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| Agfa Click-II (1969-1970) |
#403
This photo is from the copy I ownHistory and technical features
Click-II is a medium format film viewfinder camera manufactured by Agfa Kamerawerk AG, Munich, Germany and produced between 1959-70.
The Click was yet another cheap Agfa camera designed for the Lomography. With its one speed shutter and few option it was never intended to be anything else than this. Unlike it's 6x9 brother the Clack it was completely constructed out of plastic making it quite vulnerable for damage, if you drop a Click it will most likely break. The main differences between the Clack and the Click is the lens, the Clack has a lens of f11 - f16 while the Click has a f8.8 -f11 lens. Other differences are the fact that the Click II is 6x6 camera (opposed to the 6x9 of the Clack) and thus is a little more economic. The Click II also lacks a socket for a cable release and it's a mystery why Agfa decided to drop this feature. The results of the Click II are not bad for such a cheap camera.
The other camera in the Click line is Agfa Click-I.
Source: camerapedia
More than three years ago an Agfa Click II became my constant companion. This circumstance was neither achieved by a high-resolution image sensor nor by any other special features, but is owed to the absence of modern settings. Apart from all the things the Click is lacking, it holds some attributes that make photography such a pleasure. The 50 year old leather case, that closes with a press button on its back and still is in near mint condition, as well as the sturdy plastic body are just the beginning.
Technical details
The Agfa Click II was produced in Germany from the end of the 1950s until 1970 – how many cameras can claim that nowadays? It has approximately 75 mm focal length, which is almost a normal lens for 6×6 cm medium format. The settings of the fixed-focus lens that focuses on 4 m to infinity, are limited to one lever, which can be set to “sun” (ca. f 16) or “clouds” (f 8.8). Apart from changing the aperture, the same selector can be used to swivel in a built-in close-up portrait lens (f 8.8), that focuses on 2.5 to 4 m. The exposure time always amounts to 1/30 sec, which is why sometimes photographs become blurred by camera shake – but this simply belongs to the Click’s characteristics. Once there was the clip-on flash Clibo enabling the Click to take pictures regardless of sunshine, but it was only produced in a much smaller number of pieces. Furthermore, fitting batteries and flash bulbs are extremely rare today.
When I bought my pre-owned Click II, I found an old film inside that had not been manufactured since 1974 – which also explains the camera’s sound condition. Since then I have almost exclusively equipped the camera with (in part expired) slide film. By choosing the film material the last “setting option” is gathered.
En route with the Click
In all fairness, the technical details concerning the Click are of marginal importance. Much more essential are subjects that stand to benefit from a restrained unsharpness and vignetting as well as a colour shift which results from expired film emulsion. Therefore it is definitely worth taking the Click outside. Weighing only 460 g (including leather case and roll film) it is far from being a burden. For my liking the Click is primarily a fair weather camera, although it can be used in all weathers, independent of power supply and anywhere around the world. All that is necessary is a 120 roll film, which is manually wound forward by means of the winding knob after every single exposure. Due to the few settings (one exposure time and two apertures) photographing with an Agfa Click is so easy – far from the compulsion to take perfect pictures. When getting the film developed you will never know in advance what you will receive exactly. (However you can be sure to get a well exposed film as the Click is much more reliable than a Holga without doubt.)
The Agfa Click II provides all images with its own characteristic visual impression, even those that would look rather unexceptional and boring when captured with perfect sharpness, perfect colour reproduction and perfect exposure. That is what makes the Click so special and in my opinion more than perfect. When it is treated well, it will probably render a service for the next 50 years or more – as long as roll film and film laboratories exist.
Source: ueberlicht.com
Specifications
Film: 120 roll, picture size 6x6cm
Focusing: fixed focus, 4m to inf.
Viewfinder: simple Galilei
One shutter speed, about 1/30
Lens: Achromat 72.5mm f/8.8; downs to f/11
Aperture settings: cloudy and sunny setting ikons on the lens-shutter barrel; switchable lens proves 2.5-4m close-up taking
Tripod mounting screw on base plate
Connection pins for the Agfa Clibo flash unit
The bend back cover plays a role as a film pressure plate and provides for a steady and good sharpness
Body: plastic
Source: camerapedia
Model
Reference sites
camerapedia
ueberlicht.com
Manual
Film
Pictures taken with this machine
Videos
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