Road Test: Agfa Optima Sensor

Welcome to Road Test, our new online series where we take some of the world's most wonderful (and wacky) cameras for a test spin. We'll evaluate their usability, durability, and distinctive features – gauging how great (or shit) the camera is, with photos to boot. Taking the driver's seat is our main man, Morgan Rudolph.

Photos and words: Morgan Rudolph

Introduced in 1959 as the first fully automatic 35mm camera, the Optima 1 was Agfa’s panacea for amateur photographers—un-theoretical, pocketable, and more than anything else, joyful. The flagship model sought to remove the guesswork from photo-making and beat the drum of photography without numbers. The state-of-the-art internal light meter labelled "electric-eye" autonomously programmed the aperture and shutter speed for budding photographers otherwise out of their depth.

Fast-forward to 1978—The Rolling Stones debut Some Girls, Argentina secures the World Cup, and Agfa ushers in the Optima Sensor, ultimately becoming their valedictory wave to the Optima moniker and departure from analogue systems altogether. If the original Agfa Optima 1 set the stage for foolproof photography, what did the final act have to offer?

Purchased on Marketplace in the frothy wake of happy hour at the Evelyn Hotel, the Agfa Optima Sensor Flash was my reintroduction to 35mm photography. The compact form, prime lens, and big flash fit my criteria for everyday duties. At first glance, the trademark slap-happy red “Sensor” shutter button is hard to miss, reminiscent of a television remote you’ll likely find in an old folks home. Similarly, the jumbo viewfinder is incredibly radiant and sparks optimism—I was going to enjoy shooting this camera. 

Beneath the functionalist exterior are several trick features, including maintenance-free light traps (in lieu of foam seals) and a secondary light-safe compartment, protecting your exposures if the camera is unwittingly opened mid-roll. Also distinctive to the Sensor range, the “quick-wind” advance lever shifts into “rapid-rewind” mode; when activated, the transport gearing is reversed causing the film to re-spool with the same forward cranking action. Agfa has represented the focus distance in metric and imperial increments on the underside of the lens barrel, a thoughtful and precise alternative to the ballpark pictograms (portrait, group, and landscape) printed on top.

Fellow photographer Benjamin Buratto shooting his Pentax 6x7. 

The pop-up flash stands obtrusively above the body, preventing red-eye (occurring when the flash and lens are in close proximity). Regrettably, I found my nose partially closing the flash with the camera hard pressed against my face in portrait orientation.

KEY FEATURES

• 40mm f/2.8 prime lens consisting of four glass elements.
• Automatic CdS cell light meter activated with half-depressed shutter, conveniently tucked behind the filter thread to correctly compensate exposure if neutral density filters are your thing.
• Manual ISO facilitating 25–400 speed films.
• Electromagnetic operated twin blade paratronic leaf shutter.
• Luminous frame viewfinder with LED underexposure indicator.
• Designed by Schlagheck Design, Munich, Germany.

At the time of writing, mint examples fetch upward of $200 AUD with stock thin on the ground. Conversely, the flashless iteration Agfa Optima 1035 is abundantly available starting from $400 AUD. This moderate price tag dispels my crippling anxiety attached to flashing big-dollar gear at the beach, skate park, or pub—I have absolutely zero hesitation reaching for this camera day-to-day.

PROS

• AAA batteries, AKA “Always Abundantly Available”
• Automatic exposure
• Jumbo viewfinder

CONS

• Impractically tall flash
• Scale focus lacks precision
• No shutter lock

What’s the appeal? The Agfa Optima Sensor offers a refreshing and playful take on 35mm photography. The sharp lens and robust construction inspire confidence, whilst the shutter release, focus ring, and pop-up flash provide precise, tactile feedback, evoking a sense of control while shooting. Most surprisingly, the image quality exceeded my expectation­—take a peek at the sample photos shot on Kodak Ultramax 400 rated at 200 ISO and developed at Open Lab, Collingwood.

You can pick up the Agfa Optima Sensor via eBay, HERE. Check out more of Morgan's work via @mqrgs.