Argus C3 Matchmatic |
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Manufactured or assembled in USA from 1958 to (Circa) 1966.
Index of rarity in France: Rare (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 602
See the complete technical specifications
Chronology of cameras Argus
The Argus C2 and C3 cameras have a parallelepiped shape. Their form and weight have earned them the nickname "Brick." They are 35 mm cameras (135 film) with a rangefinder coupled to the focus distance adjustment. The lens is interchangeable, with the standard being the Cintar 3.5/50 mm lens optimized for color. The Micromatic shutter allows speeds from 1/5 to 1/300, plus the B (bulb) mode. The silhouette is distinctive, featuring a notched wheel with a rangefinder window in the middle. Rotating it drives both the lens and rangefinder adjustments through a gear mechanism. For nearly thirty years, the camera saw minimal external changes, with the most noticeable being the lens shape.
The inventor of patent No. 2,298,787, which encompasses the Argus C, is the Belgian Gustave Fassin. The applicant is International Industries Inc, based in Ann Arbor. The filing took place on December 6, 1939, and the publication occurred on October 13, 1942.
On October 20, 1941, Argus filed a patent for a shutter improvement (on the right), with Clinton H. Harris listed as the inventor. The silhouette matches that of the C2/C3.
![](../../argus/images/synchro_flash.png)
The C2, C3, and their derivatives were significant commercial successes in the United States. The longevity of these models was exceptionally remarkable. An attempt to modernize it in 1959 with the Argus C33 didn't gain much traction. The C3, particularly popular in families, even managed to make its way into the world of cinema, in the hands of one of the characters in the Harry Potter saga.
Models and variants :
Years | Special features | ||
C | 1938 | No coupled rangefinder | |
C2 | 1939-41 | No flash synchronization | |
C3 | ![]() |
1941-52 | No Argus nameplate on the front |
C3 | ![]() |
1952-58 | Argus nameplate on the front |
C3 | ![]() |
1958-66 | Lens settings visible from the top of the camera |
C3 Matchmatic | ![]() |
1958-66 | Beige color, delivered with a removable light meter |
Golden Shield | ![]() |
1958- | Special coating, delivered with a removable light meter |
C33 | 1959-61 | Modernization attempt |
This is not a colored variant of the C3 but a distinct model, as it typically always comes with its cell, which fits into the accessory shoe.
Apart from minor differences in presentation, the camera otherwise remains similar to the C3.
The shutter speeds 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 correspond to 1/10, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, and 1/300, and the B (Bulb) setting is adjusted by turning the shutter release. Similarly, the apertures 3 1/2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 correspond to f/3.5, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, and f/16. The cocking lever is on the front.
Two other lenses could be used: a 35mm wide-angle and a 100mm telephoto, both with an aperture of f/4.5.
The C3 Matchmatic (1958-1966), although newer than the C3, is rarer.
![Argus C3 Matchmatic](../../argus/images/matchmatic.jpg )
![Argus C3 Matchmatic](../../argus/images/matchmatic2.jpg)
Interesting links or bibliography :
Sur Camera-wiki.org, suggested by Sylvain Halgand |
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