Agfa Agfaflex (c. 1959–1960s)
West Germany's top-of-the-line 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses and a coupled selenium meter in later models.
Overview
The Agfa Agfaflex is a 35mm SLR made by Agfa in West Germany from around 1959 into the 1960s. The US got it as the Agfaflex. Elsewhere it was sold as the Colorflex or Ambiflex. It was Agfa's flagship 35mm SLR line in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The early models (Agfaflex I/II) have a fixed 50mm f/2.8 lens and an uncoupled selenium-cell meter. The later versions (Agfaflex III-V) take interchangeable lenses and have a coupled meter and an EV scale from 2 to 18. The Agfaflex V came with the faster 55mm f/2.0 Color-Solagon lens and an eye-level prism. The body is all metal, which makes it solid and heavy in the hand. The shutter is a Prontor-Reflex leaf shutter, mounted in the lens.
Specifications
| Production Years | c. 1959–1960s |
| Manufacturer | Agfa (West Germany) |
| Format | 35mm (20 or 36 exposures) |
| Shutter | Prontor-Reflex leaf shutter (1 sec to 1/300 sec, plus Bulb) |
| Weight | Approximately 2 lbs |
| Standard Lens (Agfaflex V) | Agfa Color-Solagon 55mm f/2.0 |
| Interchangeable Lenses | 35mm f/3.4 Color-Ambion, 90mm f/3.4 Color-Telinear, 135mm f/4.0 Color-Telinear |
| Light Meter | Selenium-cell, coupled (Agfaflex III–V) |
| Close Focus | 3.5 feet |
| Original Price | $129.95 (1960 list price) |
Design
The build is all metal, and the controls for focusing and film winding are smooth and deliberate. The prism viewfinder is interchangeable. Early models normally have a waist-level finder, and later versions use eye-level prisms. The ground glass screen has a split-image rangefinder. The camera views at full aperture and stops down automatically at exposure. The mirror goes up and stays up until the film is advanced. The film back opens on the right side with a latch at the lower right. The frame counter is on the back and resets manually. The rewind knob carries a film type reminder dial that marks B&W, color negative, and slide films for incandescent, daylight flash, and daylight conditions.
Context
The Agfaflex series was Agfa's top 35mm SLR offering in the late 1950s and early 1960s, positioned above the simpler models in the lineup. It competed for the premium amateur and advanced user with other leaf-shutter SLRs of the era, and it put its weight on build quality and optical performance.
Market
In 2024, Agfaflex models were purchased for around $30-$34, so they are affordable, working vintage SLRs. The selenium-cell meters age badly. They often go dead or read unreliably. The camera is still considered a good value for collectors and users who want mechanically distinctive vintage gear.
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