The Isoly series is probably best known for the humble Isoly I, the camera that launched a 1000 Diana clones. But the series also feature a range of other models including the top of the range Isoly III which makes for a rather good 120 P&S

Don’t mistake for it’s little brother the  Isoly 1 (irritatingly Agfa didn’t always print model number as you can see here). They may share the same body design and viewfinder but that’s about it. The mechanics and lens are much better with a 3 element glass lens backed with a prontor variable shutter

If you’ve a modern Diana F+ or have an old Diana the shape will seem instantly familiar. The plastic body is quite stylish and obviously was so good it was nicked as a design for the old Diana. Unlike the Isoly I the film plate is flat but otherwise the difference is all up front. Like the Isoly I & the Diana F+ you open the film compartment by turning a switch on the base and slide off the back.

Focus is a scale affair with the lens barrel also given a helpful Depth of Field (DoF) scale.  Behind that is the shutter speed ring. You’ll need to manually cock the shutter by a small lever on the top side of the lens (don’t touch the timer lever on the bottom) .  Nearest the body is the aperture ring. There is no metering (the Isoly Mat based on the Isoly IIa offers a coupled selenium meter) but I can’t think of 120 P&S that offered as much flexibility as the Isoly III and it matches some of my 70’s and 80’s Japanese compacts on EV range. You can shoot up to  400ASA  in most standard conditions with impunity.

The camera has  double exposure prevention, cable release, Tripod mount and unusual for its age a hot shoe flash mount only.  The exposure lock is shown in a small hole beside the shutter (locked on red – can fire on white). The manual suggests any shutter speed can be used with an electronic flash. There is a timer but don’t touch it !!

And this camera works pretty well as a 120 P&S with crisp accurate shots when I get the exposure right and is probably the best clinically 120 P&S I’ve ever used. The images are 4×4 which mean whilst you lose out on negative size you gain with 16 shots on a roll.

Just don’t touch the timer. I did and I still don’t know if the 1/30 setting was knackered before I used it or not. Certainly old 120 cameras tend to develop issues more so with slower shutters but I stupidly touched it before I tested and now it’s more like a 1/2 (yup the timer jammed).

A classic 120 P&S. Maybe not one for lomo style shots nor does it have the boggling versatility you get with a modern Diana F+ or Holga regarding interchangeable lens, backs etc but this is the most flexible to shoot fixed lens 120 P&S I know.

Alternatives

• Lomography Diana F+ – Closest modern equivalent
• Agfa Isoly I – more limited little brother
• Halina 6-4 – Glass lensed 120 P&S from Haking

Helpful links

• Manual & Review at Classic Panorama Photography
• Isoly Series at Camera-wiki.org
• Vintage Agfa : 120 Format Group at Flickr
• Isoly III specs at optiksammlung.de (German)
• Manual & Perspective on Gunter Porst’s site (German but manual  can be found in both German & English on PDF link)