Out and About with the Argus CR-1 SLR

Welcome to a review of yet another Chinon M42-mount SLR, albeit badged as the Argus CR-1.  Chinon produced the CR-1 in 1975, and in fact, produced a series under the CR line, the CR-1, CR-2, and CR-3E.  While bearing the Argus logo, it appears that Argus did not distribute the cameras, but were distributed by the IMC Division of Interphoto Corporation.  The first thing one notices about this SLR is the strange flattened curvy prism housing.   I actually like it, as it's a big change from what everyone else was doing. However, it also bears noting that the Voigtlander/Rollei SL35 of 1976 has a similarly shaped prism housing.  The second obvious thing about this camera is only apparent when you hold it - it's a beast, and built like a tank.  Much of my information about this camera comes from Henry Gambino's excellent book, "Argomania."  However, Mr. Gambino made an error when he said the camera has a cloth focal plane shutter.  It's not - it's a metal-bladed, vertically travelling Copal Square shutter that was commonly seen in Cosina and Chinon cameras.  The shutter has the typical B, 1-1/1000 speeds, and the ASA markings go from 10 to 1600. The metering is stop-down, and the meter is actuated by pressing halfway down on the shutter release, with the typical +/- metering needle indicator on the right of the viewfinder.   

Simple control layout, nothing you don't need.

My example of the the CR-1 came with the 55mm f/2 Argus Auto-Cintar lens, which has the matching indentations on the focus ring that you see on the shutter speed and rewind dials. I purchased the camera on eBay  in November 2020, and paid $30 + shipping. When I was actively engaged in Argus collecting (2002-2011), the CR series SLRS would often show up at camera swaps, and because they were not actually made by Argus, I was not that interested in them. I remember someone selling new in box CR-1s that were probably bought when stores were dumping excess inventory, when somewhat generic M42-mount cameras could no longer compete with the K-mounts, Canons, Nikons, and Minoltas of 1980.  

Once I was sure that the camera worked as advertised, it became my "keep in the car" SLR.  I also paired it with with the lovely Zenit Helios 44-M 58mm f/2 lens. With black and white film in it, it's always there should I need it.  

Paired with the Helios M-44 58mm f/2 Soviet lens and
a vintage Argus-branded flash unit.

Two features on the camera that I really like - the locking collar around the shutter button to prevent accidental exposures, and the large shutter button.  That Copal Square shutter sure makes a loud kerchunk when it fires, so there's no question that I have taken a photo.  The body has a typical hotshoe on the prism as well as PC connectors from X and M next to the lens mount.  The flash sync is 1/125 sec.  While I have read that the CR-1s have a decal with the model name, mine is definitey engraved on the front. The camera with a lens weighs 2.5 pounds, which is pretty hefty.  The tank-like build reminds me of the Ricoh Singlex TLS from the late 1960s.  

Overall, the CR-1's design is its standout feature, as it has pretty much the same features as most M-42 mount SLRs of its time. The beauty of the M42 mount, or Praktica Screw mount is that you can find lenses for it for almost nothing.  As I have written before on RCB, there are a lot of wonderful M42 SLRs out there, with the Pentax Spotmatic F at the top of my list.  The Argus CR-1 is no Spotmatic F, but it sure isn't a  Zenit, either.  Chinon made a lot of SLRs, but the CR-1 stands out from the crowd. Note, if you live in Europe, you re more likely to find a Photo Quelle Revueflex 1001, which is the same camera, but with a different name.

Here are a few images from my CR-1, loaded with Ultrafine Extreme 100 film, developed in D76 1:1.

Dogwood buds in March

Big Creek

Big Creek falls

Riverside Arts District

Giant Allium going to seed.

Tired doggy

Sunny Daisies

The Chinon CS-4

The Chinon CS-4 - Reliable Screw-Mount SLR

Chinon was a long-time manufacturer of cameras and lenses -- most often as a supplier for other brands. Chinon, Cosina, and Ricoh seem to be thought of as second-tier cameras as compared to the Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Olympus brands that dominated the 35mm SLR scene throughout the 1970s and 80s. Chinon, based in Japan, was a company from 1948-2004, and at some point late in their run was bought by Kodak.  However, during the 70s and 80s, they produced very competent SLRs that were often under the Sears brand, Revue brand, as well as their own.  As autofocus and electronic cameras began gaining popularity, Chinon produced some memorable, if not odd designs, such as the Chinon Genesis line of cameras.  Check out Butkus' many Chinon manuals.

The Chinon CS-4 is a basic, no-frills SLR that has an M-42 mount (Pentax or Praktica screw mount), which was popular in the late 1960s-1970s among second-tier manufacturers, since it was considered a "universal" mount. When Pentax finally switched to the bayonet K-mount, it became the defacto "universal" mount among the same manufacturers.  The CS-4, while it has the older screw-mount, uses a modern LR-44 cell for the meter (two cells required).  LEDs (red and green) in the stop-down metering let you know when your exposure is correct.  Shutter speeds range from B, 1-1/1000 sec, and the ISO settings range from 25-1600.  There is no self-timer. A hot-shoe allows any hot-shoe flash to be used, and 1/60 sec is the flash sync speed.  A pretty basic camera with a reliable Seiko metal focal-plane shutter.  The back has a film reminder slot, and the viewfinder visibility is 92%.

The Chinon CS-4 will accept just about any M-42 mount lens, so the user certainly has a large number of lenses to work with, and there are some desirable classic lenses that can be used to good effect with this camera.  The Chinon CS-4 that I purchased back in December 2015 came in a bag with the 55mm f/1.7 Chinon lens and a Lentar 28mm  f/2.8 lens, a JC Penney flash, filters, and manual -- for $10.  The camera works well, and like any fully manual SLR, it will give as good as a result as the skills of the person that is using it.  For a beginner into film photography, this camera would be highly desirable. The red/green LEDs for determining the exposure lie alongside the viewfinder and are easily seen.

While I paid $10 for the bag of stuff at a thrift shop, a CS-4 with lens in good working condition should be available for under $40 on ebay.

All of the images below were shot with this camera.