Sputnik Question...............

[ARCHIVIST]

I recently bought a Sputnik stereo camera.

On the distance scale when I focus the numbers are the same as the f stop numbers. How do I know the distance especially when I prefer zone focusing rather than the almost impossible to focus screen option? Should it not be in meters? Most confusing.

Cheers
Peter

 

[summar]

This manual just might be helpful if you haven't run across it:
http://www.dvdtechcameras.com/manuals/cameras/sputnik/1.htm

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thanks summar.

I do have this manual and it refers to a distance scale however where a distance scale should be, around the viewing lens, I have f numbers shown and not numbers representing distance.

This is very strange. My Sputnik has its name in English and not Russian so it was an export model and presumably a latter version.

If anyone can help I would vey much appreciate it.

Cheers
Peter

 

[wolves3012]

Not familiar with this camera but...I have a russian lens somewhere (well, I have a few but that's not part of the story), I think an Industar 61 on a FED 3, which has the distance scale marked in feet and with marks at 2.8. 4. 5.6 etc. Very confusing! I think there was a bit of a fad at one time to make the scales look the same, perhaps yours is of the same ilk?

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thanks wolves3012.
I guess the only way to find out what-is-what will be to put a film through it.
Yet another quirk with Russian cameras.
Will let you know how I get on. I'm sure I am not the only one who has come across this.

Cheers
Peter

 

[ChrisLivsey]

The "go to" site I use on these matters says if the name is in English then:

"PK1825. Very uncommon version of Sputnik, released in 1963-1965. New sequence of shutter speeds: 1/15s, 1/30s, 1/60s, 125s + B. Top plate is blank, but there is "LOOMP" logo on the lens frontplate. Tripod thread 3/8''. The particular camera #004729 comes with export markings in Roman characters."

Other variants with English:


"
PK1840. Camera identical to PK1830, but with export markings in Roman characters. Tripod thread on bottom plate still 3/8''. "Made in USSR" engraved on the back door's lock. Less common to find. No otherwise different.

PK1845. Camera identical to Sputnik PK1835, but with export markings in Roman characters. Tripod thread on the bottom is 1/4'' already. "Made in USSR" engraved on the back door's lock. Less common to find."

http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?487737996

Out of curiosity what is the serial of yours in comparison?
Doesn't mention the distance scale I'm afraid!!

 

[haruspex]

On mine it starts with 1,4M (probably not an aperture of 1,4) and on the other end it says ∞, so I am pretty sure it is the distance in meters. So far I have always assumed it is meters when estimating the distance and it worked well.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thanks guys!


It appears that my camera is a model 1845 with a distance scale marked as 1.4M, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11 and ∞. The serial number is 055144.



I think I can safely assume that the scale is in meters? I tested the focus using the scale as both meters and feet yesterday and processed the film with ALL images being very sharp.


It was my first film through the camera since buying it. I was dreading light leaks but I did not get any, despite the camera being hand held, out of its case on an Aussie sunny day.


Does anyone know why they made it with the focus scale numbers the same as f stop numbers?


Cheers
Peter

 

[farlymac]

I went through a bunch of sites yesterday because I won a Sputnik auction the other night, and none of them mentioned the reason. But one thing I've noticed is that with the meter markings mirroring the aperture numbers, when converted to feet they are very close to even footage.

1.4 = 4' 7.118"
2 = 6' 6.74"
2.8 = 9' 2.236"
4 = 13' 1.48"
5.6 = 18' 4.472"
8 = 26' 2.96"
11 = 36' 1.07"
16 = 52' 5.92"

The minimum focus distance is 1.3m, which equals 4' 3.181", close enough to a 1.4 marking.

The normal meter markings should read:
1.3 = 4' 3.181"
1.5 = 4' 11.035"
2.0 = 6' 6.74"
2.5 = 8' 2.425"
3 = 9' 10.11"
5 = 16' 4.85"
10 = 32' 9.7"
and ~ (infinity) according to the DOF scale in the manual.

PF

 

[ARCHIVIST]

Thank you farlymac. This helps quite a lot.
How are things in O.W.L. country?

Cheers
Peter

 

[x-ray]

These are fun cameras. I've had one for nearly twenty years and have the print frame and viewer too.

 

[farlymac]

Thank you farlymac. This helps quite a lot.
How are things in O.W.L. country?

Cheers
Peter

Well, the Gales of November are blowing, so the all leaves should be off the trees soon. That should open up some vistas I can't access in the summer time.

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Sputnik. The only view I have of it in the auction sites' photos of the 31 lbs of photo gear I won have it lying on it's back, in the ERC, with the hood open. It's all the way in the background of the low res photo, so hard to get a really good idea which version it is. But I can see the GOMZ logo, so it's an early one. Don't see any lens caps though, but who knows, they could be mixed in with some of the other stuff.

I hope you have a lovely Spring in the part of Australia you reside in. It's a land I'd like to visit some day.

PF

 

[ARCHIVIST]

x-ray. I like the images of Popcorn.

 

[ARCHIVIST]

farlymac,

31 lbs of photo gear! I would hate to think of the postage cost on that amount of gear.

Spring is a wet one this year. Low temps. Should be in the low 30degC range.

I will be shooting stereo images soon and have just received my viewer from the UK.

Cheers
Peter

 

[x-ray]

x-ray. I like the images of Popcorn.

Thank you!

 

[farlymac]

farlymac,

31 lbs of photo gear! I would hate to think of the postage cost on that amount of gear.

Spring is a wet one this year. Low temps. Should be in the low 30degC range.

I will be shooting stereo images soon and have just received my viewer from the UK.

Cheers
Peter

The S&H came out to $23.80 for the lot. It pushed the total ( price + S&H) to just shy of $5 a pound. There are at least three 35mm SLR's (Nikon FM or FE, Canon EOS something, and Minolta SRT something), a dozen P&S's, some lenses, a flash, a slide viewer, a box camera, a Sekonic meter in a factory box, a folder camera, sundry other little goodies, and the Sputnik.

PF

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Bitter experience says that means 18 films needed to test them...

Good luck.

Regards, David

 

[ARCHIVIST]

All that gear.
Is this what they refer to as G.A.S.?

Cheers
Peter

 

[farlymac]

All that gear.
Is this what they refer to as G.A.S.?

Cheers
Peter

Not quite. I bought the lot just for the Sputnik, and will likely move the rest after picking out the keepers. The problem is, with their low res and dark photos, it's hard to tell what most of it really is.

PF

 

[ARCHIVIST]

A lucky dip.

I would like to try some of those bulk lot auctions but most are outside Australia and the postage would be totally over the top.

Anyway. The black adhesive velvet/felt arrived from Texas several days back and I will be lining the inside of my Sputnik this weekend. Despite it appearing not to leak light I will do so any way. I will not bother with the baffles but may replace the door seals.

Cheers
Peter