One of the recent garage sale finds was an old Agfa Jsolette camera. This is German. Old German. The old German “J” was used as we normally think of an “I”…this was later changed to the more common “I” usage. …there’s your language lesson for the day. (**edit note for clarification: This is a typeface issue that was changed from old German style to the more common lettering style we see today and not to say that it was spelled with an English letter “J” even though that is precisely what it looks like to the modern observer.)
The later variants of this camera had the more familiar “Isolette” labeling. The “Jsolette” name indicates that this one is prewar, 1937 to be specific. These were popular in Europe at the time and were commonly carried by members of the military–enough that the Jsolette/Isolette is sometimes called the “soldier’s camera.” The lens, an Apotar of f4.5 and 85mm is usually associated with the postwar variant of this camera…..but…this one has the top plate made of an early plastic called Trolitan…and it has the dual format capability of 4.5×6 or 6×6. These are features found only on the prewar versions and the “Jsolette” name was only used in 1937.
This also, luckily, shoots standard 120 rollfilm! Which, as an avid medium format shooter I always have some on hand.
In the standard square 6×6 mode it will shoot 12 exposures on a roll as with my Hasselblad and other similar medium format cameras. When the 4.5×6 mode is used, you get 16 vertically oriented frames. To make the 4.5×6 selection you just move two folding masks into place when you load the camera, open the extra counter window so you read the right numbers off the film backing when winding, and move a selector switch. The only function of the switch is to move a mask in the viewfinder so you see what you will roughly be getting. Focus is by guestimation of distance….on this example, in meters–so I get to guestimate and calculate in my head when using. All functions are of course manual and on the early ones there is no double exposure prevention so one must pay attention to shoot, wind, cock, shoot, wind….etc …or else you may not get the results you expected.
Medium format folding cameras are fun! They will fit into your coat pocket with little effort and still give a nice big negative to work with. This one, since it shoots common film and has slightly better optics than some cameras of the era, just begs to be used a bit. And besides, who can resist that art deco style? So naturally, in keeping with an unofficial tradition that I have….I have traveled someplace….found an antique camera….cleaned and serviced it a bit (this one had an all too common stuck focus ring due to dried lubricant) and have begun to shoot a few photos in the area in which I got it.
I know I am supposed to service this and then resell it. But after a few exposures I am finding it to be a fun little camera. Sell it I may….but I also may find it somewhat hard to part with. I’ll run a roll or two through it and see what the results are….rationalized by being able to tell a prospective buyer that I know it works. Hoarder. Yeah, yeah…I know.
