Argus C-3

Download Argus C-3 Manual

When I was a kid I became aware that my Dad spent more time taking pictures than the other parents with Brownie's and later, Instamatics.  He took slides and the pictures were always better.  The camera he used, an Argus C-3 really triggered my imagination and probably was a big factor in my developing interest in photography.

At the time Dad had just the camera, a handful of small EdnaLite filters and a hood with holder, an iris diaphragm control handle to ease using the f-stop ring, and a leather case for the camera.

I never saw him use the hood and filters, and I installed the iris diaphragm control handle when I was a kid.

 

Here is a scan of an image he made when he was in the service.  I scanned the Kodachrome print he had kept in his wallet for almost forty years (that's right 40 years!).  That's why it's all scratched up and dirty.

Many years later Dad gave me the camera and accessories.  I discovered that there were interchangeable lenses so I purchased them to round out the set. 

Lenses

Argus Sandmar Wide Angle 35mm f/4.5	Argus Cintar 50mm f/3.5	Tele-Sandmar 100mm f/4.5	Soligor 135mm f/4.5

Argus C3 Lens Removal and Installation

I found lens removal to be somewhat troublesome as compared to the bayonet mount of the Leica M3, and even compared to the Pentax screwmount.  This is because the lens must be coupled to the rangefinder using a gear that goes between.  The removal is not too bad though the small pieces (gear and retainer) must not be misplaced.

First the gear retainer is unscrewed while the lens is set to 3-feet. (It's set to 5-feet in this photo, which is fine too.  This allows the removal of the gear retainer without interference from the lens housing.  Some C3 retainers are smaller and should be removable with the lens set on any distance setting.)

Next the gear is removed from between the lens and rangefinder.

Next the lens is simply unscrewed.

Installing the lens is the reverse procedure with the lens focus distance matched to the rangefinder but...

The 50mm lens has no markings.  For that lens, I retract the lens all the way back into its housing (infinity) after screwing it back on the camera.  I set the rangefinder to infinity, then carefully drop the gear between lens and rangefinder wheel, assuring the last gear on the lens engages the gear with the rangefinder set to infinity. 

Then I carefully adjust the rangefinder to make the lens extend, allowing me to install the gear cover without having it interfere with the lens housing.