Agfa Agfamatic 126 (1968–1969)

A simple plastic viewfinder camera for square 126 film snapshots, made in multiple countries with built-in flash and fixed settings.

Overview

The Agfa Agfamatic 126 is a basic point-and-shoot viewfinder camera for 126 film cartridges. It makes square pictures. Agfa introduced it in 1968 as part of its line of 126 cameras, a year after Agfa's 1967 debut of cameras using the 126 format. Focus is fixed, exposure is fixed, and there is a single shutter speed. It has an optical viewfinder. The selenium cell on the front is decorative and does nothing, so there is no working light meter.

Specifications

Film Format	126 film cartridges
Picture Format	Square pictures
Lens	Agfa Color-Agnar 1:8/43 mm
Shutter	Single speed
Exposure	Fixed exposure
Focus	Fixed focus
Viewfinder	Optical viewfinder
Lightmeter	Non-functional decorative selenium cell
Flash	Built-in flash; socket for standard flashcubes
Flash Synchronization	Hot shoe
Flash Power	Requires PX825 battery (fits inside film compartment)
Battery	2× AA batteries (for flash)
Film Advance	Knurled wheel on the back
Tripod Socket	On the bottom
Body Material	Plastic
Dimensions	3 1/8" wide x 2 1/2" tall x 2" deep
Countries of Manufacture	Germany, France, Brazil, India

Design

The Agfamatic 126 has a plastic body and a knurled wheel on the back for film advance. One button releases the shutter. A separate button fires the built-in flash. It takes standard flashcubes through a hot shoe, and flash operation needs a PX825 battery, which sits inside the film compartment. The camera is very similar in design and function to the Autostar X-126. That model uses X-flashcubes (Magicubes), which don't need a battery.

Context

Agfa introduced the Agfamatic 126 in 1968, early in its adoption of the 126 film format, which the company began supporting in 1967. It was positioned as an accessible snapshot camera for casual photographers, with fixed focus, fixed exposure and built-in flash.