Agfa Silette Vario

Specifications:

Camera type: Compact viewfinder

Lens Type: Agfa Colour Agnar 45mm f3.5 - f16

Shutter Type: Vario 3 Speed + B 25,50,200

What a star this has turned out to be. Cosmetically it looks brand new, in fact, I suspect it is. It has 2 rather hefty dents, 1 at the end of the top cover behind the rewind knob and the other on the trim covering the door catch. I wonder if this was damaged in the showroom of the dealer and he subsequently banished it to the storeroom where it has been until now. The silverwork is bright and shiny as if it has never been handled and the lens is crystal clear, which, on a camera this age is unheard of. It is a relatively lightweight camera with a very easy shutter and a incredibly bright viewfinder for it's era making it very easy and comfortable to use.

Enough on the condition how about the performance. Well, just take a look. On a grey day in Bath it outperformed the Fujica SLR I also had with me, in Devises it produced a couple of superb images and at Tewksbury it produced an amazingly detailed image of the abbey. All this from a "simple" camera with 3 speeds and manual range focusing. The results are just amazing, showing the quality of the Agfa lens. Incidentally the little side street in Devises, which is known as St John's Alley, is like stepping back in time. I think the hat shop on the left still takes payment in groats.

Kennet and Avon canal trust HQ and Quay, Devizes

St Johns Alley, Devizes

According to Historic England this is Grade 2 listed.

I would love to now how old this is but I can't find the information, this is all I get.

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