Cleaned AGFA

R&R PHOTO

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I bought a very simple AGFA ISOLETTE that uses 120 Film in the spring of last year. It was the first old camera that I bought and before I got into rebuilding them. At that time I just took the camera out and started taking pictures. At first and still I was impressed with the images. see AGFA The images had a little soft effect that I thought was built into the lens. After using other cameras and being busy with other things the camera was not used for six months. I pulled it out to use it and found the Lens Frozen this is standard with the ISOLETTE after years. At this time it was time to take "MY" camera apart and clean it up. At first I looked through the lens and found why I was experiencing the "Soft Effect" the lens had haze on the inner lens element. At this time it was determined to do a complete overhaul. see AGFA rebuild.

After the overhaul I again took the camera out during a recent Photo Work Shop I was conducting. I have been using the AGFA as a teaching tool. Most new Photographers get to hung up on equipment "I know we have all been there" I try to show students that the camera is just a "Box that holds the Film" maybe a little over simplified but.... When you use and show work to students taken with a $3,000 system they all believe that in order to take good pictures all you need is more equipment and money. All along I have been using my $40 AGFA for class demos and the students are more impressed with that than with the idea that you need equipment. They see that the camera they have is probably more than capable.

Back to where I started this .... With the now clean Lens and the freed focus, I shoot another roll and wow. It's hard to really see the difference in the scans but the 6in x 6in prints are great. When you look at the negatives with a loupe the detail that you can see is amazing and almost compares to my expensive system.

The images were taken on Ilford HP5+ developed via. HP5 Development and printed 6x6 in Ilford RC Pearl.

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