The Agfa Jsolette is a very simple thing with a plastic topped body and metal trimmings, but does manage to produce some pretty good images.

Produced in Munich from 1937-42 it was the first of the Isolette series of folding cameras for 120 film by Agfa Kamerawerk AG. This version could be switched between 6x6 or 6x4.5 by rotating the film masks inside and switching the viewfinder by means of a small lever on the back.

After owning for four months, it was about time to take it out for a spin, so it was loaded with a roll of Kentmere Pan 400 that was picked up cheap, but only expired a year ago - not wanting to risk wasting a roll I had paid full price for!

With summer drawing to an end, and chances of an early morning walk disappearing when the schools go back after the summer break a few days later, I headed down to the canal. The main goal was to fly the drone out over the estuary, separated from the canal by the tow path, to photograph the old shipwrecks that are exposed at low tide. This was one of those waiting games to get the conditions perfect - low tide, no wind, low morning sun to create some shadows, and of course the opportunity to get out!.

The top speed of 1/125th is rather limiting with 400 film, but the results are surprisingly good…

Luckily this barge was framed in the centre of the viewfinder, as I realised the viewfinder was still set to the 6x4.5 frame, and shooting in 6x6. I’ve not shot much Kentmere film as previous results fell short of what HP5 can do, but I do like these images. The grain is not too obvious, I really like the contrast and the blacks, and detail is good for the 80 year old lens.

It is always good when the image turns out exactly how you wanted! The front of the narrowboat was lit by the sun just rising above the trees, giving great contrast against the shadowy trees in the background. Yes, it could be sharper, but hey.

Leaving the towpath I explored the Purton Hulks - a place I had not visited for several years. It is an intriguing sight with all of the barges beached on the banks. Imagine being there to witness them all being placed there. The concrete, and some wooden barges were beached here to sure up the banks of the tidal estuary and slow down erosion to protect the canal just a few meters away.

This is where a found another limitation of the Jsolette - it is equipped with an 85mm lens, which was just not wide enough to capture a whole wreck, so had to just shoot one side of this one.

After a couple of under-par compositions, only one frame remained on the roll. I had spotted this last shot on the walk down the canal, but there was a guy sat on his phone on the landing platform, so knew where to head to on the way back…

So what are my thoughts of the Jsolette? Well I did enjoy shooting with it, but had to work around it’s limitations. It does however fall short in every way to my Kodak 66, which I love. The Kodak has more choice of speeds, a sharper lens, the 75mm is more usable, and the shutter sound is much nicer! The Agfa shutter is very quiet - to a point that if you were in a city you probably wouldn’t hear it. The Kodak cocking lever is visible through the viewfinder so you can see when the it is operating.

But for what it cost (camera £5, film £1, developing/scanning £11) it is a great medium format experience.

Agfa Jsolette - Kentmere Pan 400

Ideal Color 35 test roll…