Please consider all cameras made from 1899 to 1999; which is the very best buy under $20?

Question

I am leaning towards the Argus C3 or the Agfa Billy. What are your choices?

Answer 1

In terms of usability I'd say the Argus - it uses 35mm film while the Billy needs 120 film and produces 6x9 negatives which leaves you with 8 shots per roll.

Designwise a Billy Clack would be nice - there are models which used the 4.5x6 cm format but this is in portrait orientation so for a "normal" photo you will have to turn the camera 90 degrees.

If you are considering a folder why not a 6x6 which has 12 pics per roll of 120 film? Something like an Agfa Isolette.

So for easy developing and printing of the pics I'd go for the Argus. For the experimenting the Agfas would be nice as well.

Nevertheless I think if you have one sooner or later the other one will follow ;-) and if it's only to see if it would not have been the better choice in first place.

The large negative format of the Billy will make you thinking about what you photograph because losing one frame is already a lot and two are 25% of the film. So if you haven't used a such a camera before you will have an interesting new approach to photography especially if you come from digi.

Answer 2

Hi there.  Interesting experiment.  I think you should try to find one of the Kodak Brownie cameras.   They are little square cameras from the 50's (maybe 60's) and I have read somewhere they make very interesting images for cameras that are of that age.  Sounds like fun.