Lithagon Lenses for the Geiss Modified Argus C4

In 1954 Geiss-America, Inc. began selling a replacement lens mounting and a series of interchangeable lenses for the Argus C4. Geiss-America was an importer of West German photo equipment. The lenses were made by Enna-Werk, Munich.

Left - Right: f/4.5 35mm, f/1.9 45mm, f/4.5 100mm, f/3.5 135mm Lenses.

Center: Sandmar Zoom-Vue Viewfinder.

The initial set of lenses included an f/4.5 35mm and an f/4.5 100mm. An f/1.9 45mm and an f/3.5 135mm lens came out later. The unmodified Argus C4 camera had a fixed f/2.8 50mm Argus Cintar lens. The modified camera got a new, interchangeable lens mounting.  The existing standard, f/2.8 50mm lens was modified to fit the new lens mounting. Geiss would modify either new or used C4 cameras. Geiss sold a Sandmar Zoom-Vue auxiliary viewfinder for the Lithagon lenses.

The large lens hood for the 135mm telephoto lens would have blocked the rangefinder.  To avoid that, the rear of the lens hood was made of glass so the rangefinder could see through it.  The alternative is to remove the lens hood.  The lens hood, being partly glass, was fragile.  You do see 135mm Lithagons without lens hoods.  Presumably the lens hoods were broken.

The 35mm and 45mm lenses will take modern 49mm screw-in filters.  Alternatively, either lens will take a 2" diameter Series VII adapter and Series VII drop in filters.  The 100mm lens will take a Series V drop-in filter between the lens and lens hood.  The 135mm lens will take a 52mm screw-in filter.

The C4 was discontinued in 1958. The next model, the C44, has a different lens mount and its own set of interchangeable lenses..

This camera has the standard f/2.8 50mm Argus Cintar modified for the Geiss mounting.

Geiss modified Argus C-4

Catch closed.

Catch Open

Lever open.

Lens removed.

Index marks on the Cintar lens.

Camera focused at infinity.

Lens reinstalled.

To change the lens the photographer put the camera on its back, then turned the knurled knob at the end of the lever to release the catch and moved the lever up. The old lens would be lifted straight out. Before installing the new lens the camera had to be set to focus at infinity. The new lens was set to line up the index marks, then lowered straight in, making sure that the gear teeth meshed. The lever would then be moved down and the knob turned to latch the lever. In use the lens mounting is more complicated than the lens mountings on modern digital cameras. It is easier to change the lens on a Geiss C4 than it is on an Argus C3. The degree of difficulty is about the same as on an Argus C44 or C33.

The lens can wobble on a camera with bent flanges on the lens mount. When you look at the mount from the side the slots under the flanges will be spread apart. They should be straight as in this "after repair" picture. Unfortunately I did not make a "before" picture. You do the fix by pressing the flange to straighten the slot. You don't even have to take the mount off the camera.

The lens mount as seen from the side.

The long, thin slot should be straight. If it is spread apart the lens will wobble.

A Geiss modified C-4 with a Lithagon f/1.9 45mm lens and the Sandmar Zoom-Vue finder.

A wedding party crossing Legislative Plaza to the War Memorial Building on a sunny but cool Saturday afternoon. Picture taken on Ultrafine Xtreme 100 on a Geiss modified C-4 with an f/1.9 45mm lens. The state capitol building is in the background.

The War Memorial Building was built about 1925 as a memorial to Tennesseeans who were killed in action during the First World War. The doric order columns make a popular background for wedding photographs.