Comments on: Agfa Billy I, under $50 and contest ready

By: Tom Thomas

Tom Thomas — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 13:08:55 +0000

Thanx for posting your review of the Agfa Billy 1. I just picked one up yesterday at an antiques fair in Cadarousse, France. I paid too much comparing what I’ve seen on E-Bay comparable versions but mine looks nearly new and came with the leather case which is also like new. Lens looks clear but has some dirt around the outer edge on the front lens but bellows looks supple and like new as well, just some minor scratches and bit of corrosion on the outside. Major problem is that the focus know is frozen at 7 meters, and I mean stuck, stuck. German lubricants tend to turn to mud over time so some TLC will be necessary to release it without using WD40 all over the place. I rebuild old cameras as a hobby and shoot them when I can find the correct film. 120 film can be rewound on 620 spools for example. Luckily this Agfa is 120 already. I’m going to bring it to the US next week when I return to try it our on some Route 66 shots in Tulsa, OK.

By: Adam

Adam — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 12:36:21 +0000

Really late to this party, but wanted to thank you for this write-up! I just picked up a Billy 6.3 off of ebay for $22 and am really looking forward to running some film through it to attempt some classic imagery. I can see that the biggest challenge will be focusing. Thanks again!

By: Carol Miller

Carol Miller — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:57:23 +0000

Could you tell me where i could get an Agfa Billy 1 camera please. I tried on Ebay but couldn’t get anywhere.
Thank you
Carol Miller.

By: Carol Miller

Carol Miller — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:47:15 +0000

Can you please tell me what an Agfa Billy 1— 6/9 is worth .
Thank you
Carol Miller.

By: A Marques

A Marques — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:43:14 +0000

Ok, so your handle is missing… and the locking mechanism also. I was taking a look at mine and there is really no interior lock or spring or anything like that. The locking is all done by the handle. I could almost assume that without that handle, the back door would just open. Have you tried pulling it a bit more forcefully? From the shots you’ve posted, it seems quite rusty around it, so maybe it is shut by the rust. If that doesn’t help, try using an anti-rust spray. I can see no other explanation for it to stay closed.
Give it a try and tell me something afterward.

By: Jose betancur

Jose betancur — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:48:27 +0000

Thanks a lot for your fast feedback!

I saw at your photos the handle you said.. but.. if you look at my camera you will see my problem:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiky/3447920416/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiky/3447110995/

Any Ideas?

By: A Marques

A Marques — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:59:09 +0000

Hello Jose,

It’s fairly easy. On the side of your Billy I, where the handle attaches to the body, the handle support works as a rail that slides down. Just look at it closely and you’ll see what I mean. When you pull it down, you can just open the back door.

If you need any further help, tell me something.

By: Jose betancur

Jose betancur — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:19:16 +0000

One simple question..

yesterday I found one Billy I at the my father house.. But I can’t figure out how to open the backdoor.

May you help me.
Thanks

By: A Marques

A Marques — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:16:26 +0000

Hi Rockelita,

Thanks for the comment.

When I was taking that photo, unfortunately I wasn’t thinking much and didn’t think of the old ways of doing it properly. Haven’t done a double exposure in film for so long…
So, it came out, well… as you see it.

I’ll definitely repeat the shot, but this time the proper way.

Thanks for your support.

By: A Marques

A Marques — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:12:32 +0000

Hi Gary,

Great job on your entry too.

I’d have to agree with you. I think that some of the little rusty spots were scratching the film. Hadn’t thought about a nail file though. Will give it a try, thanks for the suggestion. And I’ll definitely keep using it.

Good luck for the project.

By: Rockelita

Rockelita — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:02:48 +0000

I really like the double exposure of the two women on the couch.

Folders like these are truly something else! Even better when you know its history. Glad this camera stayed in your family.

Good luck in the $50 Film Project.

By: gary

gary — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:09:02 +0000

I found this entry very interesting, and if you’ve looked at mine, you will know why.
About the scratches, it could very well be the smallest of a ‘burr’ that the film passed over as its advanced. I little nail file would do the trick.
Us folders have to stick together, I hope you use this camera from time to time.

By: A Marques

A Marques — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:58:58 +0000

Incurable GAS, I see

I agree with you. Probably the fungus. There’s a real coat of it inside the lens. Can’t imagine how much it will cost to have it cleaned, but I’ll try.

And unfortunately I have no idea about the box. I’ve never seen it. Probably disappeared a long time ago. No records of construction also. I’ll have to ask him how he did it.

Thanks for the comment.

By: the_wolf_brigade's GAS is incurable

the_wolf_brigade's GAS is incurable — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:24:11 +0000

A good review that makes me lust after another folder.

The flare in the photos, the softness, most likely comes from the fungus and the lens being not as well coated as modern lenses. I found in the one I have that it makes the photos appear aged even though they were taken recently. While this effect works nicely for b/w, it makes colour look a little funny.

I’m curious as to what happened to the box your father built? Does he still have it? Or even photos of it’s construction? I’d like to one day build my own pinhole camera, but building a camera with an actual lens would be an interesting experience.