Iskra: Worth the fix?

[orangefunk]

Any Iskra shooters?

Got an old Iskra, the first generation one, sittiing here and the it needs a CLA.

Everytime I decide to give it away, I browse through flickr photos of Iskra stuff and I change my mind.

Been getting $130 CLA quotes locally. Worth it?

 

[Keith]

I can only answer with this pic ... spend the money! 🙂

 

[clarence]

If I may ask: Why does it need a CLA?

Clarence

 

[Joao]

Hi
My very biased opinion: yes. I bought a broken/for-spares Iskra quite cheap, sent it to Oleg, he did a superb job as usual and the camera is a pleasure to use. I paid much less than 130 USD (including post expenses). But I like this camera so much that I would pay 130 USD for a working one.
Unfortunately Oleg does not repair Iskras anymore due to the lack of replacement parts, but if it is just CLA (no need for parts) you may try to contact him and ask (if he says yes, you will pay less than 130 USD).
Only problem with my Iskra is the attachment of film to the winding spool, it is never easy, but I can live well with that.
Regards
Joao

 

[FallisPhoto]

Any Iskra shooters?

Got an old Iskra, the first generation one, sittiing here and the it needs a CLA.

Everytime I decide to give it away, I browse through flickr photos of Iskra stuff and I change my mind.

Been getting $130 CLA quotes locally. Worth it?

Personally, I'd say yes (and I'd also say to do it yourself -- it's a whole lot cheaper). However, if you don't want to do it and still want to give it away, I'll take it.

 

[P C Headland]

I'd say get it fixed. Then you'll have a really good camera that should last for many years.

 

[Keith]

The thing I'm curious about with your Iskra is the film advance mechanism ... is that working ok? I've heard that when these start to fail people have to resort to putting a window in the back of the camera for accurate frame advance as they are all but impossible to repair.

I gather the camera had a limited production run and is well worth hanging on to if you get a good one that is reliable! The lens is brilliant! 🙂

And they're just a great looking camera! 🙂

 

[John Robertson]

The expression on that cats face says it all!!!!!
The second word it was thinking was **** off!!😀

 

[Keith]

The expression on that cats face says it all!!!!!
The second word it was thinking was **** off!!😀

Yep ... only a cat can look at you like you're something that should be scraped off a shoe. A dog would never give you such a blatantly arrogant stare! 😛

 

[dazedgonebye]

The thing I'm curious about with your Iskra is the film advance mechanism ... is that working ok? I've heard that when these start to fail people have to resort to putting a window in the back of the camera for accurate frame advance as they are all but impossible to repair.

I gather the camera had a limited production run and is well worth hanging on to if you get a good one that is reliable! The lens is brilliant! 🙂

And they're just a great looking camera! 🙂

How do you like that VCII Meter.

 

[Keith]

How do you like that VCII Meter.

Very accurate reflective meter and reads good incident light off the back of the hand also. It's funny you should ask about it because I've been thinking about meters over the last couple of days and am considering a good dedicated hand held like a Sekonic or similar. I seem to be blowing a few exposures lately and the VCII as good as it is tends to be a bit small and because it's shoe mounted I forget it constantly as it's usually attached to some camera I'm not carrying! 😛

 

[dazedgonebye]

Very accurate reflective meter and reads good incident light off the back of the hand also. It's funny you should ask about it because I've been thinking about meters over the last couple of days and am considering a good dedicated hand held like a Sekonic or similar. I seem to be blowing a few exposures lately and the VCII as good as it is tends to be a bit small and because it's shoe mounted I forget it constantly as it's usually attached to some camera I'm not carrying! 😛

I've got an old soligor spot meter that I like very much, but it's a chunk to carry around. I've been thinking of a VC meter for my Iskra, the FEDs and various other meterless RFs I've got sitting around.