Agfa Isola I

The Agfa Isola I is a roll film camera. It was built between 1957 and 1962 in Munich by the Agfa Camerawerk.

The Agfa Isola I is, from today’s point of view, a simple camera with a transmitted light viewfinder. It comes with a fixed meniscus lens. This has a focal length of 72.5 mm and a maximum aperture of f/11. Focusing is manual in three steps, 1.5 m to 2.5 m, 2.5 m to 5 m, 5 m to infinity.

Since the camera is completely mechanical, no batteries are needed. On the other hand, the Agfa Isola I doesn’t have an exposure meter or automatic exposure control, so the photographer has to set everything himself. There isn’t much to do, though; the aperture can only be changed between sunny and cloudy.

The shutter also leaves the choice between only two options, 1/35 s and Bulb (the shutter remains open as long as the shutter button is held down). When using Bulb mode, it is advisable to mount the camera on a tripod.

The Agfa Isola I can also be used with an external flash. For this purpose, the medium format camera has a PC Flash socket. The hot shoe only serves as an attachment for the flash and cannot fire the flash.

Films for the Agfa Isola I

The Agfa Isola I needs photographic films to take pictures. More precisely, medium format films are needed. There are still some producers for this film format. A color film for the medium format camera would be the Lomography Color Negative 100 120*. A possible film for black and white images is the Kodak T-Max 400*.

Value of the camera

Since the photo camera is no longer manufactured new, nowadays it is only possible to buy it used. When buying a used camera, several factors play a role that can influence the price. The condition of the camera is a decisive factor. If the camera is described as “like new” or “very good”, it is usually more expensive than a camera that is classified as “used” or “acceptable”.

The scope of delivery of the camera can also influence the price. A camera that comes with accessories such as lenses, flashes, or a carrying case is usually more expensive than a camera that is sold with only the standard accessories. In addition, the age of the camera can also affect the price. Older cameras that are in good condition and may have some rarity may sell for higher prices than cameras that are in similar condition but newer.