Argus A2b, small and pretty

This is a small bakelite camera made by Argus in the USA. My camera is the A2b model that is manufactured after the WWII - there are pre-war and post-war models.

There are shutter speeds of 1/25th, 50th, 100th, and 150th plus B and T. (Bulb - holding the shutter button the blades stay open and Time - one click leaves the shutter open the second click closes the shutter blades).

The lens is a 50mm f4.5 retractable. It pops out by turning, that is the position for objects from 18ft to eternity. By turning the lens some more the lens extends to a fixed position, for objects 8 to 18 ft.

There is also an extiction meter on the top of the camera that is not working. The meter helped the owner to judge the correct exposure settings.

The shutter lever lies on the front of the lens and as the lens body rotates easily it is very easy moved when clicking the shutter resulting in shaken photos.

I used a Fuji 200 ASA for testing the camera. I got many shaken pictures and some blurred ones as the position of the lens for close focus did not worked well. Furthermore at open apertures the lens is very soft.

Here are some samples

an airplane at f11

Out of focus stairs with the close focus setting

Out of focus moto with the close focus setting

At night

I pressed the shutter three times here 1/150th and f16

At low shutter speeds

Church with the close focus setting

 

Chairs with the close focus setting