Agilux Agifold

Specification

Art Deco Credentials

Noteworthy: Worth giving special attention

I consider this camera to warrant 3 stars for the following attributes:

• produced after the main Art Deco period;
• rounded body;
• trapizoidal viewfinder;
• chrome accents;
• chrome embellishments on base;
• chrome struts;
• chrome viewfinder;
• other chrome highlights.

Description

The Agifold is a self erecting, folding camera. It was made in Croydon, UK by Agilux. This is the base model. There were several other models - some with rangefinder, some with an extinction light meter. Lenses and shutters were made by AGI themselves.

This early version has a shutter with speeds of 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/125 in instantaneous mode, together with B & T. The shutter release is located on the body which is automatically retracted as the camera is closed. It needs to be primed using a lever before firing. There is a remote shutter release port.

The f/4.5 lens is capable of focussing between 3.5ft and infinity. An iris type aperture provides apertures from f/4.5 to f/32. A scale is provided to show the range of focus for different apertures at different focus distances.

There is an eye-level viewfinder plus a waist level finder fitted together on a viewfinder block. The viewfinder block is pushed sideways to release the front of the camera.

The back features both a red and a green window with two sliders to select which to open. The red window is designed to be used with orthochromatic film and the green with panchromatic film.

The shutter is flash synchronised via two pins on the side of the lens panel.

There is a tripod mount provided on the base.

How to Use

With modern film you can use either the red or green window to advance the film. The only proviso is that you use the same one throughout the film. The windows should only be opened when winding on in subdued light.

Exposure

Shutter speeds are 1/25s, 1/50s and 1/100s and 1/125s although the accuracy is not guaranteed. The speeds of 1/100s and 1/125s can be used interchangeably producing very little difference in exposure.

If you don't want to bother with an exposure meter, follow the guide shown. It is based on the 'Sunny 16' rule. Film is so forgiving and will produce acceptable results even when overexposed by 2 or 3 stops or underexposed by 1 stop.