Agfa Optima Sensor Electronic

25 19

After a long time of searching I got the right (second) camera for me. It’s the Agfa Optima sensor electronic, an amazing part of design of the 70’s. This robust view-finder camera is perfect on the go cause it’s small and easy to use.

Brand: Agfa
Name: Optima sensor eletronic
Format: 35mm
Focus: manual
Flash Types: no flash (but hotshoe)
Exposure: 1/30 – 15 s
ISO Speeds: 25-500
Cable Release: yes
Tripod Screw Mount: yes

I got in the analogue life with a Diana F+. After falling in love with her, I wanted a second camera which is my ready to shoot camera.

The Agfa Optima sensor electronic is a 35mm compact view-finder camera with manual focus. On the top of the lens you can adjust the focus by three symbols (mountains, two people and one people) and on the rear side in Meters and Feet. But it’s not the big problem if you don’t get the right distance it has a wide depth of field.

On the front of the camera you can set up the film speed and there is the built in light meter. It got a fast lens and if there is a flash inserted you can manually choose the aperture. I love the red release button on the lever which is also used for rewinding. The body is made out of metal with a plastic coating. And if you open the back unintended, you don’t destroy the whole film cause it is covered in a sealed chamber. (I’m very happy of this feature.)

If you need further information there is a great German site of the whole Agfa Optima series (http://www.edition-oldenburg.de/agfa_optima.html).

written by lageos on 2010-10-07 #gear #35mm #agfa #review #camera #viewfinder #german #user-review

19 Likes

realim, eemac73, pedrosbonifacio, adash, cherub38, brittanyhazel, ezgeey, life_on_mars, obungen, mcrstar, superlighter, pietrone, frauspatzi, stouf, ethermoon, dannyedwards, cruesi, lageos & paramir.

25 Comments

paramir · 2010-10-07 10:21
looks like a cute little baby! the first photo is amazing!
twoheadedboy · 2010-10-07 20:36
I have the agfa optima flash. They are amazingly vivid cameras.
droogieboy · 2010-10-07 22:35
Gorgeous photos and a cool sexy little camera.

(so if this is the right second camera, what's your first , lageos? )
dogma · 2010-10-08 05:45
WoW what a nice little cam :)
lageos · 2010-10-08 08:11
Thanks for the likes and comments!
@droogieboy First i got a Diana F+
superlighter · 2010-10-08 13:30
great gallery! I'd like to find one!
crayfish · 2010-10-09 07:41
cool review mate!
shake · 2010-10-09 22:05
I like this.
drhenryjekyll · 2010-10-09 23:07
:D ... Very nice cam ! I love it :)
saintjacques · 2010-10-10 01:07
i want this!
mcrstar · 2010-10-20 07:07
good photos and nice camera, I want this one!
rhuabrb33 · 2011-01-28 22:25
Hi there - I've been given one of these, Any idea where I can get batteries for it? thanks so much in advance :D
lageos · 2011-01-31 14:43
@rhuabrb33
I use my Agfa with three "VARTA V 625U PHOTO 1,5V" or also "LR9" called.
Hope you get these :-)
rhuabrb33 · 2011-02-02 17:29
@lageos
Hey there! Got the batteries, now I need to know if it makes any noise when you put the film in? Wound it to No1 by hand, but should it have done it automatically or is it just an auto re-wind? I was given the matching flash too! It's enormous and powered by 6 AA's :D Thanks in advance :D
lageos · 2011-02-02 18:16
You have to wind and rewind (therefor your have to push down the button left to the shutter-button and turn it to the "R" symbol) the film by hand. The batteries are only for the lightmeter. My camera make no noises :-D
You got a really big flash, i've got the "Optima Lux Computer" with only two AAA...
Have fun with your camera! It's a really nice one :-)
The only thing i don't manage are double exposures....
rhuabrb33 · 2011-02-02 21:01
That's so cool - thanks so much for all your help :D My daughter is the photographer, I'll post up some of the results :D
drhenryjekyll · 2011-02-03 05:12
I bought one some months ago... It's a really nice and simple to use camera... With my LC-A, it's my second "all days" camera... :D
lageos · 2011-05-28 12:16
@pato_aso In the viewfinder there is only a red LED to warn if there is a long exposure and you should hold th camera steady. I don't know where a green LED is. I hope the response was a little help ?
lageos · 2011-06-03 14:07
@pato_asd So you're question is answered? My English is also not the best!
Greets from Austria :)
ojjvz · 2011-10-20 02:40
I just ordered this model (exact same version) and I was wondering...
Do you know for sure if this version does up to 15 seconds exposure time?
The (german) link in your article says only the 1035 and 1535 have that long exposure times.

Nice first picture btw!
ojjvz · 2011-11-01 17:24
Hm... mine doesn´t seem like it does 15 seconds, maybe there were different version and yours does. Who knows :P

I just had one more question, hopefully you happen to know it...
If I connect a flash, can you set it to Flash mode? so it doesn't do very long exposure?
bongo_biene · 2012-01-07 15:29
yea just got one
saskiaboer · 2012-02-15 17:45
hey, i've got one too :)
i've got Kodak KA 625 batteries in it, also known als
RM 625 N
V 625 U
EPX 625 G
It's 1,5 V.
belfastdispatcher · 2013-03-26 13:37
Thanks for the review, it helped my decision to buy one and I couldn't be happier with the results!
cherub38 · 2013-03-31 16:33
hello everyone ! Just bought one on EBay ! You already reply my worries ... about batteries ! I bought some 1;5V V625U already, and just wait to receive the camera ... I was worry because I found on the internet the camera used 1.35V batteries in the 80s ... SO GLAD modern batteries feat perfectly for the exposure ! Thanks to all of you for the review first, then for the answers about ... batteries ! LOL