Argus Match-Matic C3 (1958-1966)

The Argus Camera division of Sylvania Electric made the Argus Match-Matic C3 camera from 1958 to 1966. This example was made in 1960. The Match-Matic was an update of the Argus C3 that had been around since 1939. Altogether about 300,000 Match-Matics were made. The Match-Matic gained a bit of recent fame by playing the part of Colin Creevey's muggle camera in the Harry Potter movies. The Match-Matic has an f/3.5-f/16 (marked "3-1/2" to "8+" on the aperture ring) 50mm Coated Cintar lens. The behind-the-lens leaf shutter runs from 1/10 to 1/300 second (marked "4" through "8" on the shutter speed dial) plus B. The design was behind the times, but had the advantages of being inexpensive and reliable. It is not difficult to find a C3 that still works. One weak point of the Match-Matic is the selenium cell light meter, which tends to go bad with age.

Front

Back

Top

Film Chamber

The Match-Matic is a passable picture taker that uses regular 35mm film. Operating the camera is fiddly. To advance the film for the next picture you press a small catch near the exposure counter, turn the film winding knob a quarter turn clockwise, release the catch, and then continue to turn the winding knob clockwise until it stops. This is the same system that was introduced in the original Argus A camera in 1936. To load the film you open the back, put fresh film in the chamber on the right side of the camera (as seen from the back), guide the film over the sprocket wheels, and insert the film into the slot on the take-up spool. You turn the film advance knob to take up the slack, close the back, advance the film three times, and set the exposure counter by turning the dial clockwise until it reaches zero. Set the shutter speed, set the aperture, cock the shutter using the lever on the front of the camera, focus while looking through the range finder window, compose your shot while looking through the viewfinder window, and press the shutter release while keeping your fingers away from the shutter setting lever. You will be rewarded with a resounding "clang!" when the shutter fires. You then advance the film for the next shot. There is no interlock to prevent double exposures or to prevent advancing the film without taking a shot. One way you spoil two pictures, the other you waste a shot. To unload the camera you turn the rewind knob on the bottom of the camera until the film is rewound, open the back and take out the film.

In daylight you could set the light meter for ASA film speeds from 3 to 1000. You set the shutter speed on the meter dial, point the light meter at the scene, and the meter needle would point to the correct aperture setting. Because the light meter is an uncoupled meter, it can be replaced by a more modern hand held meter. Get one that has an exposure value system readout to make life a little easier. The Sekonic L-208 meter comes with a foot that fits the accessory shoe on the Match-Matic and is a good choice. The sum of the setting on the shutter speed dial and the setting on the aperture ring should equal the exposure value given by the meter.

The Match-Matic came with a flasholder that plugged into the side of the camera. The rangefinder dial was marked with the aperture settings to use with blue type 25B flash bulbs (made by Sylvania, of course) and Kodak Kodachrome Daylight film. The shutter speed dial was marked with a flash bulb icon to remind you that flash bulbs synced with the shutter at speed "5" (1/25 second). The manual mentioned electronic flash, but as far as I know Argus did not have an electronic flash unit for the Match-Matic.