Agfa Solinette (1952–1955)
A 35mm folding viewfinder camera with a coupled selenium exposure meter and unit-focusing lens system.
Overview
The Agfa Solinette is a 35mm folding viewfinder camera produced from 1952 to 1955, introduced as part of Agfa’s post-WWII effort to modernize and expand its camera lineup. It features an all-metal body and a horizontal folding design where the lens bed drops downward on struts when the camera is held horizontally. The top plate is nearly symmetrical, with matching film advance and rewind knobs. It lacks a rangefinder but includes a built-in Newton viewfinder with bright lines, a depth of field dial, and an accessory shoe. The camera was succeeded by the Solinette II, which was sold in the US under the Ansco brand as the Ansco Regent.
Specifications
| Film Format | 35mm |
|---|---|
| Lens | Apotar f/3.5/50mm, Solinar f/3.5/50mm, Solinar f/3.5/45mm, or Color Apotar f/3.5/45mm |
| Shutter | Compur RMXV, Prontor SV, Prontor SVS, or Synchro-Compur |
| Shutter Speeds | 1 sec to 1/300 sec plus B |
| Shutter Type | Leaf shutter |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 1m (3½ feet) |
| Flash Sync | PC socket and cold shoe |
| Shutter Cocking | Manual |
| Double-Exposure Prevention | Interlock with no override control |
| Frame Counter | Mechanical, manually set at film load |
| Shutter Release | Threaded for cable release |
| Body | All-metal |
| Features | Built-in self-timer, depth of field dial, accessory shoe, coupled selenium cell exposure meter |
| Lens Mount | Self-erecting with helical focus |
| Focusing Design | Unit-focusing |
| Viewfinder | Optical with bright lines |
| Film Advance | Lever wind |
| Exposure Meter | Selenium cell, coupled |
| Weight | 720g |
Design
The Solinette shares styling cues with Agfa’s medium-format Isolette series. Its horizontal folder design uses struts to lower the lens standard when opened. The entire lens and shutter assembly moves for focusing via a ring behind the lens, known as unit-focusing. The bellows are either plastic-covered or leather-covered. The coupled selenium exposure meter is mounted on the front of the lens standard. The focusing helical uses a double-start thread; incorrect alignment can result in inaccurate focus. The camera has no rangefinder.
Context
The Solinette was part of a broader Agfa strategy to improve prewar designs and introduce new 35mm models after WWII. Two versions were made: the original Solinette and the Solinette II, considered its successor. The Solinette II was sold in the US as the Ansco Regent. A rangefinder version, the Super Solinette, was also offered. The Solinette and Silette were sold concurrently, with the Solinette name later reused for a rigid-body entry-level model after 1958.
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