Argus C-4 (1951–1957)
A 35mm rangefinder camera with a die-cast metal body and a fixed coated lens, made by Argus for the mid-century amateur market.
Overview
The Argus C-4 is a 35mm rangefinder camera made by Argus between 1951 and 1957. It has a fixed 50mm f/2.8 coated Cintar lens and a leaf shutter with speeds from 1/10 to 1/300 second, plus bulb. The body is die-cast aluminum with a leather-grain finish and satin metal trim. Argus built it to be rugged and easy to use. The shutter cocks automatically, and the camera takes standard 35mm film.
Specifications
| Film Format | 135 (35mm) |
| Lens | 50mm f/2.8 Coated Cintar |
| Shutter Speeds | B, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/300 |
| Shutter Type | Leaf Shutter |
| Weight | 25 oz |
| Construction | Die-cast metal body with leather-grain and satin metal trim |
Design
The Argus C-4 has a die-cast aluminum body, and the metal leaf shutter sits behind the lens. The chassis is all metal, with a leather-grain covering on the outside. The shutter is gear-controlled and cocks automatically after each exposure. The body has an ASA cable-threaded release, and it loads and advances standard 35mm film.
Context
Argus marketed the C-4 as a high-quality rangefinder camera for its whole production run, 1951 to 1957. It was originally priced at $99.50. In 1953 the price dropped by $10 because of improved manufacturing efficiency. It was considered one of the better cameras Argus produced, with a more refined design than the earlier models. The later C-44 variant added interchangeable lenses on a bayonet mount.
Market
The Argus C-4 now turns up as a vintage collectible on platforms like eBay and Amazon, often described as a non-usable collectible item rather than a working camera. User groups noted it as a rugged, American-made rangefinder suitable for learning, and lighter than other Argus models like the C-twenty.
eBay Listings
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