The Medium Format Selfie Stick with the Agfa Clack

Photo above: Gerald does Selfie on Annenstrasse – Ilford FP4 125 Stand Development in Rodinal 1/25

It was the early hours of the morning and I had this vision. This crazy wild idea of using the Agfa Clack in a special way – a magical way. Maybe it’s silly or maybe not, I thought. What I now can testify to is this. Yes its both crazy and funny! Here’s the story of the world’s first medium format film selfie stick -the S.A.C.S (Selfie Agfa Clack Stick).

Selfie Stick for the Agfa Clack

Lunchtime with Gerald, Georg and Myself – Ilford FP4 125 Stand Development in Rodinal 1/25

What can I say about this fantastic invention? It’s retro and vintage at the same time in a good way. Built to mock the hippest of Hipsters. It has faux leather and a toy plastic feel. An unique user experience.

Selfie Hans Resel Gasse *– Ilford FP4 125 Stand Development in Rodinal 1/25*

When I took this new invention to the city streets of Graz, Austria I could see straight away from the looks I was getting – it was a hit. Reading from people’s expressions on their faces, folks love it and relate to it. Most passersby need to look twice to see if what they’re seeing is believable. It’s not a smartphone, it’s not a digital camera. It’s a string and an old camera. Is this a joke ? Does it work? And the answer is: Yes, it’s kind of joke and yes, it works! .

Selfie on Annenstrasse – Ilford FP4 125 Stand Development in Rodinal 1/25

The Clack, the little Afga is so light it can easily hang quite well in fact perfectly at the end of any cheap extendable selfie stick.

Only paying a few euros for the stick and 7 euros for the camera. I used two empty 120 reels from medium format film to guide the string looped to the shutter release. A notch was chopped out using pliers so they sat well on the stick. One at the start of the telescope part and the other at the top of the handle. Then with some duct tape wrapped around to secure the reels from moving. The “vintage hipster” string is simply some packaging string I had in the office drawer. But I tell people who have to ask, that I had to order it specially! (It’s all part of the fun!)

Watch my video on how-to make the Agfa Selfie Stick!

I even had the courage to bring the Clack and the stick to work. The idea of a selfie stick with such a camera is so ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh about it.

Thomas, Gerald,Georg, Mario, Flo, Robert, Eco and myself – Ilford FP4 125 Stand Development in Rodinal 1/25

It mocks our society’s self obsessive behaviour regarding social media and image. I think everyone hates selfie sticks in general but not this one. This is the stick that says, “if you want to be silly than look at me!”. It’s an absurd idea.

Iris pulls the stick by teeth

So in your face iPhone 7 folks here’s my cheapo 7 euro Medium Format Selfie stick. So try that for size and resolution!

Now us photographers who love film don’t need to feel excluded anymore when they travel. The SACS can now disguise us in an ever changing digital world. We can go outside again. Joining the wave of tourists in every city in the selfie stick landscape.

Now onto alternative ways to pull the string. Nothing too serious here.