Argoflex
by unpetitfauve
I’m really excited about this little TLR camera in my hand. It’s an Argoflex of some sort, most likely from the 1940s, and it belonged to my grandparents. I haven’t been able to find this particular model of Argoflex anywhere online, and the guy at the local camera shop said he’d never seen an Argoflex of this size before, so I’m not certain what specific model it is or when exactly it was made. I was afraid I’d find out it only took 620 film (which was discontinued in 1995), but it turns out 120 will fit in it just fine, which means I can still easily buy film for it! I’m not certain if it has any light leaks or other problems like that, but I’ll load in a roll this week and see what happens.
I love shooting with vintage cameras. I’ve always been better at film photography than I have at digital, and even though I don’t like developing my own film (it’s kind of tedious), I love going into the darkroom and making my own prints. TLR photography is especially fun because it makes you take photos in a completely different way than you would with an SLR. The viewfinder is at waist level, which is perfect for candid shots, because it’s harder for your subject(s) to tell if you’re taking a photo or not. It’s a very discreet, unobtrusive form of photography.
I’m going to have a fun time taking photos on this little guy. I have quite a few vintage cameras (mostly 35mm) but this one is extra special because it belonged to my grandparents and it has tons of character. I also feel like this camera must be used while I’m wearing mid century clothing. The dress pictured is a late 1950s/early 1960s R&K Originals that is a tad big in the bust, but it has a beautiful print and a darling tie in the front.
Amber von Nagel
Do you have your own dark room to develop the film, or do you get it done professionally? Some day, I hope to have a dark room in my home. *sigh* some day… :) Kate http://katejones.me
I get it done professionally. We rent so there is no way we can have our own darkroom in our house. There is a darkroom in San Francisco that I could use if I wanted to, but it’s just more convenient to have the local camera shop people do it.