Argus C3: Meet America's Iconic Camera! - Camera Talk

This was THE camera to own if you wanted a family camera in the 1940s-1960s. This modest camera has a rich history and continues to enjoy a strong following today.
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Photography forum: forums.camera-...
My equipment
- Video: Sony ZV-1
- Microphone: TZ Audio Stellar X3 (XLR)
- Sound recorder: Marantz Professional PMD661 MKII

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If you haven't seen or held an Argus C3, I encourage you to do so. As I mention, this camera was available in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, spanning five administrations: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. Here's a link to the Argus Collectors Group, which holds an annual meet-up. arguscg.org/ I'm not sure that Tony Vaccaro's book is still in print, but here it is on Amazon:: www.amazon.com/Entering-Germany-1944-1949-Tony-Vaccaro/dp/3822859087 Tony Vaccaro was a Western Pennsylvania native,. He passed away in 2023.

[@kmoecub]

I bought a C3 a few months ago. Partially because of how many war journalists used them during WW2, and partially because it was just out of reach for my Grandparents at that time. They wanted one, but they figured that being able to make more photos with what they already had was a better choice. I'm grateful that Grandma supported my interest in photography by giving me her old cameras whenever she bought something new.

[@CameraTalkVideos]

Hey, love that story. We should all have terrific grandparents like that!

[@andrewcomerford9411]

The rangefinder doubles as a viewfinder for the 100mm lens, but a separate viewfinder was needed for the 35mm. Changing lenses was a bit of a chore, necessitating removal of the middle gear (and careful replacement) as well as changing the lens. I own one (rare on this side of the pond) and had a b*gg*r of a job trying to keep my fingers out of the way of the cocking-lever. The Cintar is a classic Tessar type - 4 elements in 3 groups. Not a bad shooter, but a little eccentric.

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I knew that they had interchangeable lenses, but I was never able to figure out a way to remove the lens. That's a lot of work!

[@oldfilmguy9413]

Nice unboxing, and an interesting camera! Bought one off eBay just now - looks like fun! Cheers!

[@CameraTalkVideos]

I have another C3 that needs some work. I am thinking of doing a servicing video on it.

[@oldfilmguy9413]

@@CameraTalkVideos Great!!

[@user-bz1ew8fo1r]

Could have saved you some money by sending you one of my many Bricks. Folks just kept giving them to me. I might have a dozen of them, some in much better shape than the others. My favorite looking one is the Match-Matic version. I've also got a set of the 35-100mm Sandmar and 135mm Soligor lenses.