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. In the
same year a series of Revue branded cameras was introduced as well. 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 6008 Macro Pocket Sensor, is the top model of the series. Its main features are:
26mm F2.7 Agfa Solinar S lens, 4 elements, min. focus 0.5m, 0.25m in macro mode Electronic shutter, 15s-1/1000 Size 132x56x30.5, Weight 225 gr. 100 and 400
ISO, automatic coding, self-timer, parallax compensation, built-in macro lens, electronic flash available
The
whole set, camera, flash, chain, macro flash cover, film cartridge and
instructions in their original box. The price tag says DM 389.- which
is half a month's salary in those days.
Camera closed.
Bottom. The big slider unlocks the camera, it opens itself. The small slider towards the front moves the makro lens in case of.
Camera front open. Top
view. Big red shutter release with cable release socket next to it.
Distance setting wheel. The symbols are indicated in the viewer.
Topflash socket.
Camera
back. Film window and viewer window with distance symbols indicated and frame,
parallax corrected. There a 2 lamps in the viewer: green for sufficient
light/short shutter speeds and red for low light and speeds 1/30 or
less.
Camera with electronic flash attached.
Rear
view. The flash takes 2 AAA batteries and connects automatically to the
camera, no settings necessary. Just switch it on an wait for the
"ready" lamp to light.
Camera
and chain. It slides into the flash socket. There was a chain version
that could be unhinged to have a cord of 25cm, the nearest macro
setting.
Unscrewing leaves a tripod socket.
Flash with macro cover. It only leves a small part of the flash open. Makro lens in front of the camera lens.
There are 2 distance settings in macro mode for the flash.
Self-timer switch on the bottom.
Film and battery chamber. Takes 3 625U batteries, still available.
This
camera is very easy to use, silde it open and it's ready.
It has no
manual settings, everything is perfectly automatic. You have only to
focus and frame, which is easy via the bright finder and an easy
focussing scale in the upper part of it. Half pressing the shutter
lights a green confimation lamp in the viewfinder, if it's red, the
camera will use slow shutter speeds. There is an electronic flash
available, but the camera deals well with available light. 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 very good luxury point and shoot camera
with very good picture quality, very good high quality
finish in a small and pocketable body. This camera feels extremely
solid. The macro lens makes very good photos as well. The picture
results were overall better than others, well exposed pictures under
any circumstances.
