History of Pricing?

[Pherdinand]

CVBLZ, in 1961 I was not more than a thought in my father's head🙂
Anyway, in the early eighties it was stg like 1$ to 1.6 ruble or such. Maybe 1 to 1.4 .

 

[reagan]

Pherdinand - No way I thought you had first hand experience. Ha! But, you came through with a lot more knowlegeable guess than I could've made. So a 40 rouble camera in the late 70's early 80's might have gone for $27-$29 US. And I'm going to say it's a safe bet that the Zorkis of the 50's/60's went for under $25.

Think I'm close? 😕

 

[varjag]

The "official" RBL to USD exchange rate in USSR was 0.60: 1 US dollar costed 60 kopeikas (the Russian analogue of cents). Of course you could not walk in a bank and buy a dollar - the exchange was done only for those travelling abroad on business or tourist trips, and in very limited amounts. Unofficial exchange rates were orders of magnitude higher in favor of dollar, and currency trading was dangerous and illegal business: you could get capital punishment for that depending on the amount.

Still, the official rate possibly was used to convert internal prices for foreign markets. Not sure on this though.

Oh, and while the camera prices remained stable for decades (not a single kopeika of change), they weren't usually stamped/engraved on the bodies.

 

[Seele]

It might be an idea to compare prices in a country who imported and sold cameras from all over the world, for instance UK:

I have lost a 1979 copy of Photography which I remember, had an advertisment for Kiev 4, 4A, Zorki 4K and Fed; but looking at Zenit prices might still give something of a ballpark:

Camera User magazine, September 1974 prices in pound sterling as advertised:

Zenit E with Helios-44, 58/2, 29.40; 50/3.5, 24.50
Konica Autoreflex T3 with Hexanon50/1.7, 134.90
Pentax SP1000 with SMC Takumar 55/2, 108.95
Canon FTb with 50/1.8, 129.60

This should put them in perspective I presume.

 

[reagan]

The "official" RBL to USD exchange rate in USSR was 0.60: 1 US dollar costed 60 kopeikas ...

...and while the camera prices remained stable for decades (not a single kopeika of change...

Good info varjag. So official RBL/USD exchange rate didn't change much either? The rate you mentioned could be true of 1950's & 60's ... or when?

P.S. - just looked at your "Protest Shots" in the gallery --- good stuff!

 

[lubitel]

I think its a bit pointless to compare prices from old Soviet Union. The exchange rate was bogus anyway. In 1961 there was a currency reform 10 rubles became 1 ruble. just like that. The exchange rate in the 80's was about 3 rubles for a dollar! What bullshit! In 1991 when soviet Union broke up the true value of the ruble came out. It was all of a sudden something like 180 rubles for a dollar. If a camera cost was 150 rubles, that was about a months salary. In US that would have translated to 50$ in the 80's. So I just think its hard to compare.

 

[varjag]

Good info varjag. So official RBL/USD exchange rate didn't change much either? The rate you mentioned could be true of 1950's & 60's ... or when?

No idea acually.. I know that the 0.60 rate was actual in 1970s-1980s. As mentioned earlier, it was an artificial rather than market-driven figure: you wouldn't find it quoted in Forex ticker. It was used for statistics and conversion purely within Soviet borders, so it could well be a starting point for VneshTorg (the organisation commiting all foreing trade) prices.

P.S. - just looked at your "Protest Shots" in the gallery --- good stuff!

Thanks! It was a good workout for my Kiev 🙂

 

[reagan]

I think its a bit pointless to compare prices from old Soviet Union. The exchange rate was bogus anyway.

I can't speak for others in this thread, but I, personally, am not interested in "comparing" anything to anything. IMHO, I don't think my interest in the history concerning the cameras I enjoy is the least bit pointless. Whether the exchange rate was B.S. or not is moot to my research. I'm just wondering what the Average Joe in Russia paid for a 1955 Zorki 3M, or a 1956 Zorki 4. And judging by the number of replies to this thread, I would venture to say that wonderings of this sort are of at least some interest to others who enjoy these cameras and find their history also interesting, bogus pricing and all.

You're abosolutely right, considerations of the Soviet economy, payscale, etc. need to be considered to really understand. That's the reason for asking questions and getting many interesting replies, while actually READING all the above posts. I also got the info below I pieced together from a couple of emails from Yuri at Fedka which I think shines a little light on this very subject.
********************
"I have not seen this information on other web sites, but I have some of it in my records. I would have to dig to find the prices, but they would only make sense if you know the salaries and cost of living at that period. ..... In Stalin’s time, in the late 1930’s the FED was 528 roubles (average salary was 1000 roubles). In the 1950’s the Lubitel was 10 roubles (with a salary around 600).
.... In general, FEDs nd Zorkis were priced in the middle, Kiev and Moskva - high. The Lubitel and Smena were very cheap, really affordable. .... Yes, the Moskva was at he high end – it is a quality camera overall.
Yuri"

By sharing the info of salary, I thought it quite brings the cost into perspective. Thanks Yuri @ Fedka!!