Agfa Isoflash-Rapid C (1966)
Compact 35mm viewfinder camera using Agfa’s Rapid film system, introduced in 1966 with fixed-focus lens and flashcube support.
Overview
The Agfa Isoflash-Rapid C is a 35mm viewfinder camera produced by Agfa Camera-Werk in Munich, Germany, and introduced in 1966. It uses Agfa's proprietary Rapid film cartridge system, delivering sixteen 24×24mm exposures per roll. Designed for simplicity, it features a fixed-focus Isitar lens and a Parator shutter with two speed settings: “Sunny” at 1/80 sec and “Shade/Cloudy” at 1/40 sec, selected via a metal tab at the 10 o'clock position on the lens barrel. The camera was marketed in the USA as a rebranded version of the Iso-Rapid C through an Agfa affiliate in Teterboro, New Jersey, as part of Agfa’s effort to compete with Kodak’s Instamatic system.
Specifications
| Film System | Agfa Rapid cartridge |
| Exposure Format | Sixteen 24×24mm exposures per roll |
| Shutter Speeds | “Sunny” (1/80 sec), “Shade/Cloudy” (1/40 sec) |
| Dimensions | 11 x 7.2 x 5 cm |
Design
The Isoflash-Rapid C is primarily constructed of textured plastic with satin-finish aluminum top and bottom plates, giving it a refined, boxy appearance. It features an octagonal viewfinder window and a rotating flashcube socket on the top plate that turns 90 degrees after each shot. The camera operates mechanically except for flash functions, which rely on a 6.3-volt PX23 mercury battery housed under the removable base plate and an internal capacitor. A film door interlock and film presence sensor prevent operation without proper loading. Flash distance guidance for AgfaPan, AgfaColor, or AgfaChrome film is stenciled on the back of the top cover, recommending 5–10 feet with flashcubes.
Context
The Isoflash-Rapid C was one of the early models in Agfa’s Rapid system, a direct response to Kodak’s Instamatic. It belongs to the Iso-Rapid line of simple compact cameras and was sold as the Iso-Rapid C outside the United States, with the Isoflash-Rapid C being the U.S.-market variant.
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