a Moskva 5 review

Is there a preferred vendor today that is reliable whereby I might try out one of the FSU folders? I own 2 FSU Barnack copies that I enjoy very much but never had the urge to try the medium format. Thanks!!

Ray
 
Buy from a top seller in Ukraine on eBay, I've bought from several of them and it has been all good. (usually free int shipping too).

They go between $50 and $90, depending on service status and accessories (make sure the tester can verify functionality and light-tightness and try to get one which has the 6*6 mask included, some sellers have test-shots online, which shows how the camera delivers)

I bought mine for $70 from a physical store in Prague and the guy had really done a good job servicing it.
 
I had a Moskva 5 for a while. The camera back would not keep the film plane flat so my images were out of focus. I sold it.
I also had an Iskra 2 that was terrific. Very sharp lens. The focus ring was hard to turn but otherwise had no problems. I just wasn't that keen on the 6x6 format so I sold that one too.
The only folder I have left is a Fujifilm GF670. I bought it used a few years ago at a great price. It is a great camera. Of course, it is a modern design, with a fabulous viewfinder, and is very reliable. I need to use it more than I do.
 
Eric T said:
I had a Moskva 5 for a while. The camera back would not keep the film plane flat so my images were out of focus. I sold it.
I also had an Iskra 2 that was terrific. Very sharp lens. The focus ring was hard to turn but otherwise had no problems. I just wasn't that keen on the 6x6 format so I sold that one too.
The only folder I have left is a Fujifilm GF670. I bought it used a few years ago at a great price. It is a great camera. Of course, it is a modern design, with a fabulous viewfinder, and is very reliable. I need to use it more than I do.
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Not sure if it matters or not, but a trick to these 6*9 folders, is to only wind the film forward only when you are about to actually take a photo.

If you do it after a photo is taken, close the camera and later open it, the suction-effect and the general position of the film, may cause it to sag.

Not sure if you did or didn't, but there you go.

I've read that these cameras have have issues with the pressure-plate not being straight etc, mine does not seem to have that problem, but I can see the service-guy I bought it from, filled the back of that plate with some foam, to make it more firm.

He had also built up the compartment with the film-spools with a a few dots of foam too, most likely to avoid the film to develop slack.
 
Contrary to other people's experiences, my Moskva-2 was problematic and never worked properly. My Moskva-5 has worked 100% without trouble.

Design-wise, I like the Moskva-5 a little better than the Moskva-2, it appears to me that the factory had finally gotten the formula 'right'. Since the Moskva-5 was the last 6x9 model produced (and mine has a late serial number as well) my assumption is that they worked out all the bugs.

Here's one taken with my Moskva-2 (before it became unusable) ... Ilford PanF+, farm scene ... looks like a scene in the Old Country!

4755072723_6c61a29bf2_z.jpg


And here's another using my Moskva-5, Kodak Ektacolor 160 (expired 1990's)

16824836026_3efd191aca_c.jpg


The IQ on my Moskva-5 is really good, and the huge 6x9 negatives are a great way to burn through a roll of film! :)
 
I have the chance to own a Moskva 5 that is either a prototype or an intelligently modified model. It has a combined viewfinder/rangefinder so you can frame the picture and focus at the same time. It seems like a logical stepup from the Moskva 4. I think it's how every Moskva 5 camera was meant to be but for whatever reason, someone decided to retain the outdated separate viewfinder/rangefinder design.

Here's a (pretty bad) picture of the camera:

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If anyone is interested, I could post more detailed pictures.

Cheers!

Abbazz
 
I miss my Moskva-5 camera. Maybe I should buy another one? Who bought from me the red Moskva-5 with a Moskva-4 lens.
 
That's funny, I just rediscovered my customized Moskva-5 with integrated rangefinder/viewfinder tucked away at the rear of a closet. I put a roll of Smena 64 film in it and started shooting. A very pleasant camera indeed, much better in my view than the Super Ikonta. My only grip is that I find it quite ponderous compared to my favorite 6x9 folders (Bessa RF and Agfa Record III).

Cheers!

Abbazz
 
I'm shooting mine right now. Interesting that I get sharp pics at 1/100 and below, but get camera shake at 1/250. Going to pump several rolls through it this weekend, after all we are in Red Oktober! Plus I need to catch up to Larry...
 
Just got some rolls back.

Mockba 5 aka White Russian, Fuji NPS160, handheld @ 1/10sec f 3.5



While this is natively a 6x9 kamera, I shoot it with the 6x6 mask installed cuz I have 2 other 6x9 kameras, I like the square format, and I like to get 12 exposures per roll...
 
Mockba 5, Fuji NPS160



What is interesting is if I shoot at 1/250 I get blurry pics. Anything below that is sharp - even handheld at 1/10! (neon pic above). It seems that something in the shutter causes severe shock at 1/250. Are other Mockbas like that?

Also parallax is an issue at close distances until you figure it out via trial and error.
 
Ko.Fe. said:
No.

Where are many of them in never used condition. Reason? Gem for collectors, but next to junk for using. This is why where are many Москва-2 in used condition and Москва-4 is most desirable among native users.
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I guess one could apply that logic to all the old Leica LTM and M mount cameras out there.
 
Huss said:
Mockba 5, Fuji NPS160


What is interesting is if I shoot at 1/250 I get blurry pics. Anything below that is sharp - even handheld at 1/10! (neon pic above). It seems that something in the shutter causes severe shock at 1/250. Are other Mockbas like that?
Click to expand...


I have rarely used mine at 1/250 to notice one way or another. I do know that it has a booster spring for the 1/250 speed. Maybe that spring letting go and the three bladed shutter (not typical 5 blades) creates the jolting motions?
 
Dan Daniel said:
I have rarely used mine at 1/250 to notice one way or another. I do know that it has a booster spring for the 1/250 speed. Maybe that spring letting go and the three bladed shutter (not typical 5 blades) creates the jolting motions?
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I'm going to shoot the same image at 1/250 and 1/100 on my next roll just to confirm this. But I am pretty sure that's the case because I have had zero issues at 1/100.
 
Beemermark said:
I guess one could apply that logic to all the old Leica LTM and M mount cameras out there.
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I have no idea how yours logic works.

I just have practical and real life experience with old FSU gear. If it is old and looks unused - it is брак from the factory. Moskva, Kiev, Zorki same thing.

Was Leica the same, selling not functioning cameras?

In USSR it was norm, not only for cameras. I was never able to learn how to play on guitar. It was hard to find one and years later the one I was trying to use (someone gave it my mother as new) it appears to be брак from the factory.
 
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