It's made by millions, it is easy to find and it's cheap: your analogue friend called the Agfa Clack! If you don't have one, start checking out the flea markets, because this camera won't let you down. It's a perfect companion to your Lomography camera collection.
I really love my Agfa Clack. It’s like you can’t take a bad shot with it. It was made during the fifties and sixties by Agfa Camera Werke in Munich, so it is a real vintage camera. And because it was made in large quantities it is easy to find and you won’t pay much.
Photo by gauthierdumonde
It is a medium format camera and it shoots 6×9 pictures using a 95mm single meniscus lens. The best feature is the slow shutter speed of 1/30s. Contemporary lo-fi cameras like the Diana+ shoot at faster speeds of 1/125s, so you have to put in ISO 400 for good results. This camera can be loaded with your favorite slow speed slide films like Velvia 50 for use on sunny days, or you can use ISO 400 film and shoot under low light conditions. The only thing you have to do is to keep the camera still, otherwise you get blurred shots.
It is really a no fuss camera. It has only got three settings, a wide aperture of f/11, and a small aperture for really sunny weather, and a setting for close distance shots. The small aperture depends on the model you have. I have two Clacks and the apertures are different. One of my Clacks has a yellow filter instead of a smaller aperture.
It can do doubles, certainly. All you have to do is not wind the film and press the shutter again !
The best way to find them is to go and check out flea markets and garage sales. I hope you find one and that you will enjoy it as much as I do !
7 comments
clickiemcpete
Thanks for including one of my shots in this article. Great camera, very under rated. The sister camera, the 6x6 Click is also fantastic.
davidobryan
Good informative article. Thanks for reminding me to take it with me this weekend. I've got some Clack shots here http://www.lomograph(…)-agfa-clack
neanderthalis
It looks like a lot of fun to use, thanks for sharing.
zipper
I got mine for 8Euros in Munich :D
frau_inga
I recently bought one for five euros. It's a great little camera!
zeewierkoekje
I got one for free on a flea market last year! :) I really like how it looks, cute little fatty.
adhi_karno
a little hard to find it in Indonesia :'(