This is the first medium format camera that I acquired. A great uncle rescued it from a trash heap because he thought it would be a nice-looking bookend. When this piece of quality German engineering came into my possession, I took it upon myself to bestow it with the ability to take pictures, thus reinstating its original purpose. Don’t get me wrong. I fully subscribe to the aesthetic convention of storing books upright and side-by-side on shelves, regardless of the damage wrought on their bindings over time. However, the aforementioned books can be easily kept in the aforementioned position via alternative means.
It took some time to figure out how to work this little fellow. The lens flies out of the body with surprising speed on an accordion-like support which somehow still manages to prevent light from entering, despite its seemingly sorry state. The shutter release button triggers a series of visible mechanical movements all leading up to the rapid opening and closing of the shutter. All of the rusty little pieces need to be reset by hand after every shot. Although age has conferred finickiness, the elegance of the Isolette’s simplicity is quite evident.
Scans of the prints from the first (and so far only) roll of film I’ve shot using this Agfa are in the album below. Next time, I’d probably take photos outside, and bring along a light meter. There’s some mold and dirt on the inside of the lens obscuring the images and giving them a grittier feel. I like these though; recognizing a friend in a picture becomes so rewarding. There’s also a double exposure in here, and a shot of the corner of a doorframe. I don’t remember why.
Roll 1:
120 B&W Kodak 400TX Film
12/11/09: A Christmas Party
Manufacturer: Agfa Germany
Model: Isolette II
Type: Folding
Dates of Production: 1950 – 1960
Place of Production: Germany
Lens: Coated Apotar, 85mm, F4.5
Focal Range: 3? to infinity
Shutter: Prontor-S
Shutter Speeds: B, 1 – 1/300 sec
Film: 120
Other Features: Simple viewfinder, shutter lock lever, manual film advance knob