Agfa Synchro Box (1951–1958)
German-made medium format box camera for 120 film, with flash sync and dual tripod mounts.
Overview
The Agfa Synchro Box 600 is a medium format box camera made by Agfa Camerawerk AG in Munich, Germany from 1951 to 1958. It shoots eight 6x9 cm exposures on 120 roll film through a fixed-focus 105mm f/11 meniscus lens. The shutter is a self-cocking rotary type with 1/50 second and B settings, picked with a sliding lever above the shutter release. There are two bright viewfinders, one on top and one on the right side, so you can frame for landscape or portrait. The name "Synchro" means flash sync. The camera supports the dedicated Agfa Clibo-Blitz flash through a PC socket near the shutter release.
Specifications
| Film | 120 roll film, 6×9 cm, 8 exposures |
| Lens | 105mm f/11 single-element meniscus, fixed focus (3m–∞) |
| Shutter | Instant-return self-cocking rotary, 1/50 sec + B |
| Aperture | f/11 and f/16; third position adds yellow filter |
| Viewfinder | Dual bright convex types with polished steel reflectors |
| Flash Sync | PC socket for Agfa Clibo-Blitz flash |
| Tripod Sockets | Two ¼-inch sockets (horizontal and portrait) |
| Cable Release | Socket shared with flash sync at corner below shutter |
| Body | All-steel construction, hinged back with ruby window |
| Weight | 412g |
| Film Winding | Lever-wound via removable cone magazine |
| Accessories | Accepts Kodak No.13 close-up lens; fits Agfa lens ring |
Design
The Synchro Box has an all-steel body, a classic box shape and a deco-style front plate. The back opens when you press the carrying strap knob on top. To load film you pull out the cone magazine, which holds both the lens and the film spool. The glass on the front is protective only. A pull-out tab above the shutter selects f/11, f/16, or f/11 with a built-in yellow filter. One downward press of the lever cocks and fires the shutter. There is no double-exposure prevention. The handle is rubberlike and adds grip, and the red window is for counting frames.
Context
The Synchro Box is a refined version of the earlier Agfa Box 50. It belongs to Agfa’s long line of 120 film box cameras, including the Box 44 and Box-Spezial. It shares the Clibo-Blitz flash system with the Agfa Clack. The optics are simple, but the 6x9 cm negative gives sharp center images with minimal vignetting, and it suits contact printing. It resembles the earlier Agfa Shur Flash.
Market
Listed as a collector's item, the Synchro Box has sold for €49.95 and 2,200 AED in used condition. One seller notes "normal signs of use" with a clean lens and viewfinder, and functional mechanics. The camera has no exposure meter, and the frame numbers on the film backing can be hard to read through the ruby window.
eBay Listings
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