MIkhail
Well-known
That's exactly right. I suspec this is tha reason that growing up I only once met a kid who had allergies (to poplar fluff). Once in my entire life there. Both my kids have allergies now..
FSU cameras when they were new
- Thread starter motormike900
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That's exactly right. I suspec this is tha reason that growing up I only once met a kid who had allergies (to poplar fluff). Once in my entire life there. Both my kids have allergies now..
seany65
Well-known
Another interesting question is: Why did the soviets make it so hard to date their cameras and lenses?
MIkhail
Well-known
Are you referring to "dinner and a movie, walk back home, kiss goodnight at the door, maybe staying overnight" type of a date?
nzhang
Member
Before 1989, China still under tight planning type of economic, factory works started around 40 yuan per month salary. But 1984-1988 were fast growing years of China and ended up high inflation, unhappy salary employees, and 89 Tiananmen Square event.
radi(c)al_cam
Well-known
Regarding Soviet Union citizens and their dispensable money:
IIRC, I've been told that during the 1980s some Soviet citizen were willing to pay up to 500 USD (or Deutschmarks, but that was not so much less) for a pair of worn Blue Jeans as far as they were from the West.
Is that actually true?
I mean, one could read a couple of years ago that people in East Asia were willing to «donate» (well: sell) one of their kidneys for an iPhone, …
IIRC, I've been told that during the 1980s some Soviet citizen were willing to pay up to 500 USD (or Deutschmarks, but that was not so much less) for a pair of worn Blue Jeans as far as they were from the West.
Is that actually true?
I mean, one could read a couple of years ago that people in East Asia were willing to «donate» (well: sell) one of their kidneys for an iPhone, …
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Not true about 500$. In the middle of eighties we went at night to the rug store which was selling Made in USA jeans by special invitation. It didn't cost 500$. I was wearing them for four years. Speculants were also selling jeans and it didn't cost 500$. Even if they have to go in jail for it.
We also have "jeans like" from EE block available in the stores.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
I don't understand this question. FSU cameras and lenses are most easiest to deal with in terms of date. First two numbers are very often year of production.
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
Match making date joke aside, FSU cameras are mostly easy to figure out the time of manufacture by year by looking at the camera's serial number in most cases.
Other cameras made in Japan or Germany or USA or the UK or other European nations that made cameras, one needs a specialist book or now online research to even find that info, if possible that is.
radi(c)al_cam
Well-known
If it wasn't USD 500 (or Deutschmarks 500), do you recall the price then for these (illegal) items? Was it USD/DEM 200 perhaps?
I know, but the Soviet people in the 1980s who wanted to show off that they have the money to buy (illegally) original US or Western European Blue Jeans despised the Eastern bloc «mimicry» Blue Jeans, I've learned 😉
nzhang
Member
In China, from early to mid eighties, we still preferred olive green and navy blue type of colors. Blue jeans were the same color of factory uniforms and not a fashion at that time. Until later eighties jeans started the popularity, every teenage wore one including me.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
In eighties 99% of the Soviet people didn't know how much dollar was. We were not allowed to buy it. I don't recall jeans to be very expensive.
ForestCap
Well-known
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
I remember Latvian friends briefly after the wall dropped, roaming the flea market spending all the money they could on used Levi's (selling hereabouts for maybe 30DM), as they could sell them for three or four times that amount back home. Which would make it the equivalent of about 100DM, in 1990 - prices may have been higher when the wall was more of an obstacle (and USSR citizens had to buy at intermediate flea markets in Poland or Hungary), and they must have dropped soon after that, as all the USSR appeared to start trading Soviet photographic gear and army surplus for used jeans on German flea markets.
MIkhail
Well-known
David Hughes
David Hughes
The first two numbers of the serial number date KMZ stuff, that's Zenit and Zorki etc but as I seem to have a 1933 Zorki I don't really believe that. OTOH, it has an Industar-22 lens on it starting its serial number with 53.
For short period, about 10 years, FED used the first digit but it didn't last long for obvious reasons. From memory 8 meant 1958 and 9 mean 1959 and so on but I can't be too sure and haven't the time to dig out the source for that. It works for my 60's cameras.
Otherwise (if I'm wrong) I've some 1925 and 1911 FED lenses...
Regards, David
For short period, about 10 years, FED used the first digit but it didn't last long for obvious reasons. From memory 8 meant 1958 and 9 mean 1959 and so on but I can't be too sure and haven't the time to dig out the source for that. It works for my 60's cameras.
Otherwise (if I'm wrong) I've some 1925 and 1911 FED lenses...
Regards, David
Last edited:
ForestCap
Well-known
I think Zorki 1c and 1d, from 1951 to 1955, have the same rule.
Tim Murphy
Well-known
This is a very interesting thread
This is a very interesting thread
Dear Board,
I have enjoyed reading this thread. I am particularly interested in the responses of posters who lived in Soviet bloc countries. For a typical suburban American kid growing up in the 1960's and 70's I welcome the chance to see an alternate perspective that is vastly different from what were told. I find that enlightening.
And I'm glad to know my Kiev 4AM is a 1965!
Regards,
Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA 🙂
This is a very interesting thread
Dear Board,
I have enjoyed reading this thread. I am particularly interested in the responses of posters who lived in Soviet bloc countries. For a typical suburban American kid growing up in the 1960's and 70's I welcome the chance to see an alternate perspective that is vastly different from what were told. I find that enlightening.
And I'm glad to know my Kiev 4AM is a 1965!
Regards,
Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA 🙂
David Hughes
David Hughes
Yup! It proves that you should never trust politicians...
Worse still, are those hangers on who then pick up the ball and run with it.
Regards, David
Worse still, are those hangers on who then pick up the ball and run with it.
Regards, David
motormike900
Newbie
Yo
Yo
When I first asked I wasn't sure what kind of response I would get,
But the comments have been great! I'm more of a product of the 90's and old Russia has always had this mystery about it. It's really interesting to hear from people that actually lived there, and the info and pictures others have found.
Yo
When I first asked I wasn't sure what kind of response I would get,
But the comments have been great! I'm more of a product of the 90's and old Russia has always had this mystery about it. It's really interesting to hear from people that actually lived there, and the info and pictures others have found.
seany65
Well-known
About putting a date to the manufacture of fsu cameras and lenses. I note that many of the replies include 'mostly', 'most cases', 'between the years', 'for a short period' etc. thus showing I wasn't far wrong. lol! The methods apparently changed over the years etc. why did they do that?
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