Ansco Clipper

Introduction: The Ansco Clipper at a Glance

The Ansco Clipper belongs to a family of simple, non-adjustable cameras made by Agfa Ansco, later Ansco, from the 1930s into the 1950s. It is a friendly entry point into analog cameras: there is no focusing ring to turn, no aperture to set and no exposure meter to read.

The manual that accompanies this model calls it the Ansco Clipper 16 Camera with Unifo double lens. As the name suggests, it takes 16 pictures of 2½ x 2-1/16 inches (about 64 x 52 mm) on Ansco 616 film.

Shooting with a fixed-focus, fixed-aperture camera like this changes how you work. With so few controls, attention shifts to the things you can still influence: where you stand, how steadily you hold the camera, and what the light is doing.

Design Roots and Historical Background

A snapshot camera from the Agfa Ansco line

According to camera-wiki.org, the series began as the Agfa Ansco PD16 Clipper. The Agfa branding was dropped during the WWII years, which is why later cameras simply carry the Ansco name.

The idea behind the design is easy to appreciate. The lens board pulls out of the camera body for taking pictures and collapses when the camera is not in use.

The wider Clipper family

The Clipper name covers several related cameras. The Flash Clipper added an accessory shoe and a proprietary two-pin flash sync connection beside the lens, and some examples have a built-in yellow filter. The Clipper Special was an upmarket, higher-spec version with focus and exposure adjustments. The Color Clipper is a separate cousin that uses 120 film instead of 616.

The manual we host belongs to the Clipper 16 with the Unifo double lens, the 616-film version described here.

Key Technical Highlights

Film format and frame size

The Clipper takes 16 exposures on 616 roll film, each measuring 2½ x 2-1/16 inches, or about 64 x 52 mm. You advance the film by turning the winding knob and watching the numbers appear in the red window at the back of the camera. Turn the knob until the figure 1 appears before the first picture.

The Unifo double lens and shutter

The Unifo double lens is a universal-focus lens. According to the manual, it photographs all subjects from 6 feet (about 1.8 m) to infinity, and closer subjects need a portrait attachment. Focus and aperture are fixed, so there is nothing to set. The shutter has I (instant) and B (bulb) settings.

Controls and handling

Bulb exposures are made with the bulb exposure bar pulled out, and the manual says the camera must rest on a firm support such as a chair or table, with the vertical footrest holding it level.

• Sliding release for opening the back.
• Winding knob, read through the red window at the rear.
• Finger grips for opening the camera front.
• Eye-level optical viewfinder and shutter release (trigger).
• Vertical footrest and bulb exposure bar for long exposures.

Modern-Day Use in 2026

Where the Clipper excels

The Clipper is best enjoyed as a slow, simple film camera. Its large negatives and uncomplicated operation make it a pleasant way to shoot roll film without much equipment.

Use it for:

• Outdoor portraits and group shots in bright daylight.
• Landscapes, streets and architecture seen from a few metres away.
• Travel snapshots where a collapsible camera is easy to carry.
• Display pieces or conversation starters for film photography fans.

Practical shooting tips

• Choose a film speed suited to bright conditions, since aperture and focus are fixed and the shutter has no adjustable speeds.
• Stand at least 1.8 m from your subject so the Unifo lens can render it sharply.
• Hold the camera steady with both hands and squeeze the trigger gently to avoid shake.
• Use a table, chair or other stable support for any bulb exposure, with the footrest holding the camera level.

Buying and Maintenance Guide

What to check before buying used

Because the design is so simple, there are few things to check, but each matters.

• Open the camera and confirm that the lens board pulls out and collapses smoothly and locks firmly.
• Look through the lens at a light for haze, fungus, scratches or dust between the elements.
• Press the shutter release and listen for a crisp action in both I and B positions.
• Look through the eye-level viewfinder and check that it is clear and not clouded.
• Make sure the winding knob turns freely and that the red window at the back is intact.

Look for cracks or worn seams, and confirm that it is the 616 version rather than another Clipper model.

Power and film

The Clipper is wound and released by hand, so the plain camera has no battery to worry about. The practical question is film: it takes 616, a different size from the 120 used by its Color Clipper cousin.

• Check where you will get film, and who will develop it, before the first roll.
• Wind carefully and watch the red window so that frames do not overlap.

Basic care and accessories

A few simple photography accessories help keep a vintage folder in good shape:

• A padded pouch or bag to protect the lens board and viewfinder from knocks.
• A microfiber cloth and a blower for gentle cleaning of the lens and body.
• A small tripod or other stable support for bulb exposures.
• A dry, cool place for storage, with the camera collapsed.

Conclusion: Simplicity on Roll Film

The Ansco Clipper strips photography down to its basics. Focus and aperture are fixed, the shutter offers I and B, and the Unifo double lens handles everything from about 1.8 m to infinity.

If you enjoy slow, mechanical photography and do not mind planning around film, the Clipper is a rewarding piece of film history. Check the lens, shutter and light-tightness, and confirm the variant.

Ready to explore cameras like the Ansco Clipper? Browse our analog cameras and medium and larger format film cameras, and pair them with photography accessories at DutchThrift.com.

Sources: original Ansco Clipper 16 instruction manual (cover photo from the manual); Ansco Clipper on camera-wiki.org, text licensed under GFDL 1.3.