Agfa Iso-Rapid I (1965)
An all-mechanical viewfinder camera for Agfa's Rapid film system, introduced in 1965 with a fixed-focus lens and simple shutter controls.
Overview
The Agfa Iso-Rapid I is an all-mechanical viewfinder camera made for Agfa’s Rapid film system, introduced in 1965 as a response to Kodak’s 126 Instamatic cartridges. It uses Rapid cassettes, an updated version of the 1930s Karat cassette, allowing 16 exposures of 24x24mm format. The camera has no battery provision and relies on a fully mechanical Parator shutter with two speeds: sunlight (1/80 sec) and cloudy/flash (1/40 sec). Two versions exist: Type 2421 with a top-mounted shutter release and Type 2422 with a lever release beside the lens. The lens is a fixed-focus Agfa Isinar f/8 42mm, likely a single-element meniscus design, and images are prone to flare, poor definition, and exposure inconsistencies.
Specifications
| Lens | Agfa Isinar f/8 42mm, fix-focus meniscus |
| Apertures | f/8, f/11, f/16 (Waterhouse stops) |
| Shutter | Parator everset shutter: sunlight (1/80 sec), cloudy/flash (1/40 sec) |
| Film Format | Rapid system, 16 exposures, 24x24mm |
| Dimensions | 115 x 76 x 50 mm |
| Weight | 180g (empty), 215g with cartridge |
| Flash | Hot shoe with contact closure trigger; built-in flash raises via left-side wheel |
| Film Advance | Thumb-wheel on back cocks shutter and advances film |
| Body Material | Plastic/metal, brick-like shape |
| Colors | Silver |
Design
The Iso-Rapid I features a brick-like plastic and metal body with a removable bottom plate revealing internal plastic construction. The lens is a simple fix-focus meniscus, possibly single-element, and highly susceptible to flare. Apertures are set via Waterhouse stops, and the Parator shutter is a basic everset type. A vertical wheel on the left side of the back raises the built-in flash gun. The exposure counter is located on top of the body, and film is advanced using a thumb-wheel on the back that also cocks the shutter.
Context
The Iso-Rapid I was part of Agfa’s Rapid film system, introduced as a competitor to Kodak’s 126 Instamatic format. The Rapid cassettes used in this camera were modernized versions of Agfa’s 1930s Karat cassettes. Designed for use with 25–50 ASA film, the camera offered aperture and lighting guidance for 50 and 100 ASA. Unlike later models such as the Iso-Rapid C or IF, the Iso-Rapid I has no battery requirement, making it fully mechanical.
Market
In 1965, the Iso-Rapid I was sold in Germany for DM26.50 as a set including the camera, a black plastic ready bag, ISO-Blitzer Typ 6840 flash unit, AG1 flash bulbs, 6V battery, and a roll of film. In the UK, the set cost £5.25. Today, units are available for around $31 USD, often with functional issues due to aging leaf shutters. Rapid film is no longer commercially available, but film can be decanted from modern cassettes into reusable Rapid cassettes for continued use with a hot shoe-triggered electronic flash.
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