A Detailed Guide to the Argus C3 

Oh! I'm so glad that 9th-grade me helped you fix up your camera! Thank you for sharing your success story with me!

Definitely! Other cameras had complex mechanisms engineered small enough to fit in a compartment the size of $3 in quarters, making them incredibly difficult to operate on. But with the C3? They put everything on a 2D plane, making repairs SUPER easy. The most difficult thing to repair is the rangefinder portion, but even then it only requires intermediate skill.

@@thatrecord5313 Thanks for your reply. Yes i've attempted work on a konica once and ended up with no konica :( lol. I own 2 of the beige ones and 2 black ones and i will need to repair one of them soon and your video helps me alot!

I made this video with mediocre quality, I didnt realize people actually would use it! Glad I could help! Oh! You have 2 beige ones? The C3 Matchmatics are my favorite ones, mostly because of their upgradesd appearance, and the fact that they were some of the last C3s made (1960s)

@@thatrecord5313 yes like a tan-beige yes. i thought it was re-covered but found out that the match-matics were that colour yes. i saw a clip where the guy mentioned there were about 300k beige-tan ones and 1.6mil standard black ones. my initial plan was to fit the bodies with a small webcam for surveilance for a commercial setting on a tripod, but it's just too pretty a camera to waste like that :)

When dealing with acetone and repairs, you need to be very careful as to where you place it. If it was a blue film, then the camera was obviously an older C3, which is unfortunate. I do not know where to get the replacement film, but you can just cut any colored, transparent plastic.

I have an Argus A2B. I was thinking about making a video on how to use the Argus A series cameras and how to use them.

Yes please!

Hmmm. That is an issue I've had to deal with a lot. First off, when you attempted to fix the rangefinder with the rangefinder screws, you had the right idea, it's just that you weren't gentle enough to adjust it. Instead, you loosened the screw(s) too much and then the mirror that is connected to them was too loose and it completely lost its correct angle of reflection. So, here's what you can you: 1.) Fix it: Use a small flat head and move the screws around while looking through the rangefinder until you see the mirror. Then, tighten the screw you are using. Then tighten the other screw. You will notice the mirror start to disappear as you tighten the screws but do not worry. After that, GENTLY turn the screws back and forth until you see the image. Once you see the mirror, it will still be uncalibrated to distance, so, refer to www.arguscg.org/manuals/c3/gaon-repair/ and about past halfway the author tell you how to calibrate. 2.) Send it to a trusted camera repairman. I would do it for you but I'm just a lousy RU-vidr with a potato-quality video of a camera with a barrage of intermittent sniffles . Ha!

That Record thanks man. I appreciate it. The rangefinder doesn’t seem to focus or move at all when I’m trying to focus it. I see all these videos that show it going from two images when out of focus then to 1 single image when focused but mine does nothing. I see two images at all times so idk what to do

Allan, if that's the case then these must be the two sources that cause your problem (at least from what I know): 1.) The Rangefinder Dial has a cam behind it. As you turn it, the cam causes a small finger behind it to move up or down, depending on the rotation direction. It could be that this finger is broken. 2.) The entire rangefinder mechanism is stuck in place. It could be that the mechanisms grease and/or oil has dried up over the years and left the finger in a position so it won't even touch the cam. 3.) Get a new C3. They're cheap. Unless the one you have is a family heirloom. 4.) Replace the entire rangefinder mechanism held together by the 2 screws on top. This would mean buying another c3. But then again, it only matters if the camera you have is special. Otherwise, just keep the new c3 and use the broken one for parts. 5.) Have someone repair it for you.

it needs to be in an exact position in both images? horizontally and vertically? or that difference between the clear (top) and yellow ( bottom) is normal?

@@richardrrv No, that is not normal. In fact, it sounds like your rangefinder window might be cutting into the optical image or away from the image (at which point is just a solid black line between both halves). You must calibrate your rangefinder. You may research videos online, or you can follow this step-by-step repair manual that you only find in the deepest alleys of the internet: www.arguscg.org/manuals/c3/gaon-repair/

@@thatrecord5313 Oh ok so at the end, I dont need to see yellow at the botton and clear at the top right? not cut? just both together focusing one image, by the way thank you for you fast response !!

@@richardrrv The upper half and lower halves are meant to line up things vertically. The horizontal doesn't do anything. And you are quite welcome! And your sub is much appreciated!

This is my favorite song. I was originally composed for the Piano. It's called the Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin But this version is band. Look up: Maple Leaf Rag Marine Band This is the closest one I could find that sounds like the one from the video. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-QLqVhrshNLk.html

@@thatrecord5313 thank you!

Ha! That's pretty normal for me! :)