Milsurp After Hours

Not too long ago I was thinking about camera adventure. I saw an Argus 40 from over half a century ago on Ebay. It was an almost TLR camera made in the USA. What's almost about it is that you don't focus using the view you get through the viewing screen while turning a knob to bring the scene into focus. You set the distance on top of the taking lens. You pick one of several shutter speeds from 25 to 150 plus B. And you pick your depth of field by the aperture 4.5 to 22. I put in a bid of $5 and won.

The camera came and I did the dark bag shuffle to replace the film on a 120 spindle to a 620 spindle and I was all set.

The only noticeable thing wrong with the camera is that there is a spring closure latch that has broke off. But... the camera back stays securely closed without it.


I shot a roll of TMAX and then developed it. Only one shot didn't come out. I had tried taking a photo in the house and guessed at a 25 shutter speed with a 4.5 aperture. The film exposure was blank so I think maybe there was a shutter malfunction. But the rest came out. Even one in the house with no flash. And... the one in the house was shooting into a bright window which was not a good idea in itself.

All things considered a worthwhile adventure. However, I have others that shoot this size film that I like better as actual cameras.

Here's a page that tells about the camera.
http://www.deansphotographica.com/deans ... gus40.html

You'r going to have more cameras than guns soon

They are a lot cheaper than guns and don't take up much space. And....you can shoot them nearly anywhere without getting arrested.

Somebody was talking about an Argus 75 on a facebook camera page. The 40 looked just like the 75 but was more sophisticated with a range of shutter speeds and apertures, as I probably already said in this string. So yesterday I got out my Argus 40 and loaded it with some Fomapan B&W film and stopped at the park on my way to the grocery store. The Fomapan developed turning the chemicals blue and leaving a slight haze on the negatives. Someone I mentioned this to said that's normal for the Czech film. In any case, the images came out ok for a 1950 model box camera that you can't focus like a TLR and with no light meter to help match up shutter speed to aperture. And I wasn't using a tripod.