Agfa Registrierkamera (1961–1970)
Motorized 35mm surveillance camera built for automated recording in traffic, security, and industrial applications.
Overview
The Agfa Registrierkamera is a specialized surveillance camera made from 1961 to 1970 for continuous monitoring in traffic, security, and industrial settings. It was manufactured for Agfa by Jacknau of Berlin, a company that also produced similar traffic cameras under its own name. Designed for unattended operation, it features motorized film advance and can expose frames at intervals ranging from half a second to 24 hours. The camera was built for use by the German Bundeswehr and lacks a viewfinder, relying instead on fixed or remote setup.
Specifications
| Film Type | 35mm film |
| Frame Sizes | 18x24mm (half-frame), 24x36mm (full-frame), or 24mm square |
| Shutter Speed | Single-speed: 1/100 or 1/500 second with X-synchronisation |
| Exposure Interval | Adjustable from 0.5 seconds to 24 hours |
| Power Supply | 12V DC |
| Film Capacity | 17m long-film cassette holds up to 450 full-frame exposures; 8 film spools included |
| Lenses | Color-Telinear 90mm f/3.4, 90mm f/4 Telinear, 35mm f/4 Color-Ambion, 50mm f/2.8 Color-Solinar, 130mm f/4 Telinear (varies by unit) |
Design
The camera’s front-mounted box houses the film advance motor, and it includes two connectors for electrical power and remote control. It can be equipped with a low-light switch that triggers flash activation when needed. Some units include a small ground-glass screen on a short arm that mounts in the accessory shoe for manual focusing when the back is removed.
Context
Jacknau of Berlin produced the Registrierkamera for Agfa while also manufacturing similar surveillance models under their own brand. The camera was specifically built for the German Bundeswehr, indicating its use in military and secure monitoring environments.
Market
A Registrierkamera outfit with 50mm f/2.8 Color-Solinar lens, motor drive, 17m magazine, eight spools, and two close-up lenses sold at the 33rd Westlicht Photographica Auction in November 2018. Another unit, serial no.102769 with 35mm f/4 Color-Ambion lens and ground-glass focusing accessory, was listed on eBay (item 383923435169). One listing by Jo Geier priced the camera at €399.00 and described it as "in very fine condition and good working order."
eBay Listings
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