“That belongs in a museum!” Photographer tries out Indiana Jones’ real-world compact film camera
'Indiana Jones and the Great Circle' features a fictional camera that’s heavily based on a real-world 35mm relic
A YouTuber recently acquired the film camera that played a pivotal role in the video game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. This game, released in 2024 by MachineGames and Bethesda Softworks, is set between the iconic films Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The game features Indiana Jones navigating through various challenges, including puzzles, and the camera is utilized extensively for this purpose.
However, the in-game camera brand, Relic, is purely fictitious. The camera, nonetheless, closely resembles the real-life Argus Model A, a 35mm film camera produced from 1936 to 1941. Interestingly, this camera was cutting-edge technology during the time periods depicted in the game - 1936 for Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1937 for The Great Circle, and 1938 for The Last Crusade.
The Argus Model A is a robust 35mm camera crafted from Bakelite and aluminum, with a 50mm IRC f/4.5 Anastigmat collapsible lens. It was originally priced at a modest $12.50, and is often regarded as "the second most important 35mm camera ever made".
The Film Photography Project describes the Argus Model A as a camera with a remarkable design and durability. The YouTuber plans to provide a comprehensive review of this vintage photography relic, detailing its handling, durability, and overall design in a forthcoming video.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
