The Argus 21 was manufactured from 1947 through 1952 and shares the same body as the later, more popular C-4 and C-44 rangefinder cameras. The Model 21 was unique as it had no rangefinder to assist the photographer in determining the correct focus. Instead, the camera featured a projected frame mask with center cross to help in photo composition, and to correct for eye-position error.

This was the first Argus camera to provide for automatic shutter cocking with film advance, unlike it's predecessors including the C, C3, and A series cameras. Early model 21s were susceptible to film tearing as shutter cocking relied upon the notches in the film to pull a set of gears to cock the shutter. If you choose to use an early 21, be sure to advance the film slowly and firmly. Its also a good idea to avoid 36 exposure film as the force needed to advance the film becomes increasingly harder with each frame.

The 21 also had a flash sync selector switch that allowed the photographer to choose between regular bulbs (M) and gas-filled bulbs (F). Shutter speeds ranged from 1/10th of a second to 1/200th and there is also a "B" setting. Later model 21 cameras had a top-shutter speed of 1/300th of a second. The Markfinder also had a screw-mount removable 50mm Cintar coated lens. However no replacement lenses were ever made for this camera. It was the intention of Argus to make the lens removable solely so it could be used on print enlargers.

This camera is a great performer. Its advantages is that it is lighter and much more compact than the Argus bricks, and the "markfinder" does make composition easy and very accurate for a viewfinder camera. The two disadvantages are the previously mentioned difficulty advancing film and the lack of a rangefinder, which could become an issue when having to "guess-timate" focal length, especially when using larger lens openings. I often load this camera w. ISO 400 speed film and use it for bright indoor/natural light photographs without a flash.

Though not as popular as the C-4 and C-44, plenty of Markfinders can be found on eBay today.