How to use your Argus C3, The Brick.

[skyline0eyes]

I hope it works out for me. Just found this camera for sale at Goodwill, I hope it works.

[68tankgirl]

Great tutorial , I just purchased the "brick" and was looking at it for an hour before looking on you tube to find you ...thanks

[mirabira112710]

Thank you soooo much! i was trying to figure out how to open the camera to place the film in there!! thank you!!!!

[flingitman]

Very cool video....The only thing I think you forgot was to "Set" the film counter once you loaded the film, kind of keeps track of exposures, made, correct?

[vichiousfishes]

@flingitman Yep. Thanks for catching that. 

[woodyjustice]

how do you get the pictures on the computer?

[vichiousfishes]

@woodyjustice When you get the film developed you tell them you want the film scanned. Just check the box that says "photo CD" on the envelope.

[woodyjustice]

@vichiousfishes k thanks, that helps me out a lot =]

[AlizarineSilvermoon]

Wow thanks for uploading this video! Now I can get one and NOT break it first use XD btw, just askin, what kind of lenses fit in this cam? Is it screw-mount?

[BulldogTribe]

Thank you!



[designerkitten]

whoaaa that is so many features to digest

[PotatoBeenz]

do you pull the film catch before you wind for each photo?

[vichiousfishes]

@PotatoBeenz Yes. I learned that one that hard way the first time I tried to wind. Quickly learned what that little switch is for. = }

[PotatoBeenz]

@vichiousfishes ok so the process is - take picture, flick the catch, then wind until it locks? and you dont hold the catch while winding, right?

[thedarkone2134]

@vichiousfishes Same think happened to me when I picked up an old Kodak.

[pheefur]

Awesome video. very informitive

[wewillbeheros]

can i use any film?

[vichiousfishes]

@wewillbeheros Any 35mm film yes. But keep in mind a few things. 1) the film speed will determine a lot of things concerning your exposures. 2) slide vs print, print is always cheaper and easier to have develop. 3) BW vs color, BW will have to be sent away. Most places still do color print (c-41 processes) in house.

I suggest Kodak Gold 200 for outdoors and Fuji Superia 800 for night or indoors.

[thedarkone2134]

@vichiousfishes Not all BW film needs to be sent away. You can get BW film that can be done via c-41

[gloombastic]

I can't hear you!!

[vichiousfishes]

@gloombastic ISSS THISSSSS BEETTTTERRRRRR!!!!!??????!!!!?­??

[TTULangGenius]

Thanks for this video! I'm planning on buying one in the near future because film cameras were meant to be used and not collect dust on the shelf (And I'm a film camera fiend :D) I knew the Argus was a different creature from all the rest and now I won't waste any shots when I get mine in the near future. Again, thanks!

[Morahman7vnNo2]

Just do what I do, load in the dark.

[xsonz2]

I've collected a few antique cameras over the years, and i just got my Argus C3 Math-matic in the mail today. I loaded it using this video :D

[BernadetteIsAwesome]

Hey, I have the same exact camera. I took some pictures but when I went to get them developed, they were blank. Am I doing something wrong or is my camera broken? And should the counter at the top move by itself? Sorry I'm a newbie at this.

[vichiousfishes]

@BernadetteIsAwesome Did you set the aperture and shutter speed according to the exposure value estimated or metered with a handheld meter with consideration to the speed of the film you loaded?

If not, there's you problem! These cameras are not automatic. You need to set the exposure. Your pictures are blank because they are way too bright or way too dark.

[BernadetteIsAwesome]

Hey, I have the same exact camera. I took some pictures but when I went to get them developed, they were blank. Am I doing something wrong or is my camera broken? ):

[lucassharringtonn]

did you recently sell this on ebay ?

[vichiousfishes]

@lucassharringtonn No, but half of America has these floating back and forth on Ebay and has had them moving around for the past 80 years. There's millions of them out there.

[inaudiblefx323]

I have a camera like this. I'm assuming it's an ArgusC3

It doesn't have the little circle on the back. I don't know if that makes a difference or not.

I took it to a camera shop and asked a guy about it. He told me he couldn't really tell me much, that it probably didn't work and their only purpose nowadays was to look cool and antique. And that they use a different type of film, so I wouldn't be able to use it anyway.

Is this true?

[vichiousfishes]

@inaudiblefx323 I can tell you more if I can see a picture; post a picture or video with your cell phone to photobucket or youtube? Or E-mail me if that doesn't work. Most likely it does work, but that's no guarantee. There is very little that can go wrong with these old cameras. The hardest thing is buying and processing film. But it can be done if you know where to look.

I teach photography and there is something to be said about digital and society (... continued)

[vichiousfishes]

@inaudiblefx323 (...continued) With these old cameras you are 100% responsible for your picture. Aperture, and shutter speed according to the limits of the film speed. Focus and wind. You can pay $8000 for a noise free full frame DSLR, or $15 for an old X-700 film SLR. I think you should do your research and learn to use the camera. I'll help you over Email all I can. When I see people wondering why they're DSLR is giving them bad pictures, I loose some respect for them.

-Rant complete.

[lucassharringtonn]

@inaudiblefx323 i just got myn today it doesnt have the circle either and its very confusing to shoot with i loaded the film fine

[inaudiblefx323]

@lucassharringtonn Seems like the camera is an Argus Standard C3. Basically the same as a C3 but with the little accessory shoe.

jsurp.tripod. com /c3stdmanual/

home.earthlink. net /~jamesahall/argus/C3/index. html

These may help with any questions. No spaces, obviously.

[TheFarzone]

i need help i have a busch old camara do u know like how much i can get for it?

(Busch camcoupled Mayer opticraft. INC

[vichiousfishes]

@TheFarzone some of the best film cameras just don't sell anymore. 35mm is seeing a reemergence with Lomo but Busch made large format as far as I know. If some collector gives you $100 over Ebay I would call that a big payout. If you don't want it I do suggest you sell it. It would be a shame to see one of those get thrown away.

[JENDALL714]

My Argus C3 takes great pictures! The great thing about manual film advance you almost always get a few more extra pictures. You can modernize these cameras very easy to accept electronic flash.

[WerewolfGirlMia]

This video is great, you saved me another trip to the camera shop to hassle the employees there about another ancient camera I'm trying to use! I wish you would have added your pictures though, I would have loved to have seen them! THANKS!!!!! P.s. When is this specific camera from? Like the 30's? 40's?

[vichiousfishes]

@WerewolfGirlMia Thank you. I'm glad I could help. This particular model is about 1952. On my page there is a link to my flickr. If you search "Argus C3" you can come across some of the shots I get with it.

Thanks again!

[teamsleepnine]

someone is selling thhis really cheap to me....can you explain to me regarding the meter counter??

[vichiousfishes]

@teamsleepnine They go for $15-$30 nowadays. For the wider world they are old junk but for photographers it's a fun challenge, one I recommend to all digi-kids.

For the counter, once the film is in you turn the counter clockwise to zero.

[greeenday101]

I realized my great grandfather had one of these from the 40s

you really can learn about anything for free on youtube

thanks

[JENDALL714]

I modified the flash attachment to take an electronic flash. I cut off the flash bulb pan and glued a Bryl Creem cap on top and put a hot shoe on top of that and attached two wires inside to the two prongs, works great!

[farfechjd]

im having so much trouble with the film, i cant put it right argghhh

[filmguy91]

Perfect! this is exactly what I needed. Thank you very much. I saw your link on flickr and thats how I found this.

Quick question: I was wondering if you could do another video about the film counter, I still haven't been able to perfect the use of the film counter dial.

Thanks again!

[vichiousfishes]

I'm glad you liked it.

For the counter; before you load the film in be sure to set the wheel to zero. Then after the film is in it should be set. When you wind the next frame you'll see it go all the way around and settle back at 1, 2 and so on.

I've also had problems with it. I tend to bump it and it might be a few frames off. It'll still give you an idea how many are left anyhow.

[filmguy91]

@vichiousfishes

Thanks again! I can't wait to pick mine up from the repair shop to start using it. the photos are going to look great.

p.s. I'll add you as a contact on flickr.