Argus A2F

Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2024-03-17 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in USA from 1939 to (After) 1939.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 625

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Argus

The Argus A series cameras are 35mm cameras (with the exception of a later plastic model, a 126 film camera, not presented here) made of bakelite for the front part and metal for the rear part. The metal rear portion is entirely removable. The lens is on a retractable tube mounted on a spring.
On all A models (except the FA), the rear part is decorated with geometric designs inspired by Art Deco.

Model	Years	Caracteristics

A	1936-41
AF	1937-38	Focusing
B	1937	(despite its name, it belongs to the series of the A) - f/2,9 lens
A2B	1939-50	With extinction meter
A2F	1939-51	With extinction meter and f/4,5 Lens
AA	1940-42
FA	1950-51	Different body

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On the A2F, the optical light meter is accompanied by a fairly elaborate calculation table. The sliding tab has a small arrow that needs to be aligned with the index of the sufficiently bright light meter. This arrow is visible in the photo of the rear part of the camera.

The top part of the tab is a rail in which two sliders glide. One is graduated to indicate the film sensitivity, and the other (at the top in the photo) is for the aperture. The top slider should cover the bottom one, masking the numbers for sensitivities higher than that of the film. The film sensitivity number should then be positioned in front of one of the four cloud cover indices (Bright, Average, Cloudy, Light Int.). This action also moves the top scale, aligning the aperture numbers with the shutter speed numbers.

The shutter release on the lens/shutter block is peculiar because the cap-like cover unscrews, allowing you to screw in a cable release.

Lastly, what sets the A2F apart from an A2B is the distance adjustment ring at the base of the lens.

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