Ad for the Argus C3 in “The Saturday Evening Post,” June 20, 1953.
The Argus C3, nicknamed "the Brick" due to its boxy shape, size, and weight, was special for making 35mm photography accessible to the masses. With its ruggedness, affordability, and surprisingly advanced features for its price, like interchangeable lenses and a coupled rangefinder, all built with a distinctive, industrial Bakelite body that made it nearly indestructible, the camera was a workhorse for amateur photographers learning the craft. It democratized 35mm photography, a format previously dominated by expensive European cameras like Leica, by offering a complete system (body, lenses, accessories) at a working-class price. (Although $69.50 in 1953 had the same buying power as $837.24 today.)
Mass-produced in the U.S. from 1939 to 1966, Argus C3 sold over 2 million units, making it one of the most popular American cameras in history. With German imports scarce after WWII, the C3 filled a huge gap, becoming the camera many soldiers and families bought to capture their lives.
[Source: Google AI]
Ad for the Argus C3 in “The Saturday Evening Post,” June 20, 1953.
The Argus C3, nicknamed "the Brick" due to its boxy shape, size, and weight, was special for making 35mm photography accessible to the masses. With its ruggedness, affordability, and surprisingly advanced features for its price, like interchangeable lenses and a coupled rangefinder, all built with a distinctive, industrial Bakelite body that made it nearly indestructible, the camera was a workhorse for amateur photographers learning the craft. It democratized 35mm photography, a format previously dominated by expensive European cameras like Leica, by offering a complete system (body, lenses, accessories) at a working-class price. (Although $69.50 in 1953 had the same buying power as $837.24 today.)
Mass-produced in the U.S. from 1939 to 1966, Argus C3 sold over 2 million units, making it one of the most popular American cameras in history. With German imports scarce after WWII, the C3 filled a huge gap, becoming the camera many soldiers and families bought to capture their lives.
[Source: Google AI]