. This one has only one shutter speed, 'instant', about 1/60. Two viewfinders -
one for portrait and one for landscape, to change formats you just
rotate the box in your hands. It doesn't get much simpler than that!
The single-element lens seems to be somewhat of a wide angle (compared
to, say a TLR), making it ideal for architectural shots or landscapes.
This camera says 'made in USA' inside the door so I assume it was
made in Binghamton, NY, after AGFA took over Ansco and dropped the
Ansco name altogether (they were calling themselves Agfa-Ansco for a
while). It has many design similarities to the earlier and more
sophisticated Shur Shot.
It also has a sticker that says 'use Agfa B2 Plenachrome' which I
assume was color film, and there's no reason I can see not to use color
film in this camera, I just haven't. In the Ansco page linked below,
color film was used with very nice results.
Note - Agfa-Ansco made box cameras in both D6 (116) and B2 (120)
format, and it's hard to tell the difference unless you see it say D6
or B2 somewhere on the camera. You can almost tell by the proportions
though...the D6 models are taller to accommodate the wider aspect ratio
of 6.5 x 11, which looks closer to the aspect ratio of a 35mm neg than
the more square B2 models whose aspect ratio is 6x9.
Tips & Tricks
Special note - this shutter is not spring-return (like on the Shur Shot),
but clicks down for one exposure, then takes another when you click the
lever back up. Use a slow film like Plus-X or Ilford HP4 and shoot in
daylight. Unless you're trying to get candids, that is - I haven't
tried to shoot fast film and pull it back, but that might work. 125 ASA
in daylight seems to be about right on this camera.
IN FACT, you wouldn't think it, but a box camera makes a perfect
stealth candid camera - not only is the shutter almost completely
silent, people have no idea what it is that you're holding. They think
it's a radio or something and pay it little attention. You can even
sight it sideways for more mystery.
This is strictly a handheld camera; there is no tripod mount, no
strap lugs, just a cute little handle on top, and takes a little
practice to hold steady (you're supposed to brace it against your body
and hold your breath when releasing the shutter). This is the only
major practical drawback in my opinion - what do you do with it when
you're not using it? There's no everready case, no shoulder strap,
you're pretty much obligated to handhold the thing for the duration. I
have seen some with leather cases (they look like a purse, that's
another story), but they tend to be all-enclosing and are essentially
Neverready cases.
Loading film: don't forget that you need to pull out the film wind
knob before you can get the 'cone' out. You'll know which way the cone
goes by the extra hole for the winder.
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