Production of the camera, during which film with ISO speed from 10 to 25 was the common denominator, reached approximately 1.65 million units.
The camera, which only accepts 120 film rolls, was deliberately engineered as an affordable option for the European mass market and was also sold under the brand name 'Agfa Weekender' in North America.
Design-wise, the Clack is fitted with a single-element 95mm fixed focus meniscus lens, which focuses from around 3 meters to infinity, and a 'curved film plane' that compensates for the spherical aberration of the meniscus lens. This results in images that are sharper from corner-to-corner.
The 95mm lens on medium format (like 6x7 or 6x9) is roughly equivalent to a 50mm to 55mm lens on a 35mm full-frame camera, with a standard to slightly telephoto perspective. The focal length is ideal for portraits or general use, with more background compression than a standard 35mm wide-angle lens.
The lens has only a couple of settings for its aperture control, set by a rotating lever located on the upper right of the lens mount: f/11 (marked with a cloud icon for overcast conditions), and f/12.5 (sun icon for bright and sunny conditions). The focal length for the lens, where images will be in sharp focus, is from 3 meters to infinity.
It also has a third position, marked in Red, for close-ups (children, outdoor groups) at a focal distance from 1 to 3 meters.
The shutter of the Agfa Clack is a guillotine-type leaf mechanism set with only two speeds - B (bulb) and M (moment), with the M setting firing at approximately 1/30 second. Shutter activation is independant and it will fire (with a 'clack') when pressed even repeatedly, which makes multiple exposures, theoretically, straightforward.
While early models of the camera featured a steel body with imitation reptile skin leatherette, later iterations (post-1960) were of plastic. The camera weighs approximately 320g to 330g.
Viewfinder
The viewfinder on the Agfa Clack is a simple, eye-level reverse Galilean turret, with a simple plastic lens, designed for easy point-and-shoot photography.
Camera Features
The camera has a slightly oval-shaped back to compensate for spherical aberration of the meniscus lens.
On the slightly rectangular front, the Lens, Shutter, and Aperture assembly is located centrally, with the front of the viewfinder turret aligned above it.
On the camera back, the viewfinder eyepiece, and on the pull-out clamshell cover, a short slide-in camera hold strap, and a slide cover for the red Film Number window.
On the top plane, the film Winding Knob is at the top left corner, the centrally axial viewfinder turret, and a couple of strap pins to the right edge of the body.
On the bottom, the quarter-turn clamshell Lock/Unlock Latch, and a tripod bush located centrally.
The camera casing opens up to a filmbox compartment with space for the two film spools required, with edge rails at the top and bottom of the film frame so the film fits properly along the curvature of the image frame.
Loading and Unloading Film
Film loading and unloading require a partial disassembly of the body casing via a locking mechanism located on the bottom frame of the camera.
To load, first, turn the Lock Latch on the bottom plane of the camera a quarter turn (clockwise) until you feel the slight loosening of the casing. Ease the casing away from the camera body and set it aside. Check to ensure that an empty 120 film spool is present in the film box, fitted to the left spool area of the film box.
Next, remove the small binding tape on the film roll, and insert the roll snugly into the right side film spool area of the film box. Unwind the tapering end of the backing paper, pull it over across the film frame, and insert the tapering end of the paper into the wide slot of the take-up spool. Turn the Winding Knob a couple of turns until the backing paper is tight across the film frame area.
Next, close the camera back. Reinsert the casing back into place (use the guide rail on the cover and on the mount housing as reference) as far as it will go, and turn the Lock Latch to 'Close'. This will lock the casing into place.
Next, turn the camera on its back, open the Film Window cover (in the direction of the arrow), and turn the winding forward until the number '1' appears in the window. Close the Film Wndow and you are ready for the first shot.
After the shot is taken, reopen the Film Number window, wind the film forward to the next film number, and close the window again immediately after to set yourself up for the next shot.
A standard roll of 120 film produces 8 exposures for the 6x9 format. After you've taken the last shot of the roll, wind the remaining film onto the take-up spool until it's fully wound, then open the film back, remove the roll, and tab it for developing.
Using the Camera
Using the camera, with its restrictive single shutter speed and two aperture opening setup, though with point-and-shoot simplicity, requires not only a firm hand-hold or tripod stabilization, but also decisions on the choice of filmstock, exposure, or scene location setting, as well as references to metered exposures or the Sunny 16 rule.
While the limitations are a reality, images are, of course, in the creative hands of the enthusiast.
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