Rapid System

Rapid-Modell

You would be forgiven for thinking that the Rapid-Modell is a camera. It has a lens, a viewfinder, even a shutter release, but the transparent back would make it difficult to take pictures. The Rapid-Modell was produced for shops to demonstrate how Agfa's Rapid easy-loading system worked.

The system was based on the Karat film cassette which transports the film by using sprockets alone to feed the exposed film into another cassette. The cassette design was updated so that it also set the appropriate film speed as well as locking the shutter release if there was no film in the camera.

Among the system's other advantages its uses of standard 35mm stock unlike the rival Kodak 126 cartridge system, the latter was however to prove the more successful and after a first rush of Rapid cameras from several makers the system largely passed from use.

While Kodak may have won the battle of the quick loading systems in the Sixties Agfa's Rapid cameras are now having a new lease of life with modern users. Cartridges of 126 film are only available now in one maker's colour print film but the easily refilled Rapid cassette can be used with any 35mm film (a 60cm length of film is adequate for 16 24x24mm frames). The only drawback is that the cassettes have to be matched to the film speed; Agfa placed a letter code on the small metal tongue of each cassette which carried the film speed. These letter codes progress in values on the DIN scale, which is quite easily matched to the modern ISO ratings.

CodeABCDEFGH
DIN1516171819202122
ISO253240506480100125

Iso-Rapid
Iso-Rapid I
lens unnamed
shutter Single-speed Paratic

A very basic point-and-shoot model giving 16 24mm x 24mm frames. Its lens is non-focussing, and controls are limited to a single switch with 'daylight' and 'flash' settings.

Iso-Rapid I F
lens f8 Isinar
shutter Single-speed Paratic

While the Iso-Rapid I has a recessed hotshoe in the top plate the IF has an inbuilt flash-holder for AG1 flash bulbs; bulbs are pushed into a slot on the top plate and ejected by rotating the wheel which extends the reflector. For flash exposures there are three selectable apertures - f8, f11 & f16. A table printed on the back of the camera gives the correct aperture for ISO 50 and ISO 100 films at distances from 3½' to 10'.

Isomat-Rapid
lens 38mm f4.5 Agfa Color-Agnar
shutter Paratic

Top of the Iso-Rapid range, the Isomat is very similarly specified to Agfa's Optima cameras. Exposure setting is automatic, a signal light showing orange or green in the viewfinder. For flash exposures the Isomat offers four apertures from f4.5 to f16 selected by a switch on the lens surround. Unlike the other Iso-Rapid models its Color-Agnar lens can be focussed from 3¼' to infinity.

Iso-Rapid I
lens unnamed
shutter Single-speed Parator

A modification of the basic Iso-Rapid model that moved the shutter release from the front to the top plate.

Isoflash-Rapid
lens Isinar
shutter Single-speed Parator
Agfa produced a separate version of the Iso-Rapid IF for the United States under the name Isoflash. Like the original model it has a flashbulb holder and retractable reflector in the top plate. The selectable apertures however are omitted and the table on the back gives only distances for various Agfa films with AG1 and AG1B bulbs.
Iso-Rapid C
lens Isitar f8.2
shutter Single-speed Parator

On the Iso-Rapid C the hotshoe of the basic model was replaced with a flashcube holder and a compartment added in the base for a PX23 battery. A small printed panel is included on its back afising a distance of 5 to 10 feet for flash use. top plate.

Isomat-Rapid
lens 38mm f4.5 Agfa Color-Agnar
shutter Paratic

Largely cosmetic upgrade of the original model the sole technical difference is aperture selection for flash exposures. Where the original model's switch was lined up directly against the aperture marking, this model displays the selected aperture in a small window on the base of the lens surround.

Iso-Rapid C
lens Agfa Isitar f8.2
shutter Single-speed Parator

A cosmetic variation of the earlier model C only substituting a matt-silver finish.

Flash Holders
Iso
bulb AG 1
battery PX23

The ISO is a small flash gun produced especially for the Iso-Rapid range using AG1 bulbs (AG1B for colour film) and triggered by the hotshoe connection.