Argus Argoflex Seventy-Five (75)
Name/Title
Argus Argoflex Seventy-Five (75)Entry/Object ID
273Tags
StandardDescription
The Argoflex Seventy-Five is a classic American "pseudo-TLR" manufactured in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While it mimics the look of professional Twin Lens Reflex cameras, the top lens is strictly a viewing lens and does not focus. The body is primarily molded from Bakelite with a painted metal film door, featuring a distinctive Art Deco aesthetic with ribbed detailing and a satin-finish aluminum front plate. Equipped with a 75mm Argus Lumar meniscus lens and a fixed aperture of approximately f/11, the camera is designed for simplicity. It features a leaf shutter with two settings: "Inst" (Instant), which fires at roughly 1/50 of a second, and "Time" (Bulb mode), which keeps the shutter open as long as the button is held. One of its most advanced features for the time is a double-exposure prevention system; a red "flag" appears behind the taking lens only after the film has been wound, signaling the camera is ready to fire. The camera produces twelve 6x6cm square images on 620 roll film. Because 620 film is the same width as modern 120 film but uses a thinner spool, modern photographers often re-spool 120 film onto vintage 620 reels to keep these cameras operational. Today, the Argus 75 is celebrated for its exceptionally large, bright waist-level viewfinder, which has made it a favorite for "Through the Viewfinder" (TtV) photography.Category
Camera, TLR