Agfa Optima Sensor 1535 (1979)

Compact 35mm rangefinder with fully automatic exposure, built-in flash, and a bright viewfinder.

Overview

The Agfa Optima Sensor 1535 is a 35mm film rangefinder camera introduced in 1979 as the top model in Agfa's Optima Sensor series. It has a fixed 40mm f/2.8 Agfa Solitar S lens, fully automatic electronic exposure, and a built-in coupled rangefinder for focusing. It was made for beginners and casual shooters, with solid build quality and sharp optics. It also has a built-in flash and automatic film loading. The viewfinder is a large, bright reverse-Galilean type, with exposure indication from two LEDs.

Specifications

Film Type	135 film (35mm)
Lens	Agfa Solitar S 40mm f/2.8, 4 elements in 3 groups
Shutter	Automatic electronic Paratronic, 15s to 1/500s
Aperture	f/2.8 to f/22
Exposure Mode	Full automatic
Viewfinder	Reverse-Galilean with projected frame lines; green and red exposure LEDs
Flash	Built-in, manual aperture; sync speed 1/30s, guide number 14
Battery	Three P625U/1.5V batteries
Dimensions	104 × 69 × 56 mm
Weight	260 grams
Metering	CdS cell
Filter Size	49 mm
ISO Range	25 to 500
Focus Range	0.9 m to infinity
Features	Cable release socket, tripod mount

Design

The Optima Sensor 1535 has a mostly metal body with plastic top and bottom plates, a large red two-stage shutter button, and a plastic film compartment cover. It uses a dense circuit board to control the electronic shutter and features automatic film engagement with the advance lever activating the camera. The rewind function is activated by pressing and turning the knob to "R". The accessory shoe includes a lever that sets the shutter to 1/30 sec when a flash is mounted. The built-in coupled rangefinder provides a large, bright view, and the camera lacks a shutter button lock.

Context

The Optima Sensor 1535 was the flagship of Agfa's long-running Optima Sensor series, which spanned the 1960s - 1970s and centered on fully automatic, electronically controlled exposure. It belongs to a family of fixed-lens 35mm rangefinder cameras built for simple operation and compact size.

Market

Common problems are stuck shutter blades, electronic failure, degraded foam light seals, corroded battery contacts, a bent flash-sync lever, and rangefinder misalignment. Repair often means taking off the top plate, and the order of the internal parts matters. Some jobs also need the lens removed. Recommended fixes are lighter fluid on the shutter blades, white vinegar on the battery contacts, and new light seals. A full CLA and repair cost $80 in 2017.