The Isolette was the “bread and butter” camera for Agfa for the longest time. It features a folding bellow and the lens can be retracted into the camera body for easy carrying. It is a 6X6cm format 120 film camera. Years ago I acquired an Agfa Isolette II, produced c1950-c1960 as a free gift, everything seemed working though. The most noticable problem is light leaking at every corner of the aging bellow which I had been ready to replace by making a new one by myself. Then after the first film trial all photos were out of focus did I realize that the lens barrel was seized and didn't move when turned the focus ring -- reason being the chemical reaction between the lubricating grease and the brass lens barrel after over half a century. Upon fixing all the stuffs with great passion I realized that I am rather a craftsman, not artist. Even my photographic works reflect more of the craftsman spirit side, over focusing on details, lacking overall aesthetic beauty. Anyway it is what it is.
In the video you see the camera with a 120 film roll, the film is Kodak TMAX 400 professional black/white film，it is another money blowing hobby, 6X6 format only produces 12 shots for one roll. Now most time this babie is sitting there collecting dust or being photographic prop once in a while.
1. 85mm lens on a 6x6 camera is 50mm equivent of a 35mm camera, so called standard lens
2. Bellow material, made of two lays of opaque textile
3. lens fixing highlights.
4. After fixing the focus mechanism, need focus calibration, sounds like something mysterious. Can be done with a simple in house DIY. A digital camera mounted with a telephoto lens and the Agfa Isolette , lens to lens head on; set the focus point of the digital camera to infinity (∞) or lazy eight if you prefer; open the back cover of Agfa and put a picture on the film plan; turn the focus ring of Agfa until the best focused photo is achieved on the digital camera meaning your Agfa is also set at infinity (∞) , align the ∞ on the focus ring to the index pointer and lock the focus ring. I understand it must be very confusing for the photographic glossaries. Here is the Chinese
调焦环能动了，但与刻度还必须对应上，镜头焦点还要校准。大概就像下面这种设置，两个相机头对头，数码相机，配个长焦镜头，焦距越长越好. 这只是用眼睛看着校准，焦距越长景深越浅吗，结果会越精确。把数码相机焦点调到无穷远，在Agfa的胶卷平面上放一张图片，转动Agfa的调焦环，当数码相机拍出来的照片达到最清晰的时候，Agfa 焦点就是调到了无穷远，然后把调焦刻度盘的无穷远位置对准指针，锁死刻度盘。
