Ansco Speedex
A folding medium format camera built in Binghamton during the twilight of pre-war American camera manufacturing, prized today not for rarity but for honest, functional design.
Overview
The Ansco Speedex isn’t a single camera so much as a family of folding 120 film models produced under the merged Agfa/Ansco banner at the Binghamton, NY factory. While the name appears across decades and configurations, the most documented iteration—the Speedex Junior (B2)—was made between 1936 and 1940, with confirmed production of the B2 model in 1940. This places it in a narrow window before wartime disruptions halted civilian camera production. The Speedex line emerged as a practical offering, “scientifically designed for simplicity of operation so that excellent pictures can be obtained,” according to period documentation. It wasn’t marketed as a luxury item or a technical marvel, but as a reliable tool for competent photography without unnecessary complexity.
Despite its American branding, the Speedex design bears strong German influence, a legacy of the Agfa partnership. The Speedex 4.5 Special, for instance, is widely recognized as a rebadged Agfa Isolette II, sharing its core mechanics and optics. This rebranding strategy allowed Ansco to offer a compact, high-quality medium format camera without developing an entirely new platform. The result was a folding camera that took 6x6 cm images on 120 roll film—a format that delivered impressive negative size in a relatively portable body. Owners report that models like the Speedex 4.5 Special have proven durable, with at least one well-documented example remaining in regular use for over eight years.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Agfa/Ansco, Binghamton, NY |
| Product type | folding camera |
| Film format | 120 film |
| Image format | 6x6 |
| Lens | Agfa f4.5 Agnar Anastigmat |
| Lens focal length | 85mm (Speedex B2 and 4.5 Special models) |
| Lens coating | hard-coated |
| Lens coating purpose | to give greater light transmission and minimize inter-element reflection |
| Design intent | scientifically designed for simplicity of operation so that excellent pictures can be obtained |
Key Features
Agfa Agnar Anastigmat Lens with Hard Coating
The optical heart of the Speedex—particularly the 4.5 Special and B2 models—is the Agfa f4.5 Agnar Anastigmat, an 85mm lens that’s color corrected and hard-coated. This coating wasn’t merely a marketing flourish; it served a functional role in improving light transmission and reducing internal reflections, a notable advantage in an era when many lenses still lacked any anti-reflective treatment. While not as fast as some contemporaries, the f/4.5 aperture was sufficient for daylight use and paired well with the medium format’s inherent light-gathering capability.
6x6 Image Format on 120 Film
Shooting 120 film in a 6x6 cm format gave the Speedex a serious advantage in image quality over 35mm cameras of the time. The larger negative allowed for greater enlargement potential and finer detail, making it a favorite among enthusiasts looking to step into medium format without the bulk of a twin-lens reflex or view camera. The folding design kept the camera compact when not in use, yet it extended smoothly to achieve the correct focal distance. This combination of portability and image scale is why one user noted the 4.5 Special is “about as compact as one will ever get in a 120 camera that shoots 6x6 shots.”
Scientific Design for Simplicity
Ansco didn’t position the Speedex as a tinkerer’s toy or a precision instrument for studio work. Instead, it was engineered for ease of use—“scientifically designed” to remove barriers between the photographer and a good exposure. This philosophy likely contributed to its longevity in the hands of modern users; one owner reports their Speedex 4.5 Special “has been working great for the past 8 or 9 years” with consistent results.
Historical Context
Production of the Ansco Speedex Junior (B2) spanned from 1936 to 1940, ending with the onset of World War II. The Mike Eckman blog notes that in 1945, both Ansco and Agfa resumed camera production, introducing updated models like the new Speedex Junior with an accessory shoe—implying the pre-war line had been discontinued during the war years. This period marked the peak of American-based camera manufacturing under European design influence, before post-war shifts favored Japanese innovation.
Collectibility & Value
The Ansco Speedex is neither rare nor expensive. As one collector noted, cameras like the Ansco Standard Speedex are “easy to come by and don't cost much.” A used Speedex 4.5 model recently listed for $25.38, with a new-old-stock example priced at $42.30, suggesting a stable, low-tier market. It’s often described as a “budget-friendly option to get into medium format,” appealing to beginners and tinkerers alike. While no widespread failure modes are documented, a restoration account titled “Ansco Speedex Brought Back to Life” indicates that, like any vintage folding camera, it may require cleaning, lubrication, or bellows repair after decades of storage.
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.