In early 1974 Agfa was one of the first companies (after the 1972 Kodak launch) to release a series of Kodak 110 pocket film*(see below)
cameras. They were called Agfamatic, like the series with the bigger
Kodak cartridge film, but had the "pocket" in their name. The series
was numberd in 1000s. In 1977 the flashcubes were replaced
by an 8-Topflash and the numers were changed to 1008 and so on. All
were replaced in 1978 by the "motor" series with motorized film
advance.
*
110 film was introduced by Kodak in 1972. The film sits in a cartridge,
like Kodak's earlier 126 film, but is much smaller. A frame is 13mm ×
17mm, has one perforation per image to control film advance and 24
frames per cartridge (12 were also available). The film is protected by
a backing paper like 120 film. The frame number is visible through a
window at the back of the cartridge. The basic film is ordinary 16mm
film which was already on the market, so it could be processed in
existing machines. The small picture size made very small, pocketable
cameras possible.
Kodak introduced with its 110 film a line of
Kodak Pocket Instamatic cameras which were followed by
cameras from other manufacturers. Most cameras were cheap
point-and-shoot, but very sophisticated models were also made. Small
digital cameras made 110 film obsolete. Bit by bit manufacturers stopped making 110 format film (Fujifilm in 2009), but in 2012 (and 2019) Lomography made a large batch of 110 film, followed by other firms.
The
camera presented, the Agfamatic 508 Pocket, is a simple entry model of
the series. It has a cheap plastic body. This set was obviously a
present box from the the German Pharmazeutical company Bayer. Its main features are:
32mm F11 Agfa Color Optar fixed focus lens Shutter 1/100s, 1/50s when flash is inserted Size 122x53x327, Weight 150 gr. 100
ISO, Topflash available
The box.
The
whole set, camera, flash bulbs, strap, film cartridge in their original box.
Camera closed.
Bottom. Nothing to see.
Camera front open. Top
view. Big red shutter release.
Topflash socket.
Camera
back. Film window and viewer window.
Film compartment
This
camera is very easy to use, silde it open and it's ready.
It has no
manual settings. You have only to frame. After taking
a picture, you have to close the camera for film advance and shutter
cocking (push-pull advance, very handy). Putting a film is easy as well,
you drop the film into the compartment, advance to the first frame and that's it.
It's
a simple point and shoot camera
with no settings. Seen today's low prices of the luxury models, you better get one of those.
