Argus C3 Matchmatic

Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2023-10-16 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in USA from 1958 to (Circa) 1966.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 602

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Argus

The Argus C2 and C3 cameras have a parallelepiped shape. Their form and weight have earned them the nickname "Brick." They are 35 mm cameras (135 film) with a rangefinder coupled to the focus distance adjustment. The lens is interchangeable, with the standard being the Cintar 3.5/50 mm lens optimized for color. The Micromatic shutter allows speeds from 1/5 to 1/300, plus the B (bulb) mode. The silhouette is distinctive, featuring a notched wheel with a rangefinder window in the middle. Rotating it drives both the lens and rangefinder adjustments through a gear mechanism. For nearly thirty years, the camera saw minimal external changes, with the most noticeable being the lens shape.

The inventor of patent No. 2,298,787, which encompasses the Argus C, is the Belgian Gustave Fassin. The applicant is International Industries Inc, based in Ann Arbor. The filing took place on December 6, 1939, and the publication occurred on October 13, 1942.

On October 20, 1941, Argus filed a patent for a shutter improvement (on the right), with Clinton H. Harris listed as the inventor. The silhouette matches that of the C2/C3.

In 1942, patent No. 2,298,107 protected flash synchronization on a camera, featuring the drawings of the C3. The inventor was William F. Carr.

The C2, C3, and their derivatives were significant commercial successes in the United States. The longevity of these models was exceptionally remarkable. An attempt to modernize it in 1959 with the Argus C33 didn't gain much traction. The C3, particularly popular in families, even managed to make its way into the world of cinema, in the hands of one of the characters in the Harry Potter saga.

Models and variants :

	Years	Special features

C	1938	No coupled rangefinder
C2	1939-41	No flash synchronization
C3	1941-52	No Argus nameplate on the front
C3	1952-58	Argus nameplate on the front
C3	1958-66	Lens settings visible from the top of the camera
C3 Matchmatic	1958-66	Beige color, delivered with a removable light meter
Golden Shield	1958-	Special coating, delivered with a removable light meter
C33	1959-61	Modernization attempt

__________

This is not a colored variant of the C3 but a distinct model, as it typically always comes with its cell, which fits into the accessory shoe.

Apart from minor differences in presentation, the camera otherwise remains similar to the C3.

The shutter speeds 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 correspond to 1/10, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, and 1/300, and the B (Bulb) setting is adjusted by turning the shutter release. Similarly, the apertures 3 1/2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 correspond to f/3.5, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, and f/16. The cocking lever is on the front.

Two other lenses could be used: a 35mm wide-angle and a 100mm telephoto, both with an aperture of f/4.5.

The C3 Matchmatic (1958-1966), although newer than the C3, is rarer.

Interesting links or bibliography :

Sur Camera-wiki.org, suggested by Sylvain Halgand

Add a link or element of bibliography, a picture taken with this camera, a picture of box or an ads about this camera

Your photos taken with the same camera: