Ia, Optima II, Optima III on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand (in French)