Agfa Super Isolette

The Agfa Super Isolette (sold as Ansco Super Speedex in the US) was #2 in Agfa's folding medium format camera podium, with only the Agfa Automatic 66 over it, this Agfa Automatic being world's first photographic camera with a real system for an automatic aperture priority - something not to be seen on medium format cameras until the release of Fuji's GA645. The Agfa Automatic 66 was a really sophisticated camera, even more so Agfa could only manufacture it for barely two years. About 5,000 cameras were made, and now they are really collector's items, with prices around the 1,200 Euro mark.

Back with the Super Isolette, this camera was made for three años - between 1954-1957 - and was the base for several copies made abroad, such as KMZ's Iskra. It is a compact camera, not as heavy as its competitor, the Super Ikonta. It is a redesigned camera, with a different body than that shared between the Isolette I, II and III, being wider and taller.

To start with, these cameras have a coupled rangefinder, so focusing is made at the same time in the rangefinder and the lens. It is also interesting to note that film loading is done automatically: one just needs to insert the film and close the door, then start advancing the film until the wheel is locked and the frame counter shows '1'. The Super Isolette has no red window, so film advance is automatic. Therefore, shutter can only be fired when there is film present.

Another important feature is the unit focusing system. This means that when focusing, both lens and shutter are moved. Main benefit of this system against front element focusing is the increased precision of unit focusing.

Super Isolette was always fitted with a 75/3.5 Solinar, on either a Synchro-Compur MX for the early units or a Synchro-Compur MXV fitted sometime during the production run. In any event, these shutters are flash synched at all speeds. Lens can receive either 32mm slip-on filters, or 29.5mm screw-in filters.

Being so loaded with features makes this camera not so easy to maintain or repair than other, simpler cameras, although it is true that these cameras were well built and most of the times they do not require a huge investment. Super Isolette bellows are better than those on the Isolette. Coupled rangefinder can be adjusted without a big mess. The main weak point on these cameras is the automatic frame counter, a hell of gears and springs that are usually quite difficult to work with, more so if a previous repairman removed dismantled to pieces to disable the system when it stopped working.

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