Argus C44R (1958-1962)

The C44R is an updated C44 (see the post dated November 29, 2018) with a thumb lever advance instead of a knob. The thumb lever is a little faster to use and a little easier on the fingers than the knob. It takes roughly one and a half strokes to advance the film and cock the shutter. The shutters are slightly different on the two models. The shutter speeds on the older, knob-wind version of the camera are 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/300, while the shutter speeds on this newer, thumb lever advance camera are 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125 and 1/300. Another change from the C44 is that you can couple a CM-2 light meter onto the shutter speed knob of the C-44R. Introduced in 1958 and discontinued in 1962, the C44R came in two versions: one with a short viewfinder housing and one with a long viewfinder housing. The advertised price was about one hundred dollars (close in buying power to a thousand of today's depreciated dollars). I do not have production numbers. The nearest equivalent camera that was made in the USA would be the Kodak Signet 80.

Front (First Version with 50 mm f/2.8 Lens)

Back (First Version)

Front (Second Version - with f/1.9 50 mm lens)

Back (Second Version)

The C44R takes the same lenses and has the same lens mount as the C44.  The stock 50mm f/2.8 lens is a Tessar type that was made by Argus in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The lens was designed using a digital computer at the University of Michigan, and has a rare earth glass lens element.  The 35mm f/4.5, 50mm f/1.9 and 100 mm f/4.5 lenses were made by Steinheil in Munich, West Germany.

   

Additional Lenses - 35 mm f/4.5, 50 mm f/1.9 and 100 mm f/3.5.

The auxiliary turret viewfinder for the C44R was made in Lichtenstein.  Rotating the front dial sets the field of view for a 35 mm, 50 mm or 100 mm lens.  A dial on the back can be set to the subject distance to correct for parallax.  The viewfinder fits in the flash shoe and has a socket for a flash extension.  I think this is the nicest of the Argus auxiliary viewfinders.  You want to use the turret viewfinder with the 50mm f/1.9 lens because that lens and hood partially block the in-camera viewfinder.

Argus Turret Viewfinder Front

Argus Turret Viewfinder Back

The C44R uses the selenium cell CM-2 light meter.  The light meter couples to the shutter speed dial and the needle on the meter points to the appropriate f/stop for the lens.

The C44R was the fanciest 35mm camera made by Argus.  The lens mount is a little fiddly, but makes a positive connection.  The light meter interferes a little with getting a good grip on the camera.

CM-2 Light Meter