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This image is protected by copyright, no use of this image shall be granted without the written permission from Yaman Ibrahim.
Format: Photographic print.
Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication.
Part Of: Powerhouse Museum Collection
General information about the Powerhouse Museum Collection is available at www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database
Persistent URL: www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=389366
Acquisition credit line: Gift of Dorothy Stuckey, 1987
1956-7 Agfa Isola II.
Agfa made 2 models, the Isola I says "Agfa Isola I" below the lens while the Isola II only says "Agfa Isola" and is printed above the lens. The Isola II is the camera featured here.
I really like this camera. It's got a multi-coated Agfa Agnar triplet lens that is fairly sharp, but still soft on the edges. I consider this camera to be a "folding type" though it's not like most folders. The lens pops out from the camera body with a little twist and has a light tight plastic tube instead of a bellows.
Sometimes the Isola is referred to as a toy camera similar to a Diana or Holga, but I find it to be much nicer and easier to load. It is mostly plastic, but is nicely built with no light leaks or having to tape it up each time you use it. The Isola II has 3 shutter speeds (1/100, 1/30 + bulb) and 2 f-stops (6.3 & 11). Shoots 12 6x6 images on 120 film. It accepts 30mm push-on filters. I screwed a 31.5-46mm step-up ring to an Ednalite push-on ring. This allows me to use 46mm screw-in filters and a plastic lens hood from an old VHS video camera.
You can often find these cameras on eBay for under $25.00. Since these cameras are 55+ years old, they almost always need to have the lenses disassembled to clean dried-up grease from the focus threads. This can be done yourself as there are lot's of websites with great illustrations and instructions.