Agfa Optima II S

The Optima II S was a budget 35mm camera produced by Agfa from 1961 to 1966, part of their line that automated exposure settings for novice photographers. Building on the groundbreaking fully automatic exposure system introduced by the original Optima (1958) – the first camera to automatically set both aperture and shutter speed based on a light meter reading – the Optima II S offered this significant automation within a simpler, more accessible body. It featured a selenium cell meter controlling the aperture automatically while the user selected the shutter speed and focused, simplifying exposure control for casual users. As a point-and-shoot camera of its era, it prioritized ease of use and affordability, contributing to making 35mm photography more approachable for the general public without requiring complex technical knowledge.