Argus Argoflex 40

Photos by - text by -. From the collection of -. Last update 2026-04-20 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in USA from (Circa) 1951 to (Circa) 1955.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 30013

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Argus

Argus is known for its Argus C3 cameras, and a whole range of other 35 mm cameras, but was also a manufacturer of more or less advanced TLRs. These cameras, using 620 film and producing 6 x 6 cm negatives, are made of plastic, except for two metal models.
Some models have a coupling between the taking lens and the viewing lens, thus providing true reflex focusing. Many are fixed-focus, others have a distance setting but without any effect in the viewfinder.
The shutters are modest.

On July 29, 1949, Leonard A. Wilkinson, inventor, and Argus Cameras, Inc. filed patent No. 2,664,799 for a system coupling shutter cocking and film advance, in order to prevent double exposures. The drawings of this patent depict a TLR.

Model	Years	Construction	Lens	Shutter		Selling price

Argoflex E	1940-49	Bakelite	4.5/75	Argus 1/10 to 1/200, B, T	Basic Argoflex model. Coupled lenses	$61.12 (1949)
Argoflex II	1947-48	Metal	Varex 4.5/75	1/10 to 1/200, B, T synchro	Coupled lenses	$879.054 (1947)
Argoflex EF	1949-51	Metal	Varex 4.5/75	1/10 to 1/200, B, T sync	Coupled lenses	$74.75 (1949)
Argoflex EM	1949	Metal	Varex 4.5/75	1/10 to 1/200, B, T	Like the Argoflex EF. but without flash sync. coupled lenses	$64.40 (1949)
Argoflex Seventy-five	1949-57	Plastic	f/13	sync	Fixed focus	$14.89 (1950)
Argoflex 40	1951-53	Plastic	f/4.5	1/25 to 1/150, B sync	Fixed focus Improved version of the Argoflex Seventy-five	$39.95 (1951)
Argus Seventy-five	1955-58	Plastic	f/13	I, T	Fixed focus	$14.95 (1956)
Argus Super Seventy-five	1955-58	Plastic	Lumar 8/65	I, T Sync	Like the Argoflex Seventy-five. but with distance adjustment.	$22.50 (1956)
Argus 75	1958-64	Plastic	Lumar /75	I, T	Fixed focus + brown color
Argus 40	c.1955	Plastic	4.5/75	1/25 to 1/150, B	similar characteristics to those of the Super Seventy-five	$37.95 (1955)

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The Argoflex Seventy-Five and Argoflex 40 are budget versions of the Argoflex E and EF. Being fixed-focus, there is no longer any coupling between the two lenses.

The Argoflex 40 has a better lens than the Argoflex Seventy-Five, and the difference comes at a price.

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