As noted by two commentators, I unfortunately misrepresented the function of the aperture ring in this video. According to the manual, it only works in combination with an attached flash. Without a flash, the camera selects both shutter speed and aperture automatically. Please excuse this mistake on our side. I am really sorry about that.

I know it's 4 years on, but I needed to add a comment. This video was responsible for me buying a 1035 :) I've had it for a couple of years now, and I absolutely love this camera. Compared to my Olympus XA, for example, it is quite big and chunky, but I find this an advantage - I think it really helps with the handling, for me at least. The viewfinder is just amazing, and a huge asset (pun intended) for glasses wearers. (The XA is also a wonderful camera BTW, but quite different.) The 1035 lens is really very good, and the fact you can easily pop on a standard contrast filter and lens hood just makes it perfect for black and white work. Since the filter covers the meter sensor, the camera automatically compensates exposure - which retains the fully automatic vibe of the camera. There is something special about using a good 'point & shoot' camera, it can be a very stress-free experience, allowing you to concentrate on the artistic side and not worry about technical matters. Different from using a rangefinder or SLR, and sometimes just what you need. It is wonderful to still have these choices!

Can we just appreciate this man is bringing back turtle-neck!

Zusammen mit Sonnenblende, ND-Filtern, Grauverlaufsfilter, UV-Filter, Kabelauslöser,Nahlinse und Stativ kann diese schöne Kamera fast alles! Das Objektiv zeichnet scharf, aber nicht überscharf - einfach wunderbar. Schon im Urlaub in den 90ern fiel mir die besondere Qualität dieser Aufnahmen auf. Möge es die Batterien noch lange geben 😉📸🙏 Danke für den qualitativ angemessenen Bericht...

What's up Max? I don't know how you do it but when I saw this particular camera in the thumbnail and that the video was 23 minutes long I said how is Max going to find enough to talk about that's longer than the rolleiflex review you did. But you packed this video with relevant information from front to back. You're really raising the bar. You know what though I'm so technical about my focus, sometimes with my medium format the ears will be in Focus but the person's eyes won't and it will drive me crazy. A camera like this where your making an educated guess may not be the best for me unless I'm using Zone focusing with smaller apertures. I appreciate you pointing out these little known cameras because if you didn't do it not many people would take the time. This would make a perfect little travel camera.

Thank you for inspiration. I've looked around for some pocket size and simple camera for quite lot of time. I would never interest in Agfa without you. Today I bouhgt my own Optima 1035 and I can't wait to test it. Thank you for your inspirational channel.

I have recently come across one of these little camera's while clearing out my step mums house, its just so much fun to use and surprisingly great images comes out of this simple yet stylish camera....

At last proper video about this gem of a camera. I have 1035 also and think shutter sound a bit annoying. Except that I think it's a awesome little camera. One thing as a eyeglass wearer I appreciate is huge and bright viewfinder of this Agfa. Great video quality by the way. Design history was interesting add. I've been intrigued about the simplistic design of these Agfas.

I saw this camera floating around eBay yesterday. Saw the review today, and I must say you sold me on this camera, so I bought it! Great work!

Honey I shrunk the plaubel makina 67.

Im absolutly amazed by the very contrasty building one with all the lines! Absolutly love it, I always want to shoot with little contrast but that made me want more

Very interesting history on the design. Well done.

As I have sometimes observed after watching one of your episodes, the photos themselves are beautiful. The video also was, as always, a pleasure to watch. From what you have described, I think that I would enjoy trying to make interesting photos with an Agfa Optima Sensor 1035. It certainly would be worth the financial risk to try. Buying and trying out an Agfa Optima Sensor 1035 probably would not be as satisfying as having lunch with my wife but it would be plenty of fun and it would cost about the same.

I think I'll be putting this one on my whishlist... The pictures with the reflections are astonishing.

Love your videos! Thx a lot! BTW: I am using the Agfa, the Pen and the XA - your videos let me feel that you‘r talking about my toys 😉👍

The overall design, research, cinematography, and presentation of this Analog Insights video is excellent. It mimics the design ethic of the camera itself. First class! I subscribed, based on seeing this video alone.

I really loved and enjoyed this review so much that I immediately went out and bought one. Sadly not many people who have this camera in Germany want to ship to New Zealand. So I bought one for 30 Euros but the shipping was 58 Euros. I can see me really enjoying g carrying the camera around however I don’t want it to stop working or have something go wrong and then I won’t be able to get it fixed as there does not seem to be many outside Germany. Anyway, it’s in its way, let hope everything works well. 😊

Lovely camera! The zone focusing reminds of my Olympus Trip 35, which also has icons but on the underside there are is a feet and metre scale. I love the red button.

Hi. Great video - I had to smile when you mentioned the simplicity of the 1035, as I own and use an Agfa Clack, a camera that makes the Optima look like high end tech. With only one shutter speed of about 1/30 second and two simple apertures (f16 and f11) it presents challenges that are huge fun to overcome. I've modified my Clack to accept 49mm screw in filters, so I can use an orange filter, as well as 1, 2, 3 and 4 stop ND filters to control exposure. I so wish you guys would try one - it really is a ton of fun! Love the channel and wish you well in these difficult times.

A quality review once again and relaxing atmosphere 😊

I used to own one of these about 25 years ago. Brings back memories. It was cheap and cheerful.

Even with it's relative slow lens (F2.8) and scale focusing only (no rangefinder like the bigger 1535 Optima) it's a marvellous piece of german engineering. I got my copy cheaper than Max. I know this small camera since the 80's, but never snapped it for a good price...until now. It's "made in germany". Since 35 & 40mm is my fave focal length (i shoot around 85-90% with it) it was a no brainer to catch it. The Optima 1535 does feature a real rangefinder, but hence therefore a smaller viewfinder.

RIP Agfa Vista film :( still saving a few rolls in my fridge

Ok, so ALL Agfa Optimas 1035 gone on eBay in just 3 days...Thank You very much Analog Insights! ;P

glad to see you post episode~lol

Every time you make a preview about a camera you make me want to have. Thanks a lot for your nice explanation and of course the nice sample pictures. The problem is I can’t have so many cameras 😀

A real jewel for a paltry sum.Miss Agfa products sorely, and once mighty Kodak as well.

I got one today for 7€ on a fleamarket. The design is so beautiful, it really is timeless!

Brilliant episode! I have one or two of these, (with the flash), and several other Agfa model cameras, but for some reason have never shot with it. Your shots are indeed quite sharp! I’ll have to find mine and get some shots of downtown, and the Art Deco buildings we have. I collect everything Agfa, including vintage stick pins from 1930s, calendars, umbrella, anything/everything. A long time friend of mine from Neuß (Rudolf Hildebrand) wrote a book on the history of Agfa. It’s very very interesting. I wish I could say München was my home town! Hope to visit there next year, and take lots of architectural photographs.

I own the Agfa Sensor 335 and 535. However, I never fell in love with those cameras, because of the limitted adjustments and the tinny sound of the release shutter. Up to now I shot only color film. Results were borderline ok. May be I have to try a B&W film as well. Thx for the video.

Another lovely episode! Kind of recognise the palace :) back & catching up you guys only now. Hope you are having fun. Keep clicking keep inspiring be well x ta

When using an automated camera such as this,Max, I would photograph a gray card,gray scale and color swatches at various ISO.For example, if shooting film rated at 200,I would shoot at 50,100,200,and 400 ISO let's say, with a piece of paper indicating film speed in the frame.I would find the best rendition of card etc and use that speed as a starting point. You could then manipulate the ISO dial to increase or decrease exposure to match luminances in the scene being photographed in Zone System fashion for each frame.Hope I made sense.Both color and monochrome benefit from this. Happy New Year btw.

What a pretty little camera.

Great video Max!

I have the 1035 and the 1535. The Viewfinder of the 1035 is one of the brightest i have ever seen. The Rangefinderpatch of the 1535 is absolutely awesome with good contrast. Great to focus. The only thing i don't like is that there is no manuel modus.

Great video as always!

I miss the old Agfa RSX II slide films. They had a really nice look. I had the pleasure of shooting a roll of the ISO 100 version with my Leica M6 the other day, and it was awesome! Frozen since purchased in the 90's, so it was still accurate at ISO 100. Lovely colours, renders sky, clouds, sea etc in a very beautiful way.

he's so pretty to watch

I own the Agfa Optima 1535, with built in rangefinder, a nice camera

I finally got one of these, very much inspired by this video! Can't wait to try it :-)

Great video....as usual, what a lovely little camera. BTW your English is better than mine lol...

Appreciate the details and information from you. Thanks!

Hey Max, that’s a nice little camera. If it came with film detection up to iso 1600, it would be perfect. :/ It’s super cool to own a camera that was produced in the very town you live in. In my case it’s Dresden (Grüße von hier!) and Görlitz, so I have both, cameras and lenses. :D

nice review... NOW i want one!

Nice video, good review! It would have been interesting to mention the design similarities of the Plaubel Makina 67 range, which I believe was designed by a different german designer but obviously with a similar background. Cheers.

So if you had to choose between Agfa Optima Sensor and Rollei 35, which would you choose?

Awesome video. This was a trip down memory lane for me because we had a couple of Afgas when I was a kid: an Agfa Ambi Silette in need of repait (disconnected rangefinder) that I used to play with, and this camera, the Optima 1035. It was so simple that a child could use it (literally, in my case), and was really well built. I don't know what happened to either of those cameras, but I suppose they were sold. I was just looking for one on eBay, and thought I'd check out a review, and that brought me here :D I'm not having much luck finding one in decent condition for the price you paid for it though, so maybe the word got out!

I have a similar camera，it's a Voigtlander VF101 made by Rollei ，the lens is color skopar 40 2.8，the design is kind-of similar but it has a built-in rangefinder，and I love this little camera very much！

looking forward to watching this tonight :) I had this camera once, but it was broken before I could try it, unfortunately :(

👍Cool video... just needed this especially as it's 30 degs.C outside here in NZ. 😎

Nice review, the images from this camera look quite sharp with good contrast. If you ever get a chance to review another German made series of cameras, the Kodak Retinettes that would be interesting.

Ooooh possible artsy cam for quick double exposure! (I assume due to the convenient reversal of the film advance lever method) Also I love these small cams that have tripod socket attached wrist straps. I have a few half-frame cameras that do this and the Agfa is so far the most elegant integration of that I’ve seen yet! Even with the case integration!

If I'm not mistaken I thought the aperture ring only worked with a flash attached? Making it a fully automatic exposure camera. I own this camera and don't notice the exposure indicator changing much when I move the ring from f/2.8 to f/22. By the way I absolutely love this remarkable piece of machinery!

Nice video, it will be great a video about your scanning process, great content!

I got one shipped from Germany!!!! 🇵🇭

I like the shutter sound, very discreet for some occasions...

Hi Max, Great review for this gear. I love Braun like designed devices (especially the Braun vinyle LPs)! A question : Which kind of batteries you recommend for this camera ? Is there a compatibility with the actual Varta V625U 1.5 V battery without impact on the speed selection of the cell)

I own this camera - haven't really used it much, but your video really got me tempted to go out and shoot with it! What is the exposure ring for? It is to my understanding that the camera is doing only auto-exposure, and you only set the exposure when using a flash? Great video!

AGFA from Munich, I Love it 🌹

Sadly, one of my most used 135 (35mm) b&w films, Agfa APX 100 (quite often pushed @200 ASA/ISO) does cost now even at the dm 5.95 EUR, it was usually 4.29 to 4.59 EUR (pushed to that price 2021 already) now one roll costs basically 6 EUR...a small avialable online check lists at least the APX 100 around my area being avialable into the dm stores.

Eine super Kamera. Eine Wiederauflage wäre wünschenswert 😊

you're lucky. i have been looking for that particular leather case and strap since forever.

The "sensor" shutter release ... Some old film cameras have the shutter release button surrounded by a slightly higher bush or ring. Humans are inclined to avoid those. But, if/when you really need to avoid motion blur, you have to use them. Same with the "sensor" button. Lay the tip of your finger flat on the rim, press on that rim and the flesh (meat, not flash) of the tip slowly presses through the release point. And keep elbows pressed against ribcase. The same sunk button design principle is actually used in digital cameras where the button top is in line with the body surface.

Seems to be close to the Rollei 35 design’ which I have and really like. Fantastic lens

beginner question, does this camera shoot in colour or is it the film he's shooting ?

I have the 1535 RF version that I got as a new old stock from Germany

What is that little lever on the side? Just bought one of these cameras and i’m a bit confused about that lever. Is it a timer?

Whats the difference of agfa sensor 535 and 1035? thank you!

How does the meter work on these cameras? Are they battery powered? How reliable are they, for example compared to cameras with selenium-based meters?

So many cameras, so little time (and money). This one is a cutie though.

The shutter sounds like the shutter from the Canon AE line after some hard use- known as shutter squeak. It is a pretty easy fix on the Canon camera with small application of lubricant in the right place. I wonder if the same with the Agfa?

the Agfa Selectronic slr's have the same buton

Why does it look like so similar to the Plaubel Makina 67?

When you rewind the the film do you have to use the lever as many times as many exposures you had? Or from a different angle. Can you use this function to get into double exposure territory? Thanks

HI Max, I think your review just up the values on eBay. Two questions. Can I use any flash with it? I have a small flash for my Fuji XT2 and it would fit well. Also, have you photographed at all with portra 400 or any colour film yet? If so how does it work with color. One person below seemed to think it was not so great. Thank you, Wendy

just bought one for $6 but the door latch opens when i shake it.

Hi, congratulations for such a quality video! May I ask the reference of the neck strap you are using ? thank you

This only needs batteries for the flash?

Hi!! I recently bought the Agfa 3s and I need help. The camera needs Isopan IF 17 but I can’t find it. Do you know of a substitute? I’m also new to this!!

Another sharp camera - GAF Memo 35 EE (Chinon 35 EE).

What I understand is that the aperture can only be chosen when using flash! Same as for instance the Ricoh ff-1 and many other cameras. I really wish I could have the freedom to chose the aperture without flash with this camera….. 😔 😢

Speaking of design similarities and influences, doesn't the castle look much like a big brother of the one in Pszczyna (Pleß), Poland? ...wonders how much this single video will inflate prices of Agfa cameras of that period and quickly opens ebay in new tab. ;-)

It's a pity that companies like Agfa, the moment digital started to come onto the scene, just threw up their hands, rolled over and fell by the wayside. Agfa film out here in Australia is pretty rare to find, but even manufacturers like Fuji and Kodak have dropped some film stocks and you have to order from overseas to get some film. When you can get it, that is.

I have 1035 but the reverse button doesn't work I can't take the film out any suggestions?

loved this and all the videos I have watched - odd question what is the background music please?

Wenn du die Agfa Optima gut findest dann schau dir mal die Agfa Selectronic S. (Nicht die Selectronis Sensor!) Sie stellt den Gipfel der Rangfinderentwicklung bei Agfa da. Ich liebe meine und würde sie nie freiwillig hergeben.

Does anyone has the manual of this camera

Hello. Good day. How is your methods of scanning negatives? Cause they look really good

What did you use like film to have so much contrast ? thinx

Wow this vid starts, and I think "ASMR"

What batteries are you using?

Ich dachte schon, bei meiner Kamera geht der Verschluss kaputt. Aber der klingt so komisch. Aber sie ist wirklich schick und hat ein super Objektiv.

18:23 What building is this?

Is the Agfa optima 1535 better, what’s the difference??

Can you make a video on yashika 35mm gsn camera pls

"Agfa lagged behind the competion with their lenses"? Not with the suberb Solitar in various types of their huge array of their cameras!

Hi! I'm interested in purchasing this camera. Can you tell me what type of film I need for it? Please

Can it have multiple exposures?

Brought to you by the fanciest and smoothest German accent in the business

Можно ли увидеть видео в вашем исполнении фотоаппарата Смена М?