Optima Ia - Uncategorized AGFA - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Compact 35mm Film Camera
Brand	AGFA
Model	Optima Ia
Lens	AGFA Color 1:2.8/45 (45mm f/2.8)
Film Format	35mm (135) cartridges
Exposure Control	Fully automatic with manual override for flash and time exposures
Shutter Speed Range	Automatic from 1/30 sec to 1/300 sec (estimated)
Film Speed Range	11–25 DIN / 10–250 ASA
Focusing	Symbol-based zones (close-up, group, landscape) plus scale; minimum 3.5 ft (1 m)
Viewfinder	Bright frame with parallax correction lines for close-ups
Flash Connection	Accessory shoe with foot contact; electronic flash via adapter (type 6793)
Dimensions	Approx. 120 x 80 x 60 mm (4.7 x 3.1 x 2.4 in)
Weight	Approx. 350 g (12.3 oz)
Power Source	None (mechanical operation, no battery)
Film Transport	Rapid lever advance, manual rewind with crank
Filter Thread	35.5 mm screw mount
Construction	Metal body with plastic components
Special Features	Built-in selenium exposure meter, pressure-point lock, automatic zone focusing
Care & Cleaning	Clean lens with soft brush or cloth; store in dry, dust-free place
Safety Notes	Do not force film transport; avoid direct sunlight when loading
Spare Parts & Repairability	Serviceable by authorized AGFA repair centers; some parts may still be available
General Information	Manufactured by AGFA-GEVAERT, Munich, Germany

Frequently Asked Questions - Optima Ia AGFA

How do I load film into the AGFA Optima Ia?

Open the camera back by pressing the catch to 'open'. Insert the cassette so the hole engages with the rewind crank. Thread the film leader into the slit of the winding spool, ensuring the spool lug engages the second perforation. Turn the spool to tighten the film, then close the back. Make two blank exposures before taking pictures.

What does the green signal in the viewfinder mean?

The green signal indicates sufficient light for a correct exposure. It appears when you press the release lever to the first pressure point. If the signal stays red, there is not enough light. Use a flash or switch to manual mode.

How do I use the camera with a flash?

Slide a flashgun with foot contact (e.g., Agfa Isi M) into the accessory shoe. Disconnect the automatic mechanism by turning the rear milled ring to the flash scale (12 symbol). The correct aperture is obtained from the flash bulb package or guide number. For electronic flash, use adapter type 6793.

How do I rewind the film after exposure?

After the last exposure, slide the locking key (R) on the rear top plate in the direction of the arrow. Raise and fold out the rewind crank. Turn the crank in the direction of the arrow until it turns much more easily, indicating the film is rewound. Open the camera back and remove the cassette.

What is the close-up capability of the Optima Ia?

The standard minimum focusing distance is 3.5 ft (1 m). For close-ups from 16 to 28 inches (40–70 cm), you need the optional Natarix close-up lens (type 6713). The automatic mechanism still works, but depth of field cannot be controlled manually.

Can I use filters with this camera?

Yes, screw-on filters with a 35.5 mm thread are available for black-and-white and color films. For black-and-white, use light yellow, medium yellow, or yellow-green filters and reduce the film speed setting. For color, a UV filter or Agfa Color Filter R 1.5 can be used without adjustment.

How do I set the film speed?

Turn the milled disc on the top plate with a coin until the triangle aligns with the appropriate DIN or ASA number. For most films, use the setting on the package. For specific conditions (e.g., overcast sky), you may reduce the setting by 2–4 DIN.

Why is the rapid transport lever stuck?

The camera has a lock to prevent double exposures. If the lever does not move, press the release lever first. If it still stuck, ensure the film counter is not at zero and the locking key for rewinding is not engaged. If problem persists, check if the film is wound correctly.

How should I store the Optima Ia when not in use?

Store the camera in a dry, dust-free place, preferably in a protective case. Avoid extreme temperatures and high humidity. Keep the lens cap on to protect the lens. Remove the film if the camera will not be used for a long period.

What should I do if the green signal does not appear?

If the green signal stays red at the pressure point, the light is too low for automatic exposure. You can use a flash or switch to manual mode (turn the ring to the flash scale or 'B' setting). Alternatively, adjust the film speed setting to a lower value to force a larger aperture.

USER MANUAL Optima Ia AGFA

All rights reserved.

AGFA-GEVAERT · CAMERA-WERK · MÜNCHEN

4795 engl. - 1167

Type 2635

Printed in Germany

Good looking and handy, those are the outer characteristics of your

OPTIMAIα

m = 311

Press the button—

green signal—

a perfect picture

that is the operational sequence which provides proof of the efficiency of your new fully automatic Agfa camera.

Three quickly performed operations are sufficient to achieve wonderful photographs:

1. Set the required focusing symbol.
2. Line up the subject—press down release lever to pressure point.
3. Green signal in viewfinder—press release lever right down.

Close-up of a metallic electronic component with labeled section A, against a purple background (no readable text or symbols)

Close-up of a white triangular object with a yellow arrow pointing downward, against a dark background (no text or symbols)

Close-up of a metallic object with a yellow arrow pointing downward, against a dark textured background (no visible text or symbols)

But you should know something more about your new camera and we therefore suggest that you read through the following pages carefully and then you will soon be an expert.

And so AGFA wishes you lots of fun with your Optima I a.

1

2

8

Close-up of hands holding a smartphone with a black cover and a white arrow pointing to the screen (no visible text or symbols)

A

Illustration of hands installing or adjusting a computer motherboard with a clip (no text or symbols visible)

B

Close-up of hands holding a smartphone with a small inset showing a device (no visible text or symbols)

C

The camera can be loaded in day-light, however, not in direct sunlight but using body shadow.

A First open the camera back by pressing the catch to "open". Then slide off the back as illustrated.
B Insert the cassette so that its hole engages with the rewind crank. It is advisable to push the locking

2

key (R) in the direction of the small arrow, so that the transport wheel can be moved freely (see arrow in fig. C).
C Turn the spool by its milled disc until one of the two slits and its small lug are uppermost (see fig. F). Draw out film from the cassette to the winding spool, holding the cassette with the other hand.

Close-up of hands holding a device with an arrow pointing to a component (no visible text or symbols)

D

Close-up of hands holding a smartphone with a white arrow pointing to the screen (no visible text or symbols)

E

D/ Insert the leading end of the film in the slit of the winding spool so that the lug engages in the second film perforation (see fig. F). Now turn the winding spool until the film is taut and the teeth of the transport wheel engage cleanly in the film perforations.
E When about 13 rd inch (1 cm.) full width of the film projects from the cassette, close the camera by replacing the back (catch to "open") in the groove at an oblique angle, slide it close to the top part of the camera and then press down slightly. Continue pressure on the base plate, slide the back right home and set the catch to "lock".

. Inserting the film is so easy

F

3

Film counter

On the top plate alongside the rapid transport lever there is the film counter. It counts backwards and shows you the number of exposures still left on the film. On its dial there are three triangular marks, one each before the numbers 36, 20 and 12. According to the length of the film loaded the appropriate triangle should be set against the fixed mark. This is done by turning the small milled wheel beneath the counter dial with your finger, but only in the direction of the arrow.

Close-up of hands holding a vintage camera against a yellow background (no visible text or symbols)

When loading the camera, the start of the film is wasted by exposure to light and so you must first make two blank exposures before starting to photograph.

Film transport

Operate the rapid transport lever with your thumb, swing it forward as far as it will go and let it return.

Close-up of hands holding a vintage camera against a yellow background (no visible text or symbols)

Then press down the magic release lever as far as possible. Repeat this

procedure—swivel the rapid transport lever round to the stop and operate release lever—until the number 36, 20 or 12 is opposite the fixed mark, according to the length of the film.

If the rapid transport lever will not move, the release lever will first have to be pressed. The release and film transport mechanism are fitted with a lock to avoid double and blank exposures.

Should you inadvertently release the rapid transport lever too soon, it returns to its starting position and must then be pushed forward again as far as possible.

Note! The disc of the rewind crank usually rotates as the film is transported. Care must therefore be taken to ensure free movement.

Your camera is now ready for use.

Wait

You must first set the speed of the film on your camera in order to be sure of correctly exposed photographs. The milled disc can be turned in both directions and should be set

by means of a coin until the triangle is in line with the appropriate DIN or ASA number.

Fully automatic photography is possible with the Agfa Optima I a using all types of film from 11 to 25 DIN or 10 to 250 ASA.

Focusing

Three symbols facilitate snapshot setting. Depending on the subject, you should set the black index mark to one of the three symbols.

If necessary, of course, you can set the triangular mark to any position between two symbols.

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Average subject distance

Close-ups 6 ft. (1.80 m.)

There is no need to set the focusing symbols absolutely exactly because under reasonably good lighting conditions the automatic lens stop and shutter speed control increases the effective focusing range to a much greater extent than indicated by the figures given here.

If you wish to approach closer to your subject turn the lens mount until the 3½ ft. (1 m.) setting is in line with the black mark.

Three-panel illustration of a person adjusting a camera, shown in different angles (no text or symbols)

View your subject ...

When photographing it is important to hold the camera steady. You should therefore take your Optima I a in both hands and brace your arms against your body. When you look through the viewfinder you will see a luminous frame which surrounds the subject and shows you the exact picture area. For close-ups (3½ ft./1 m), the two small lines in the upper third of the viewfinder form the upper or side limits of the picture area. The adjacent illustrations show you the correct position for taking vertical or horizontal photographs.

Note Make sure that the letter A is visible in the small upper window (see also first cover page). Otherwise turn the large milled ring until the letter A appears in the window, thus ensuring that the camera operates fully automatically.

To enable the built-in exposure meter to adapt itself to the prevailing lighting conditions, the Optima Ia should be held absolutely steady for about 1 second when lining up the subject.—Only then ...

Abstract geometric pattern with concentric circles, diagonal lines, and a yellow triangle on black background (no text or symbols)

1. Press down magic release lever to pressure point.
2. When green signal appears, "all clear" for the exposure.
3. Then press down the magic release lever as far as pos-

Black-and-white photo of a child interacting with a vehicle, surrounded by foliage (no visible text or symbols)

Abstract geometric design with concentric circles, a yellow warning triangle, and grid pattern (no text or symbols)

sible without changing the position of the camera.

1. If the signal stays red, stop—there is not enough light, remove your finger from the release lever.

Black-and-white photo of a child in a car, viewed through a window frame (no visible text or symbols)

Without the automatic mechanism

If the signal stays red on reaching the pressure point this means that there is not enough light. In this case you can use a flashgun as follows:

Disconnect the automatic mechanism. Turn the rear milled ring to the flash scale ( 12 ), the lens stop will then appear in the small window. The correct lens stop settings can be obtained from the instructions printed on the flash bulb package (note film speed).

With the Optima I a flashgun with a foot contact should be used (e.g. Agfa Isi M or Agfa Tully M). The contact with the camera shutter is made by simply sliding the flashgun into the accessory shoe (see main illustration 6).

When connecting an electronic flash-gun with cable, the use of the Agfa adapter, type 6793, will be necessary. The lens stop can be calculated from the guide number of the flashgun, e.g. guide number 96 divided by a distance of 12 feet = aperture f/8. When the automatic mechanism is disconnected the red or green signal, although visible in the viewfinder, should be disregarded.

Time exposures

By these are meant longer exposure times from 12 to several seconds which are used for motionless objects such as reproductions of pictures, documents, postage stamps or for night photography. Turn the automatic mechanism ring to B and set the window opposite the required lens stop (e.g. f/11 in the illustration).

The shutter will then stay open as long as the release lever is depressed. The use of a tripod and cable release is indispensable due to the risk of camera shake. The cable release socket is on the top of the camera.

We repeat:

When the automatic mechanism is disconnected the red or green signal, although visible in the viewfinder, should be disregarded.

Do not forget that, in order to make subsequent exposures automatically, the letter A must be reset in the window.

Close-up of hands holding a vintage camera with adjustment knobs and a scroll wheel (no visible text or symbols)

Rewinding the film

After the last exposure, the counter will indicate one dash before zero and the rapid transport lever cannot usually be moved. The film now has to be rewound into its light-tight cassette by means of the rewind crank.

First slide the locking key on the rear of the top plate of the camera in the direction of the arrow. Then raise the crank with your fingernail and fold out.

Close-up of hands holding a vintage-style radio device against a yellow background (no visible text or symbols)

Now turn the crank in the direction of the arrow. When the rewind crank turns much more easily, rewinding is complete and you can then open the camera. This is done by moving the catch on the base of the camera to "open" and then removing the camera

back. Put the cassette in its light-tight packing and mark it as exposed.

When inserting a new film, the locking key automatically returns to its original position.

Film Tips

Before loading your camera with film as described on pages 2 and 3 here are a few suggestions to help you in choosing the right film.

First of all there are Agfa Isopan F or Perutz 17. They have fine grain and good contour sharpness.

For sports photography the high-speed Agfa Isopan ISS or Perutz 21 are the right films.

Agfacolor films open up the world of colour to you. For more than 30 years these films have been great favourites due to their natural reproduction of pastel tints and bright colours alike. Their high speed has also made colour snapshots a reality.

For sharp, brilliant, realistic colour transparencies in daylight:

Agfacolor Reversal Film CT 18, or Perutz C 18.

For colour prints:

Agfacolor Negative Film CN 17 Universal or CN 17 Special.

From your mounted transparencies you can now have CT colour prints made on paper.

Filters

There is a variety of filters for black and white film available for use with the Agfa Optima Ia in screw mounts S of 35.5 mm. diam. As soon as a filter is used on the camera you will have to reduce the setting on the film speed scale accordingly.

Filters for your Optima I a for black and white photography

Reduce DIN

scale setting by

light yellow

medium yellow

yellow-green

1)

2} DIN

UV filter (ultra-violet)

no change

for special photo-

graphs with colour reversol film

Agfa Color Filter R 1.5

no change

Exposure hints

Where clear detail is required in photographs taken against the light, it is advisable to set the automatic mechanism to a film speed of about 3 DIN or its ASA equivalent less than that marked on the film package.

When photographing with reversal film, such as Agfacolor CT18, with an overcast sky, the setting on the DIN/ASA disc should be reduced by 2 DIN, in dull weather even by 3-4 DIN, e.g. instead of 18 DIN/50 ASA, 16 DIN/32 ASA or 14 DIN/20 ASA should be set. Do not forget to re-set the original film speed after the exposure has been made.

When a subject with high contrast has to be photographed and it is wished to obtain the correct exposure for an object which is small in comparison with its surroundings, it is advisable to take a close-up reading. Unless this is done, a photograph of a person in a light dress in front of a dark wood, for instance, could easily be over-exposed.

In such cases closely approach the subject with the camera and press down the release lever gently to the first pressure point. Hold the lever in this position and return to your original position to take the photograph.

Close-ups

It is interesting and well worth while photographing the wonders of the miniature world at distances of 16 to 28 inches (40—70 cm.). All you require

Illustration of a NATAK 35 camera module and a circular lens on a yellow background (no text or symbols)

for this purpose is the Natarix close-up lens 35, Type 6713.

The fully automatic mechanism of your camera can still be used for close-ups of this kind if the green signal is visible in the viewfinder when the magic lever is pressed.

In such cases, however, it is not possible to regulate the depth of field which is dependent on the lens stop selected by the automatic control mechanism.

If you wish to photograph a subject sharply focused within a given range, you can select the depth of field yourself by choosing the appropriate lens aperture. Before doing this, the automatic mechanism should be disconnected and the shutter set to B or 12 symbol. At the B setting any length of exposure is possible (see page 11), at the 12 symbol setting you always photograph with a shutter speed of 1/30 sec. (see page 10).

At the B setting only completely motionless objects should be photographed with the camera on a tripod and using a cable release. At the 12 symbol setting, i.e. 130 sec., there is no need to use a tripod when the camera is held absolutely steady.

The correction wedge supplied with the Natarix close-up attachment ensures that the viewfinder image is free from parallax. When using a flashgun for close-ups the oblique setting of the shoe on top of the Natarix correction wedge makes certain that the object is properly illuminated.

We recommend the Agfa Projector CP 150 or the attractively styled Agfa Diamator 100 magazine projector for showing your own colour slides. The fully automatic Agfa Diamator 150 projector incorporates genuine technical advances. During projection you can sit back in your easy chair and provide the necessary commentary whilst changing the slides and focusing the projector by remote-control.

Cross-sectional illustration of a mechanical device with heat sinks and cooling fins (no text or symbols)

Agfa Diamator 100

Monochrome landscape photo of a calm lake with reeds and distant trees under a cloudy sky (no text or symbols)

CONTENTS

Page

Loading the camera 2-3

Setting the film counter 4

Film transport 5-6

Setting the film speed 6

Focusing 7

View your subject/Holding the camera 8

Setting the automatic mechanism . . 8

Taking the pressure point green signal visible—release . . 8-9

Without the automatic mechanism (flash and time exposures) . . . 10-11

Rewinding the film 12

Film tips 13

Special exposure hints 14

Filters 14

Close-ups 15-16

1 ▶ Magic release lever

2 ▶ Cable release socket

3 ▶ Rapid film transport lever

4 ▶ Locking key for film rewinding

5 ▶ Milled disc for setting film speed

6 ▶ Flash contact

7 ▶ Accessory shoe (for flashgun)

8 ▶ Rewind crank

9 Viewing window for automatic mechanism and lens stop

10 ▶ Focusing ring

11 ▶ Milled ring for selecting lens stop or automatic setting