The 80+ Year Old Argus A3 + Photos
Can the 80+ year old Argus A3 camera still take photos? And why haven’t we heard more about this beautiful camera?
Whether you’re a photographer or not, there is a certain draw to the cameras of old. Perhaps it’s our intuitive appreciation of the craftsmanship of these seemingly timeless devices, or maybe it’s that our forbearers actually understood style in a way that is lost on current generations.
When I set eyes on this Argus A3 in an Atlanta antique store, it was the first time I had seen one and those familiar feelings of nostalgia and admiration came over me. Plus, it was only $45, so regardless of whether or not it worked, it was definitely coming home with me.
A Bit of History on the Argus A3
The Argus A3 was produced in Ann Arbor, Michigan from 1940-1942. That’s right, it’s a USA made camera! The “C” line of Argus cameras would go on to be used in WWII, while the A3 would have a relatively short life span as a consumer camera. It was designed to be easy to use — which says a lot about the technical capabilities of your average consumer photographer back in the day.
However, as rangefinders came on the scene and camera technology rapidly improved, the A3 quickly became irrelevant.
Where Are the Vintage Photos of the Argus A3?
Unlike the Argus C3, also known as “The Brick”, which was used heavily in WWII and therefore we have a number of historic pictures taken with it, vintage photos taken with the Argus A3 are hard to find. You can see some modern pictures from Lomography here, which are cool but not quite the same as photos from the era of the camera itself.
The photos are likely out there, sitting in a shoebox waiting to be scanned for the internet to enjoy. But as of now, there is a severe lack of photos taken with this camera…which made me all the more eager to see what it could do.
Minor Repairs
There were actually 2 of these cameras in the antique store. This was the best looking one so it’s the one I purchased. The second one had a bit of a rattle to it, which I now know is the take-up spool. Since my camera was missing the take-up spool I had to purchased another Argus A3 from eBay. That actually worked out for the best. The eBay camera was in bad shape, but I was able to practice taking it apart and cleaning the lens without fear of hurting my A3.
Along with the take-up spoon, the lens definitely needed a deep cleaning. This camera is actually quite serviceable. The front lens unscrews and can be cleaned inside and out.
The exposure calculator dial on the back was stuck. Nothing a bit of WD-40 couldn’t fix.
With the camera in good shape, it was time to take some photos.
The only problem was…I didn’t know how.
Thankfully, there are at least 2 videos on YouTube with an overview of the camera functions. Here is one of them.
Selecting the Right Film
When the Argus A3 came out, film speeds were much lower than they are now. ISO 10-25 (called ASA back then) where pretty common. ISO 50 would have been considered a medium-speed film while ISO 100 or higher would have been very fast.
Most film photographers these days use ISO 100 as the starting point and go up from there. While it’s not absolutely necessary to use a low-ISO film for the Argus A3, it should be noted that the maximum shutter speed on the camera is 150. So, if I used a 400 ISO film on a sunny day, I might have some overexposure unless I kept the aperture at f/8 or higher.
For my initial shots, I decided to go with Kodak Ektar 100. If I had a lower ISO film I likely would have used that. I do plan on shooting again with a black and white film.
The Argus A3 Photos on Kodak Ektar 100
Conclusion and my Favorite Shots
Just in case you are wondering, yes, these are edited in Lightroom. I still edit most of my photos, even film. That being said, the soft and dreamlike characteristics of the photos are all from the camera itself. My guess is that another A3 would not create photos quite like this. My A3 is missing a small support inside the lens, so, when it’s extended it has a bit of a tilt shift effect happening, as well as some unique light reflections taking place inside the lens itself.
It will never take the perfect photo — but who wants that from a completely manual film camera?
I want the character; all of the unique bits that surprise us and make us look more closely.
My Favorite Shots
The shots below are my favs, but for different reasons.
The boy running on the beach was a great capture. I actually took 3 photos of him, which is impressive given the manual nature of the camera. But this is the one that I really hoped I had captured and it turned out pretty nice. His red striped shirt and blue shorts actually remind me of a kid from the 1940s. The pic isn’t the sharpest, but that’s not what this camera is about. It’s about the memory of the moment and the light leaks and flares in all the unexpectedly right spots.
Boy running on the beach. Jacksonville Beach, FL Feb. 2024 | Argus A3 Kodak Ektar 100
Next up is this seaside gem. Everything great about this photo has nothing to do with me. The camera just decided to throw in some kind of light magic on this one. I love it!
Jacksonville Beach, FL Feb. 2024 | Argus A3 Kodak Ektar 100
Final Thoughts
The Argus A3 is a beautiful though relatively unknown camera. I am fortunate to own an extremely well-preserved one that still works. Film photographers will often say that film causes you to slow down and be intentional about your photography. That’s never more true than with a fully manual camera like this one.
If you can appreciate the character that these old cameras create — and I certainly do — then the next time you see a good-looking vintage camera at an antique store, pick it up, clean it up, load some film in it and take photos like your great-grandparents did.