Argus C-44R (1958–1962)

A 35mm rangefinder camera produced by Argus during the final years of its Ann Arbor manufacturing era.

Overview

The Argus C-44R is a 35mm rangefinder camera made by Argus between 1958 and 1962. It was one of the company's later models, built before Argus ended camera production in Ann Arbor and relocated to a Chicago suburb. Within the Argus lineup, the C-44 and C-44R held a secondary position, taking "a very distant third" behind models like the C33 and C-3. The design is related to the Argus C4, but the C4 did not accept interchangeable lenses and the C-44R uses a bayonet mount. One user took photos with a 1958 C-44R and said "she did okay."

Specifications

Dimensions	Approx. 150mm (W) × 90mm (H) × 60mm (D)
Weight	~850g (body only, no lens)
Lens Mount	Argus Bayonet Mount (C44 Mount)
Shutter	Focal-Plane Shutter with High Speeds

Context

The C-44R came out when automation in still photography was becoming more common, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Production ended in 1962, when Argus stopped making cameras in Ann Arbor. The model sits in a family with the Argus C33 and C-3. Some users have asked whether C3-series lenses could be adapted to the C-44, but direct interchangeability is not confirmed.

Market

One example sold on eBay in 2008 for $31. Another account claims a sale for $1400 in 2011 - but that figure is uncorroborated and may be mixed up with rarer variants or an error in attribution. With no consistent valuation data, current market value remains uncertain.

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Service Manuals, Schematics & Catalogs

Catalog — archive.org