Agfa Moto-Rapid C (1968–1969)
A 35mm viewfinder camera for the Rapid cartridge system, built for two years with a spring motor drive.
Overview
The Agfa Moto-Rapid C is a 35mm viewfinder camera made by Agfa from 1968 to 1969. It uses the Rapid system, which puts 35mm film in a cartridge with no central spool. You get 16 exposures per cartridge at a frame size of 24 x 24 mm. The body is metal. It has a built-in self-timer, M and X flash synchronization, and a brightline viewfinder. It sold for 196 francs in 1969.
Specifications
| Film Format | Rapid system (35mm film in a cartridge without a central spool) |
| Frame Size | 24 x 24 mm |
| Frame Capacity | 16 exposures |
| Winding/Motor Mechanism | Spring motor |
| Lens | Agfa Color-Agnar f/2.8 |
| Shutter | Prontor-SVS shutter |
| Shutter Speeds | 1 second to 1/300 second, plus B |
| Viewfinder | Brightline viewfinder |
| Flash Sync | M and X flash synchronization |
| Self-Timer | Built-in self-timer |
| Body | Metal body |
Design
The Moto-Rapid C is the last of the Iso-Rapid series. It has a spring motor winding mechanism, which is uncommon on cameras of this type. You wind the motor by turning the lens. The shutter release has an unconventional shape, and the flashcube is synchronized with the film advance mechanism.
Context
A consortium of European firms introduced the Rapid system in 1964 to compete with Kodak's 126 film cartridge. Agfa updated its earlier Karat system for it. Starting in 1964/65, Agfa released four camera lines for Rapid: Iso-Rapid, Isomat-Rapid, Silette Rapid, and Optima Rapid. The Moto-Rapid C is the latest evolution of the Iso-Rapid line.
Market
The Agfa Moto-Rapid C is considered the rarest of the Agfa Rapid cameras from this period. In France, it is indexed as rare in non-specialized garage sales.
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