Thank you for your always excellent, inspiring videos! -- Yes, the Agfa Karat is a very good camera. I actually still actively take photos with this 90-year-old camera. The cameras have excellent optics and are small and light. They are also very elegant with their leather bellows, leather case and fish-shaped housing. Of course, they require you to make the effort to wind 60 centimeters of film for 12 images into the Karat cartridge in a dark bag and then develop the film yourself because no laboratory will accept these short film strips. I have about 10 Karat cameras from the 1930s, and on most of them the distance adjustment ring on the lens is stuck because the old Agfa greases have solidified over the decades. I had two repaired by a specialist, -- that wasn't cheap. But due to their excellent optics, especially the Solinar lens (with 4 elements), good results are still possible with these compact cameras, which have found an alternative solution for film transport than the Leica designers. -- I am looking forward to your next videos! Best wishes from Berlin, Heiko
This are not original Karat Cassettes. This one are Rapid Cassettes from the 1960s. Intresting also, that the Karat Cassettes belonging in the ownership of Agfa. To buy a new one you have to give an empty or exposed Cassette to your Agfa-Dealer. And is was not allowed to load the Cassettes with Film from an other Manufacturer. Only Agfa Film was allowed!
Great Video. Thank you for sharing !! Camera manufacturers did a better design job than they do today. That is totally pocketable.
Thank you for your always excellent, inspiring videos! -- Yes, the Agfa Karat is a very good camera. I actually still actively take photos with this 90-year-old camera. The cameras have excellent optics and are small and light. They are also very elegant with their leather bellows, leather case and fish-shaped housing. Of course, they require you to make the effort to wind 60 centimeters of film for 12 images into the Karat cartridge in a dark bag and then develop the film yourself because no laboratory will accept these short film strips. I have about 10 Karat cameras from the 1930s, and on most of them the distance adjustment ring on the lens is stuck because the old Agfa greases have solidified over the decades. I had two repaired by a specialist, -- that wasn't cheap. But due to their excellent optics, especially the Solinar lens (with 4 elements), good results are still possible with these compact cameras, which have found an alternative solution for film transport than the Leica designers. -- I am looking forward to your next videos! Best wishes from Berlin, Heiko
Yes, those shots do have that early Kodak Retina feel to them. Definitely the uncoated lens!!
12 exposure rolls were very popular even up to the 80s if I remember correctly.
I own an Agfa karat 36 with a Schneider 50mm f2 lens, nice camera.
Have you ever tried an Argus A ?
This are not original Karat Cassettes. This one are Rapid Cassettes from the 1960s. Intresting also, that the Karat Cassettes belonging in the ownership of Agfa. To buy a new one you have to give an empty or exposed Cassette to your Agfa-Dealer. And is was not allowed to load the Cassettes with Film from an other Manufacturer. Only Agfa Film was allowed!