Camera Talk

I got the Afga Optima Reflex from a seller who just bought a whole lot of camera from an estate sale. The seller didn't figure out how to use this camera so he sold it as it is. I took a chance to buy it for $65. Lucky that it turned out in very good condition. I did research and found Mike Elek article about the camera and he was very nice making a video shown me how to use the camera. I cleaned up the view finder with filled of dust and took a test roll which will be developed this weekend. The camera is very nice, getting a lot of attention every time I used it on the street. The view finder for some reason, getting dust into it easily. Maybe it's not sealed.
I will upload photo frorm the test roll as soon as I get it.

Here is the beauty after the clean up


Opening the camera to clean the view finder.


The beautiful diamond shaped reflection glass

I'm glad to hear that you got the camera cleaned and ready for film. I think the Agfa Apotar is one of the better triplets from that era.

$65 is a very good price, because these often sell for $100 and more. Most of these are in decent shape and usually if the camera isn't beat up, you can expect to be able to get it back into working condition.

There are a couple of accessory lenses for the Optima Reflex. There is a push-on close-up lens that works very well.

I'm interested in seeing what kind of photos you take with your Optima Reflex!

This one is definitely on my list to get, as I have the yellow filter that fits it. That, and I'm a sucker for a good Agfa camera.

PF

I saw one is in auction on eBay right now. Wonder how much will it be sold.

Well done! This is a rare camera, and I remember it being very expensive when it came out. The viewfinder is said to be excellent, and the Apotar is one of the best triplets out there (IMHO at least on a par with the Zeiss Novar and Voigtlander Lanthar).

A lot of experimenting went on after the initial Optima success, before the new Japanese designs obliterated the old industry. The Optima Reflex is one of them, after the earler Flexilette (similar camera but with waist-level finder instead of pentaprism). It is simple, it gives the SLR experience, and it does not have the complexity and cost that would be needed for an auto-aperture SLR with leaf shutter (did someone actually tried that?).

Regarding the Apotar, I agree that it was one of the better triplets. I probably would rank it above some of the Novars.

Here are a few photos from my Optima Reflex. Shot in 2007 with Agfapan APX 100.


My former co-worker, Dennis Roddy.



A diner that was torn down not long after I took this.


Using the close-up lens. I think that I owned the close-up lens before I owned the camera. The lens came arrived in a bag with a collection of other stuff when I bought a camera.

They are such nice photos you got out of the camera

Mike taught that camera everything it knows.

I got my first roll test develop and I think I did something wrong . I use mostly A mode with the camera light meter auto setting. Most of the photos came out over exposed. Don't know what I did wrong

Two thoughts:

1. The shutter and shutter blades might need to be cleaned. If there is debris or old grease or any liquid (moisture or oil) on the blades, they will stick and won't operate correctly. Do the shutter blades snap open and closed? Or do they move sluggishly?
2. Did you remove the top deck of the camera? If so, you can see the meter needle. What you want to check is whether the needle responds rapidly to changes in light. If the needle moves quickly, then the selenium cell is good. If the needle moves slowly, then the selenium cell might need to be replaced.

Your first photo has an Instagram effect, by the way.