Agfa Isolette I – Frogmouth Cottage Photography

Photograph of an Agfa Isolette I camera - a folding medium format camera. The camera is open with the bellows folded out. There are four rolls of 120 roll film stacked at the sides of the camera. The film is a combination of colour and black and white.

The Agfa Isolette I was the baby of the Agfa Isolette range, replacing the Isolette V in about 1952. It is a 120 rollfilm folding camera which takes 12 6cm x 6cm pictures. The Isolette I was made in Germany from about 1952 until at least 1958. My version of this camera is from 1953 and has the vario shutter with settings for B, 1/25, 1.50, 1/200, and T. It has a flash contact and top mount for a flashbulb flash gun and a screw for a cable release. The focal length of the lens is 85mm with a maximum aperture of f4.5. Available exposure aettings are 4.5, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32.

Photograph of an Agfa Isolette I camera - a folding medium format camera. The camera is open with the bellows folded out.

Photograph of an Agfa Isolette I camera - a folding medium format camera. The camera is closed with the bellows folded in. The words "Agfa Isolette" are printed on the front.

I’m uncomfortable carrying a camera around in my hand without a wrist strap. This camera doesn’t come with lugs to to attach a neck or wrist strap. Initially I purchased a pack of stainless steel tripod screws with D-rings and a pack of wrist straps from Amazon. This atleast gave me a safety net if the camera got knocked out of my hand. I wouldn’t risk damaging the bottom of the camera by letting it hang from the tripod screw around my neck or from my wrist through. Then I found a leather hardcase on Etsy from Gregsvintage, which means I can now wear it around my neck – much better. I use Peak Design anchor links to attach it to my favourite Nifty fabric neck strap.

Photo of a folding camera lying on it's back with the lens open. The underside of the camera is visible. a leather wrist strap is attached to the camera with a screw in the tripod socket.

Photo of a folding camera with the lens open (folded out). The camera is sitting in a brown leather half case with a grey fabric neck strap attached to it. A roll of 120 film is lying next to the camera.

Reference guide for using an Agfa Isolette I camers

Exposure and depth of field guide for an Agfa Isolette I

Photo Gallery

Link to camera test: https://www.frogmouthcottagephotography.com/2024/01/08/agfa-isolette-i/

Photo Gallery

The Cameras