Argus Model A

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Sticking with easy to use cameras, but pivoting away from the 126 film cameras, this post will be looking at Argus’ first camera, the Argus Model A.

I did go over the history of the Argus camera company in my Argus C2 camera. With that let’s jump into the history of this camera. The camera was released in 1936 at a price of $12.50, which was an “…unheard-of price for a 35mm camera. Its immediate success, and subsequent popularity of an expanded line of photographic products, led the company to sell its radio patents, change its name to International Research Corporation, and make cameras their primary business…” (Argus Museum).

According to Gandy (2016), the Argus A was an important camera that got a lot of people into 35mm photography and establishing 35 film as the “…the serious Amateur's film format of choice in the largest photography market in the world…” and “…found a market and made the most of it: the inexpensive relatively dependable relatively OK performing mass produced 35.”

The Model A is referred to as the “poor man’s Leica” by Ollinger, but with its inexpensive price (of $12.50 vs. Leica’s $300) it was more successful. As Gandy (2016) puts it: “…Argus sold more cameras in their first twenty years than Leica has sold in their first 70 years!”

The A series went on to make “six derivative models until 1951” (Gandy 2016). But the original Model A came in 2 different versions (Argus Collectors Group). And the camera in this post seems to be the second version. The only difference between the two is the look of the lens. The cameras also came in four different colours: “…white, gold, olive, and gray…” (Gandy 2016). Although according to Argus Collectors Group: “…there is no evidence that a white model was ever produced.”

Argus A (possibly) the first version. Image Source:
https://www.arguscg.org/reference/a-lg.jpg

After that they released the Argus AF, which looks like the second Model A “…but with Focusing Lens to provide Full Focusing abilities…” (Argus Collectors Group).

Argus AF. Image Source:
https://www.arguscg.org/reference/af-lg.jpg

Then came the Argus B, which came with a Prontor II shutter (Argus Collectors Group).

Argus B. Image Source:
https://a4.pbase.com/g6/17/553917/3/73583606.j1CqNv8d.jpg

After that was the A2B, which came with an exposure calculator and an extinction meter. It also came in three different versions (Argus Collectors Group).

Argus A2B. Image Source:
https://www.arguscg.org/reference/a2b-2-lg.jpg

Then we got the AA and was the first Flash Argus, with the flash sync on the left side. This camera also came with a fixed focus lens (Argus Collectors Group).

Argus AA. Image Source:
https://www.arguscg.org/reference/aa-lg.jpg

The second last was the A2F. It was similar to the A2B, except this camera came with a helical focusing lens (Argus Collectors Group).

Argus A2F. Image Source:
https://www.arguscg.org/reference/a2f-lg.jpg

Then finally came the FA, the last of the A series and had the “…Familiar Collapsible Lens, with Flash Synch on left end…” (Argus Collectors Group).

Argus FA. Image Source:
https://www.arguscg.org/reference/fa-lg.jpg

After that came the also successful C series (read about it in my Argus C2 post). But these two series were Argus’ curse just as much as it was their blessing. Because “…Argus was less successful outside its amateur 35mm niche. It tried to widen the middle-class market with TLRs like its Argoflexes, but couldn't compete against Kodak's junk Duoflexes or quality Rolleiflexes…” and “…While it had the 35mm market well staked out, Argus had no answer to the modern 35mm cameras that were coming out of Europe and especially Japan…” (Ollinger). The rest of their history can be found in the C2 post.

Anyway… Let’s have a closer look at the Argus Model A. The camera has a similar design as the Falcon Model F, except this camera isn’t as front heavy. The body is made from a plastic mould (Argus Museum), most likely Bakelite (Argus Collectors Group). It came out in 1936-1941 (Gandy 2016) and has a weight of approximately 382g (Denton 2025) and its size is 2.9 x 5 x 1.1 inches.

Now time to examine the camera. Starting with the front-

The lens-

The Lens is an Anastigmat 50mm with a 4.5 f/stop. To learn more about the Anastigmat please check out my Billy Record and Argus C2 posts.

The Model A has a collapsible lens. 

This is also the indicator that distinguishes the Model A from the AF. The AF, as mentioned, has a focusing lens that allows more control on focusing.

Argus AF focusing lens closeup. Image Source:
https://mikeeckman.com/photovintage/vintagecameras/argusaf/9366.jpg

The lens (with a twist) pops out to help focus on subjects that are 6-18 feet away. This setting sets the focus to 18 feet to infinity. This setting is used for close-ups and not distance.

But the manual also mentions that putting on f/stop 6.3 with the lens out can increase the focus up to 20 feet. To increase the focus further one must use a portrait attachment.

An example of an Argus 22.5mm portrait attachment for the Argus V-series.
Image Source:
https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/images/178214.jpg

Speaking of the f/stop.

This setting can be found on top of the lens. Unfortunately, this camera is missing the plate that indicates the f/stop indicators. The f/stop settings are between 4.5-16 (Oliver).

Argus A f/stop indicator. Image Source:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KHUAAeSwh0Fn-Vn3/s-l1600.webp

The settings are changed with a lever under the lens which moves the needle on top to the desired setting. The aperture petals are located behind the shutter.

Now time for the shutter-

The shutter release/lever is on the side of the lens.

The shutter speed and setting are on the outer ring around the lens. The settings are 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/200 second and has a B and T settings, just like the Falcon F.

The shutter seems to be an Ilex shutter (Gandy 2016). Ilex was “…one of America's three main suppliers of lenses for view cameras. It was founded in 1910 by the former Bausch & Lomb shutter designers Rudolph Klein and Theodor Brueck. They invented a delay mechanism that made shutters working independently from climate conditions. Their lens brand was Paragon…” (Camera-wiki).

More specifically it is a Pre-war Ilex Precise (Camera-Wiki). They were made to work without lubrication (Knoppow) and seems to be a leaf shutter with what seems to be three blades, like the A2B (Mitchell 2008).

Argus A2B shutter 1. Image Source:
https://pheugo.com/cameras/ilexprecise/shut01.jpg

Argus A2B Shutter 10. Image Source:
https://pheugo.com/cameras/ilexprecise/shut10.jpg

Underneath the shutter lever is the remote shutter cable socket.

On top-

From left to right:

Is the film advance knob, meaning that this camera is film fed from right to left instead of the other way like most cameras.

Then it is the viewfinder, which like the Falcon F is an “eye level optical viewfinder.”

After that it is the film spacing and release button. It is pressed in when rewinding and advancing film.

Accompanying this button is the exposure counter dial.

On the sides are the “hooks” that hold the film compartment cover in place.

Left is just a normal “hook” and on the other side is the pressure plate, like the one on the C2.

Underneath-

Is the screw-in socket, which can be used to attach a wrist strap or to attach it to a leather carrier case or it can be used on a tripod.

Argus A with leather carrying case. Image Source:
https://u-mercari-images.mercdn.net/photos/m80900101342_1.jpg

Then on the other end is the film rewind knob.

Lastly the back-

Here is the film compartment cover. On both ends are the hooks that keep it in place. On the side of the pressure plate is the pull-out tab.

Then by pressing in the plate the cover comes off completely. On the cover the user will notice a rubber strip. This is to help keep the film cartage in place (Gandy 2016).

 

Inside is the film compartment, which as mentioned is fed right to left.

This camera also only has one “…film frame sprocket for frame counting…” (Gandy 2016).

This camera takes 35mm film (see my 200 Colorplus post for more information) and has a negative format of 24 x 36mm (Oliver 2006).

This is a simple but amazing camera and I can see why the company went exclusively into camera manufacturing after this camera. I would recommend this camera over the C2 because it is lighter, but the C2 has the advantage of interchangeable lenses.

But either way this camera is a brilliant addition to any camera collector’s ensemble and arsenal. I like the steampunk/art deco look. But I actually think that the Falcon F did it better.

What do you think? Do you prefer the C2? Do you think that the Argus A looks better than the Falcon? 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:

Argus Collectors Group. Argus "A" Series Cameras. https://www.arguscg.org/reference/a.shtml

Argus Museum. History of Argus. https://www.argusmuseum.org/history-of-argus 

Camera-wiki. Argus A. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Argus_A

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

Danton, M. 2025. Argus A. https://mattsclassiccameras.com/rangefinders-compacts/argus-a/

Gandy, S. 2016. The 2nd Most Important 35 of All Time:  The Made in the USA Argus A. https://cameraquest.com/arg2.htm

Knoppow, R. More on classic lenses. https://www.largeformatphotography.info/classic-experts.html

Mitchell, D. 2008. Ilex Precise Shutter. https://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=ilexprecise

Mike. Argus Model A/A2 manuals. https://butkus.org/chinon/argus/argus_a_a2/argus_a_a2.htm

Oliver, T. 2006. Argus A. https://camerashiz.wordpress.com/argus-a/

Ollinger, J. A Brief History of Argus Cameras. http://jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/histories/history-argus.html