Back from Kazakstan

[Zorkiiglaza]

I got back from 3 months in K'stan last night.

What a wild wierd trip it was!
Three months of mostly speaking Russian!

the sad news is that most of the rangefinder cameras are gone.

I tried to get some 40.5 filters.- my friend gave a pile of them to someone a few months ago since he couldn't sell them any more.
my friend said that he feels that over there there is little interest left in soviet cameras.

I was luck and aquired 50 plus photo journals in Russian- fotographia and sovietski foto.

I saw just a few Fed 2's for sales and an odd Smena and Chiaka.

I almost bought a Kiev 6 one weekend for $12 but I was loaded down with two Ukrainian bicycles and it was very cold!

God what culture shock!

Zorkiiglaza

 

[reagan]

the sad news is that most of the rangefinder cameras are gone.

yeah, gone to us GAS hogs at RFF! 😉
Not sure about three months, but wouldn't have minded going with ya though. Guess I can settle for a few pics.

 

[RML]

yeah, gone to us GAS hogs at RFF! 😉
Not sure about three months, but wouldn't have minded going with ya though. Guess I can settle for a few pics.

Mongolia is worse. In over 5 years I haven't ben able to find a single FSU camera there. On the square photogs hang out to shoot people's portraits but all of them use manual Nikons, and they don't sell them as they are their livelyhood.

If K'stan is like Mongolia, I can imagine what the experience must have been like. Pretty cool. 🙂

 

[reagan]

How 'bout an RFF field trip to K'stan AND Mongolia? heh? And you guys can be our Trusty [Okay, Rusty] Guides! ........ I'm in! 😎

 

[oftheherd]

Welcome back. Hope we get to see some photos from your stay there.

 

[RML]

How 'bout an RFF field trip to K'stan AND Mongolia? heh? And you guys can be our Trusty [Okay, Rusty] Guides! ........ I'm in! 😎

That could work!
I could help arrange the trip from the Kazak border and on through Mongolia. You decide how long, how difficult the trip should be, how much you plan to spend on it, what you wish to see, etc.

 

[reagan]

That could work!
I could help arrange the trip from the Kazak border and on through Mongolia. You decide how long, how difficult the trip should be, how much you plan to spend on it, what you wish to see, etc.

I'll print this thread and slip it into my Christmas list I give my wife... see if she'll spring for me a little vacation Christmas cheer.

"C'mon hon! Me, some guys, some Zorkis... it's juss whadda want!! ........ Okay. Thanks for the socks ........ again ........... dear."

 

[RJBender]

Say "hello" to Borat Sagdiyev (Борат Сагдиев ) for me.

R.J.

 

[RML]

Say "hello" to Borat Sagdiyev (Борат Сагдиев ) for me.

R.J.

RJ, enlighten me! Who or what is he/it?

 

[RJBender]

RJ, enlighten me! Who or what is he/it?

Remy,

He's the English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.


R.J.

 

[Zorkiiglaza]

I did see 2 ads in the local weekly trader - someone wanted to buy Soviet cameras.
My Russian friend who still has alot of cameras, told me of a local who has collected most of the soviet produced cameras- even the elusive REPORTER from the '30's of which perhaps 500 were produced. I once got to hold one at a weekly photo club meeting years ago.

People in Kazakstan, who can afford it, are shooting digital- I met a young Kazak with the latest D-70 --newer than mine! Most of the current models are available.

I was however, able to buy a Zeiss 120 and 180 Sonnar to use with my Kiev 6. I was offered a 50 but it had been abused.
Also saw a Rolleiflex with the 135 lens. Slightly front heavy!

I was told that black and white paper is not available anymore and color print film is harder to find.

I don't know if I will have time to post before I leave on the 20th for the next stage- 4 months in Rajasthan.... Some people say I like to go places that end in stan....!

My Regrets to anyone who tried to write me when I was gone.
My e-mail was very minimal there- I had to ride the bus into the city- a 1 hour trip each way. Also I was working 6 days a week on our excavations.