Jörg Krüger
Agfa Sensor Cameras
Agfa Sensor Cameras
Agfa Silette LK Sensor
Agfa Optima 200 Sensor
Agfa Optima 500 Sensor
Agfa Selectronic Sensor
Agfa Selectronic S Sensor
Agfa started that series in the early 1970ies, the new identifier of all models was the red-orange dot as shutter button, a feature Agfa used successfully for all following cameras. The name "Sensor" refers to that shutter button, the new design should guarantee a very soft and shake-free release.
All models share basically the same body, which includes another characteristic feature: with the film advance lever at the bottom also the exposed film has to be rewound. Furthermore the exposed frames have an extra container in the film chamber, so they are protected when the door is opened accidentally.
Other shared characteristics are a manual focus lens with the minimum focus distance of 1 m, an f-stop range from f/2.8 to f/22 and the lack of a filter thread. All models have an exposure meter, a bright frame viewfinder with parallax marks, a cable release thread (due to the red button it's on the back), a hot shoe, a tripod bush and a frame counter at the bottom, which has to be reset manually.
In the mid 70ies these cameras were replaced by the very compact Optima Sensor Electronic models, which kept some features like the peculiar rewind mechanism.
The models in detail:
The Silette LK is clearly the budget model, fully manual and fully mechanical (no battery required), 3-element 2.8/45 Color-Agnar lens in Parator shutter, unlike the other models the lens barrel is plastic made. Shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/300 s and B, coupled exposure meter with Selenium cell whose needle is visible in the viewer and on top, ISO range from 25 to 400.
Optima 200: 3-element 2.8/42 Color-Apotar lens in Paratic shutter, zone focusing. Like all previous Agfa Optima cameras the Optima 200 has a programmed automatic exposure, in the viewfinder a red/green signal displays sufficient light. Shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/200 s. A Selenium cell is used, so the camera also doesn't require a battery, ISO range (of the variant here) 25 to 160. If a flash is mounted in the hot shoe, the camera uses 1/30 s and switches into flash-matic mode, guide number (m) from 11 to 27.
Optima 500: like the Optima 200, but with a CdS-cell for the exposure meter instead of a Selenium cell, so a 625 PX battery is required. ISO range from 25 to 400, shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/500 s. Furthermore the shutter features a B-setting with the full f-stop range. Afaik the Optima 500 was the only model which was available in black and silver.
Selectronic: 3-element 2.8/45 Color-Apotar lens in Paratronic shutter. Aperture priority automatic exposure mode, the f-stop ring has no click-stops. Both F-stop and shutter speed (1/500 to 1/30 s, symbol for slower speeds) are displayed in the viewfinder. Slowest shutter speed up to 15 s. CdS-cell (behind the right one of the two eyes), two 625 PX batteries are required, ISO range from 25 to 400. Behind the left eye is a light bulb, it is lit when the shutter is open, it also indicates full batteries when the test button is pressed.
Self-timer, no B-setting, no flash-matic mode.
Price about DM 350,-
Selectronic S, the top model. Like the Selectronic, but with 4-element 2.8/45 Color-Solinar lens and rangefinder.
Price about DM 450,-
Agfa Sensor Cameras
Agfa Sensor Cameras
Agfa Silette LK Sensor
Agfa Optima 200 Sensor
Agfa Optima 500 Sensor
Agfa Selectronic Sensor
Agfa Selectronic S Sensor
Agfa started that series in the early 1970ies, the new identifier of all models was the red-orange dot as shutter button, a feature Agfa used successfully for all following cameras. The name "Sensor" refers to that shutter button, the new design should guarantee a very soft and shake-free release.
All models share basically the same body, which includes another characteristic feature: with the film advance lever at the bottom also the exposed film has to be rewound. Furthermore the exposed frames have an extra container in the film chamber, so they are protected when the door is opened accidentally.
Other shared characteristics are a manual focus lens with the minimum focus distance of 1 m, an f-stop range from f/2.8 to f/22 and the lack of a filter thread. All models have an exposure meter, a bright frame viewfinder with parallax marks, a cable release thread (due to the red button it's on the back), a hot shoe, a tripod bush and a frame counter at the bottom, which has to be reset manually.
In the mid 70ies these cameras were replaced by the very compact Optima Sensor Electronic models, which kept some features like the peculiar rewind mechanism.
The models in detail:
The Silette LK is clearly the budget model, fully manual and fully mechanical (no battery required), 3-element 2.8/45 Color-Agnar lens in Parator shutter, unlike the other models the lens barrel is plastic made. Shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/300 s and B, coupled exposure meter with Selenium cell whose needle is visible in the viewer and on top, ISO range from 25 to 400.
Optima 200: 3-element 2.8/42 Color-Apotar lens in Paratic shutter, zone focusing. Like all previous Agfa Optima cameras the Optima 200 has a programmed automatic exposure, in the viewfinder a red/green signal displays sufficient light. Shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/200 s. A Selenium cell is used, so the camera also doesn't require a battery, ISO range (of the variant here) 25 to 160. If a flash is mounted in the hot shoe, the camera uses 1/30 s and switches into flash-matic mode, guide number (m) from 11 to 27.
Optima 500: like the Optima 200, but with a CdS-cell for the exposure meter instead of a Selenium cell, so a 625 PX battery is required. ISO range from 25 to 400, shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/500 s. Furthermore the shutter features a B-setting with the full f-stop range. Afaik the Optima 500 was the only model which was available in black and silver.
Selectronic: 3-element 2.8/45 Color-Apotar lens in Paratronic shutter. Aperture priority automatic exposure mode, the f-stop ring has no click-stops. Both F-stop and shutter speed (1/500 to 1/30 s, symbol for slower speeds) are displayed in the viewfinder. Slowest shutter speed up to 15 s. CdS-cell (behind the right one of the two eyes), two 625 PX batteries are required, ISO range from 25 to 400. Behind the left eye is a light bulb, it is lit when the shutter is open, it also indicates full batteries when the test button is pressed.
Self-timer, no B-setting, no flash-matic mode.
Price about DM 350,-
Selectronic S, the top model. Like the Selectronic, but with 4-element 2.8/45 Color-Solinar lens and rangefinder.
Price about DM 450,-