Agfa Isolette I camera

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Jumping from one camera that can’t fold, to one that does. This post will be looking at the Agfa Isolette I.

I already went over the history of the Agfa company in my Agfa Clack post, so I will jump straight into this camera.

The Isolette I is part of a series of Isolette cameras made by Agfa. The first one was brought out in 1936 (Moss 2023) and was called the “Isorette (embossed in the leatherette of the front door/lens bed as JSORETTE ), but the name was changed to Isolette (again, marked on the camera as JSOLETTE) within a year, with no significant change to the camera itself…” (Camera-wiki). The use of the J instead of the I is briefly explained in the Agfa Billy Record post. This camera was produced up until 1942 (Camera-wiki). This camera is very similar to this post’s camera, except it used the Compur shutter (Raul 2010).

Agfa Isolette/Jsolette/Isorette camera.
Image Source: https://camarasclassicas.blogspot.com/2010/08/isolette.html

The second camera, was the Isolette 4.5, in 1945-1950 and was the first Isolette to be made in the post-war era and unlike the first Isolette (which was a bakelite/trolitan body, Moss 2023 and Camera-wiki), the 4.5 was made from an aluminium alloy, the reason for this could be that during WWII, all the metal and aluminium was used in plane construction, leading to most cameras being made from plastic, but this is just speculation (Hille 2016). This camera differs from the first and the Isolette I, is that this camera uses a Prontor shutter and an Apotar lens (Raul 2010).

Agfa Isolette 4.5. Image Source:
https://camarasclassicas.blogspot.com/2010/08/isolette.html

The third was the Isolette V in 1950-1952 (Schneider 2016), and according to Camera-wiki, this camera was sold in the USA as the Ansco Speedex 4.5 camera. This camera is similar to the 4.5 and also has an Apotar lens. The one difference, to the 4.5 is that, like the Isolette I, it uses a Vario shutter (Raul 2010).

Agfa Isolette V. Image Source:
https://schneidan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/agfa-isolette-front-open.jpg

Ansco Speedex 4.5. Image Source:
https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/Ansco-Speedex-4.5.jpg

The third is the Isolette I, the camera of this post, which I will go over later in this post.

Then came the Isolette II, in 1950-1960 (CollectiBlend 2025). It had a “little switch next to the viewfinder that allows you to make time exposures…” and came with a self-timer (Gary 2015). Another difference with this camera, is that it uses an Apotar lens and a Prontor-S shutter (Raul 2010). This camera was also sold under another name in the US market, the Ansco Speedex 4.5 Super (Camera-wiki).

Agfa Isolette II. Image Source:
https://filmadvance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DSC_2604m.jpg

Ansco Speedex 4.5 Super/Special. Image Source:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KfcAAOSwjDVma1jA/s-l1200.png

After that was the Isolette III, in 1951-60 (Grey 2015). What made this one different was the Apotar lens and the Prontor shutter (Raul 2010). But the biggest feature that sets it apart is the “…uncoupled rangefinder. That’s the knurled knob to the right of the accessory shoe. To use it, look through the viewfinder and turn that knob until the image in the rangefinder patch lines up with the viewfinder image. This is where the “uncoupled” part comes in: you then check the distance on that knob and set the lens to the same distance…” (Grey 2015). This camera was also sold under the name Ansco Speedex 4.5 Super R (Camera-wiki).

Agfa Isolette III. Image Source:
https://camarasclassicas.blogspot.com/2010/08/isolette.html

Ansco Speedex 4.5 Super R. Image Source:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mario_groleau/2296337223/in/pool-camerawiki

Then came the Super Isolette in 1954-1960, that also came with a rangefinder. This camera also had a “75mm F3.5 Agfa Solinar lens” and came with a Compur shutter (Hofstatter 2024). The rangefinder was a coupled rangefinder (uses a push-rod), which is where the Super in the name comes from (Camera wiki). And “Film loading is semiautomated, and there is no red window in the back of the camera; the film is loaded in the camera, and it advances until the first frame, then advances one frame at a time. The double-exposure prevention interlock, has an indicator window by the shutter release. The film advance knob is on the right of the top housing. There is a film-type reminder on the left, in a knurled disc matching the film-advance…” (Camera-wiki).

Agfa Super Isolette. Image Source:
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2299/2414600560_3398c24d4b.jpg

Now one thing that is confusing is that some say the Super Isolette is the last in the series, but that doesn’t seem to be true seeing that there is another, the Isolette L, that came out in 1957-1960 (CollectiBlend 2025). This Isolette featured no rangefinder, but it had a “…built-in non-coupled light meter and masks for a 24x36mm slide format on special CT18 slide film which had a backing paper and gave 24 slides. The finder has a lever to put in the according mask…” (120folder.com). Then there is also the Color-Apotar lens and the Pronto shutter (Raul 2010).

Agfa Isolette L. Image Source:
https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/AGFA-Isolette-L.jpg

Now time to look at the camera at hand, the Agfa Isolette I.

This camera came out in 1952-1960 (Nelson 2016) and “is an inexpensive German medium format folding camera…” (Lauro 2004). Lauro (2004) writes further: “This one might be one of the latest because the depth of field indicator is located opposite to the rewind knob.”

This camera is like the Isolette V and is and entry level camera, but the difference between the V and I, is that the I has a body shutter release (Junktion 2025). It is mostly made from an aluminium alloy. According to Camera-wiki, this alloy is called hydronalium, an aluminium-magnesium alloy.

It has a size of 142 x 95 x 40 mm and a weight of 504g (Kamerastore 2025). Its size has also been described as “pocketable” (Nakamura 2011) and “…a folding camera, which means that the lens and film are protected by a collapsible bellows which are folded up when the camera is not in use. This design is what makes the camera compact and easy to carry, I simply pop it in my pocket, making it ideal for travel and outdoor photography…” (Moss 2023).

Now let’s have a closer look at the camera itself.

The front-

Here is the cover that protects and keeps the camera bellows back inside.

Then when unfolded, there is the lens.

It is an Agnar 1;4.5 85mm lens. And according to Nakamura (2011), since it is an Agnar, it has a three-element coating (see Polaroid SX-70 for more information). But what is an Agnar? According to Marx (2023), it is a triplet lens similar to the Cooke and Anstigmat (see the Argus C2 and Agfa Billy Record post). And according to Ansco cameras, and Agnar is basically an anastigmat. The Agnar label is to let the user know that this Anastigmat is made by the Agfa company, using their own equipment.

On the lens is the focus settings on a focus ring, which go from 3-30 feet and infinity.

Above the lens is the shutter speed settings on an outer ring.

There are four settings, 1/25, 1/50, 1/200 second and B.

And speaking of the shutter-

The shutter release is in two locations. The first one is next to the lens, in a lever mechanism.

Underneath the camera, is where it mentions the type of shutter, a Vario.

 This shutter, according to Camera-wiki, was made by the Gauthier company in 1912 and is a leaf shutter. It was first released with only two blades, but by 1929, came with five, which this camera has. Many people, like Marx (2023), point out that what sets the Vario apart from other shutters is that it only comes with three speeds, like the Isolette I.

On top of the lens-

The f/stop settings on the diaphragm lever are f/4.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, and 32. Like many cameras with fixed lenses, the aperture petals are positioned behind the shutter.

In front of the f/stop slider, is the lever that cocks the shutter and prevents any accidental double exposure.

Right of the f/stop, is the PC flash connector, to synchronise the shutter and flash. 

Nakamura (2011) recommends using the Agfalux flash.

Agfa Isolette I with an Agfalux flash. 
Image Source:
https://photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/AgfaIsolette.html

Then left of the f/stop is the remote shutter cord socket, nestled right next to the first shutter release.

Then above the lens is the viewfinder, also known as a reverse-Galilean viewfinder (Camera-wiki), which is “…the dominant design found in vintage and modern cameras, this is because it is a relatively simple two piece design, consisting of a front plano-concave (PCV) element, and a rear, plano-convex (PCX), or dual-convex (DCX) lens. The idea behind the design is to create an afocal system, this means that the effective focal length of the assembly is infinite, so the rays end up parallel after exiting the assembly, the light is collimated and magnification is reduced (if you reverse the design you create a Galilean telescope, increasing magnification)…” (Panomicron 2020).

The side-

This is where the bellows can be seen. They can extend and retract into the camera for easy storage. And like the Agfa Billy Record, this camera has Chamfered corners (please see the Billy Record post for more information).

Then next to the bellows is the film compartment cover release or sliding lock. When the user presses down on the slider towards the arrow, it opens the film compartment.

On top of the camera-

Is where the second shutter release is, this time it is a button connected to a lever that pulls on the first shutter release.

The reason for the two shutter releases is to accommodate the user and helps them choose how to hold the camera and whatever makes them feel comfortable. Or at least that is how I see it.

But it could be argued since the manual only refers to this one as the only shutter release, I could be wrong. But my point still stands, that if you feel awkward using this shutter, you can just use the release next to the lens.

Next to that is the accessory shoe plate, then the release button or the camera opening button to open the front cover and unfold the camera.

 Then finally the film transport knob.

Underneath the camera-

Is the tripod socket.

Then lastly the back-

Here is the film department cover (unlocked with the slide on the side).

On this cover is the red film counter window.

Above that is the “Optical direct-vision viewfinder” according to the manual.

Then there is the film compartment, which is simple to load, like a 35mm.

This camera takes 120 film (see Agfa Clack post), and can take “…twelve 6×6 cm (2¼-inch square) pictures (or sixteen 4.5×6 cm (2¼×1⅝ inch) pictures…” (Junktion 2025).

And that is that. Overall, this camera is similar to the Billy Record, except the Isolette I is more manual and has more precise settings for the focus, is smaller and has a bigger lens aperture. But I still prefer the Billy Record because it looks cooler.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.

And as always, thank you for making it to the end and I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did researching it.

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List of sources:

120folder.com. Agfa Isolette L. https://www.120folder.com/agfa_isolette_l.htm

Camera-wiki. Isolette. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Isolette

Camera-wiki. Agfa Record. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Agfa_Record#:~:text=Lens%20is%20always%20a%20multicoated,fitted%20to%20the%20lens%20bed.

Camera-wiki. Super Isolette. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Super_Isolette

Camera-wiki. Vario. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Vario#:~:text=The%20Vario%20is%20a%20long,%2Dblade%20dial%2Dset%20type.

CollectiBlend. 2025. AGFA: Isolette II. https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/AGFA/Isolette-II.html

CollectiBlend. 2025. Agfa: Isolette L. https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/AGFA/Isolette-L.html

Gary. 2015. Favourite Cameras: Agfa Isolette II. https://filmadvance.com/2015/02/favourite-cameras-agfa-isolette-ii/

Grey, J. 2015. Agfa Isolette III. https://blog.jimgrey.net/2015/09/28/agfa-isolette-iii/

Hille, C. 2016. The Agfa Isolette 4.5. https://all-my-cameras.com/2016/12/04/the-agfa-isolette-4-5/

Hofstatter, M. 2024. This forgotten 70-year-old medium format camera captured my childhood. https://blog.markus-hofstaetter.at/2024/10/this-70-year-old-medium-format-camera-captured-my-childhood/

Junktion. 2025. Agfa Isolette I. https://junktion.co.nz/products/agfa-isolette-i-1?srsltid=AfmBOorplhT-QAkdeAk90RCgEQkGoef0RdNAmI47-ClXTSAAffj37Y0S

Kamerastore. 2025. Agfa Isolette I – Camera. https://kamerastore.com/products/agfa-isolette-i?srsltid=AfmBOooXJzu5gd0bbBtGLYwVaXfpsTym-hw6jKJ5jRFjcj9AMLeTrw_Z

Lauro, R. 2004. Agfa Isolette I 6x6. https://thecamerasite.lauro.fi/03_Folder_Cameras/Pages/agfailette.htm#:~:text=The%20Isolette%20series%20of%20cameras,cameras%20begun%20to%20take%20over.

Marx, W. 2023. Vintage Folding Camera Photography. https://wernermarxphotography.com/agfa/

Mike. Agfa Isolette I manual. https://butkus.org/chinon/agfa/agfa_isolette_i/agfa_isolette_i.htm

Moss, K. 2023. REVIEW OF THE AGFA ISOLETTE CAMERA. https://keithmossphotography.co.uk/blog/f/review-of-the-agfa-isolette-camera

Nakamura, K. 2011. Agfa Isolette I. https://photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/AgfaIsolette.html

Nelson, S. 2016. Agfa Isolette I. https://utahfilmphotography.com/2016/08/24/agfa-isolette-i/

Panomicron. 2020. The Mathematics of Galilean Viewfinders and How to Design them. https://www.panomicron.com/learning/2019/8/14/the-mathematics-of-galilean-viewfinders-and-how-to-design-them-1

Raul. 2010. Isolettes in any flavour. https://camarasclassicas.blogspot.com/2010/08/isolette.html

Schneider, D. Agfa Isolette V: A very cool folding camera. https://schneidan.com/2016/11/29/agfa-isolette-v-cool-folding-camera/