The Agfa Record III is a 120 film folding camera, 6x9 format, built between 1952 and 1955.
The camera was launched in 1951 as Agfa Billy Record III and
re-baptized in 1952. It features an
uncoupled rangefinder. The camera was available
with 2 different 4.5/105mm lenses, a standard Apotar and a better
Solinar with a better Synchro Compur shutter. It's the last Agfa camera
for 6x9 format.
The model presented features the better Solinar lens and has double exposure prevention.
Size (mm): 162 x 98 x 43 Weight: 707 g Lens: Solinar 4.5/105, closest focus 1 m Shutter: Compur Rapid, B T 1 - 1/500, F 4.5 - 32 Finder: uncoupled rangefinder Film advance: via red window
Here are some photos of the camera. There is a short introduction to the use of it and how it feels at the bottom of the page.
Camera
front closed. Top: viewfinder and rangefinder windows, stand.
Seen
from the back. Top: view/rangefinder eyepiece. Red windows with lever towards the bottom.
Seen
from above. Film wind, opening button,
accessory shoe, focussing wheel, shutter release with cable release
socket and double exposure prevention, depth-of-the-field scale..
Seen from the bottom. Tripod socket.
Camera
front open. Folds sideways. On the lens barrel: synchro setting and flash socket.
Left of the lens:
distance setting, shutter cocking lever. Center: speed setting and self timer. Under the lens: aperture setting.
Unfolded, seen from the bottom.
Unfolded, seen from the top.
Camera on its stand in portrait mode.
Seen from the right side.
Film
chamber. The feeding spool sits in a hinged cradle.
Original leather case.
Case open, can be used as ready case.
Handling
an Agfa Record III is easy, it's just like
other folding cameras. Loading film is fine, the feeding spool sits in a hinged cradle. Open
the
camera back, retract the film advance knob and
put the
take-up spool into
place. For the film spool swing the cradle out. Insert the film paper
backing
into the take-up spool and advance it using the advance knob until
it's
well engaged. Close the camera back. Advance
the film via the advance knob
until the red window shows "1".
Open
the camera. Cock
the shutter, set speed and aperture. Set focus by turning the wheel on
the camera top, the rangefinder wheel will indicate the distance.
Transfer the result to the lens, focussing only moves the front of the
lens. Look through the view/rangefinder again, frame and press the
shutter release. That's it. To
close the camera, press the hinges of the strurs, it will fold easily
whatever
distance is set. Turn the film advance knob until the next number
is
shown in the red window. Doing this will release the double exposure
prevention.
The Agfa Record III is a nice top range 6x9 camera, easy to use, with an extremely good lens and an advanced shutter. It
lacks automatic film advance. It's a very nice camera, there are few
6x9 rangefinders. It's lightweight. A good choice if you don't want to
spend too much money.
