Argus C-44: lenses any good?

[mabelsound]

Saw an Argus C-44 set, camera and three lenses, at a local antique shop recently. I don't think I want to buy it, but I am curious about this camera. Raid has one, I think--are the lenses any good? Has anyone tried adapting them to m4/3?

[oftheherd]

I think I remember reading that the C44 was the latter Argus in the line. I have heard some who had them say they were better cameras and lenses than the venerable brick, I never had one. It will be interesting to hear what Raid or anyone else has to say about them.

[kuzano]

I think I remember reading that the C44 was the latter Argus in the line. I have heard some who had them say they were better cameras and lenses than the venerable brick, I never had one. It will be interesting to hear what Raid or anyone else has to say about them.

I have a C-4 and am fairly impressed with the simplicity, reliability and image quality of the camera. The Argus story is quite interesting, with the fellow who developed the camera actually being a radio designer who worked for the military, developed the Argus camera and gained some government contracts for his early cameras.

I once read that if you want to drive a sane man crazy, give him a C-44 and watch him attempt to change the lenses. Apparently the breechlock mount was difficult to manage.

[climbing_vine]

They're good, but depending on taste you might find that plenty of other classic lenses scratch that itch for you. I like my Arguses, but as it turns out I rarely use them because the FED gives me the essential character that like in the Argus--only more so, and in a much more pleasing machine. But that's entirely personal, idiosyncratic taste.

[raid]

I prefer using the C-44. It has a butter smooth shutter relase. The 50mm lens is excellent when used with a lens hood.

[raid]

photo taken with the 50 2.8:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t261/raidamin/argus3.jpg