Argus C-4 Geiss modified

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

These cameras and lenses date from about 1954-1956

The Argus C-4 is a US-made, reliable, sturdy, simple and easy to repair rangefinder camera, with, at the time, some advanced features that were not available even on the professional Leica III series of the day, such as an integrated view and rangefinder and a flash hotshoe ! An excellent platform for a rangefinder camera system in fact. The original model of the C-4 had a fixed 50mm lens.

However, Geiss America of Chicago, an importer, modified a number of C-4 cameras (with or without the cooperation of the Argus company is unknown), to add a lens mounting system, and Geiss contracted with Enna Werk of Munich to provide a range of interchangeable lenses, plus some other accessories from other European makers.

The result is a rather nice rangefinder system, easy to use (much more so than the Leica III's) and versatile. The only real problems were the limited (though sturdy and reliable) leaf shutter, which only had speeds up to 1/300, and the rather awkward lens mount, which has to mesh with the external rangefinder gear. It is still a much better system than that of the Argus C3, and infinitely better than that of the Argus C-44, which was Argus' own attempt to do interchangeable lenses on the C-4 platform.

Of all the Argus rangefinder systems, this is the best; its got the best lens mount and the largest selection of lenses, albeit some of them are rather uncommon.

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

Interesting story, and that's quite a mount on that there camera.

fish4570 · Expire: 2012-03-21

thanks for the article and pics. it is a handsome cam in its own way. is the fixed 50 on the unmodified c-4 a good lens?