Armoured
Well-known
Didn't make it to the factory store, ...
Didn't make it to the factory store, ...
...but did pick up a cheap one with three backs, hood, filters, lens, prism and waist-level finder and a wonderfully cheesy case. First roll turned out fine (okay, some bad exposures, but I was guessing at night in a cafe). Those that were exposed properly are fine (not doing any pixel peeping, mind).
A few thoughts:
-This is (despite the rep) serious kit. A little clunky in operation but functional all 'round.
-The shutter / mirror combo is a wallop. Followed by a weird sound like small gears running out. Not unpleasant - more of an acquired taste.
-The prism finder is far too heavy and makes it non-trivial to handle. WLF much better. Balances surprisingly well with a good-sized flash on the side hotshoe.
-Cassettes a bit finicky - particularly getting the film loaded cassette back in requires a bit of squeezing/struggling. But they work fine once they're on. (Well, waiting for test films to come back to confirm no light leaks, but mechanically).
-Feeling overall of solidity, like most of the FSU gear. Not solid like the German stuff - solid like it seems it's actually a solid block of metal that has been carved
. Not fragile, just ... a bit clunky.
Fun stuff for a (ridiculously) low entry price. I've not used a medium format SLR before. Mirror ka-thump is probably the biggest change in feel. TLRs I have used mostly easier to load, but no changeable backs.
Didn't make it to the factory store, ...
...but did pick up a cheap one with three backs, hood, filters, lens, prism and waist-level finder and a wonderfully cheesy case. First roll turned out fine (okay, some bad exposures, but I was guessing at night in a cafe). Those that were exposed properly are fine (not doing any pixel peeping, mind).
A few thoughts:
-This is (despite the rep) serious kit. A little clunky in operation but functional all 'round.
-The shutter / mirror combo is a wallop. Followed by a weird sound like small gears running out. Not unpleasant - more of an acquired taste.
-The prism finder is far too heavy and makes it non-trivial to handle. WLF much better. Balances surprisingly well with a good-sized flash on the side hotshoe.
-Cassettes a bit finicky - particularly getting the film loaded cassette back in requires a bit of squeezing/struggling. But they work fine once they're on. (Well, waiting for test films to come back to confirm no light leaks, but mechanically).
-Feeling overall of solidity, like most of the FSU gear. Not solid like the German stuff - solid like it seems it's actually a solid block of metal that has been carved
. Not fragile, just ... a bit clunky.Fun stuff for a (ridiculously) low entry price. I've not used a medium format SLR before. Mirror ka-thump is probably the biggest change in feel. TLRs I have used mostly easier to load, but no changeable backs.
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giovatony
Well-known
The Ukranians I know here in the US do not consider themselves Russians.
Neither do the few Latvians I know.
It`s probably irrelovent anyway but I just thought I`d mention it.
Were there any actual Soviet made cameras made outside of the Ukraine?
Here`s an interesting read if anyone`s so inclined.
http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=34955
Neither do the few Latvians I know.
It`s probably irrelovent anyway but I just thought I`d mention it.
Were there any actual Soviet made cameras made outside of the Ukraine?
Here`s an interesting read if anyone`s so inclined.
http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=34955
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xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
peter_n
Veteran
Zenit. Near Moscow I think then Belarus (?). My first SLR was a Zenit 3M. Great little camera.
Armoured
Well-known
No offense meant to any Ukrainians, Russians, Belarussians or others. Not interested in getting into nationality disputes. But for camera/lens production, the history is indisputably linked.
I don't know of any cameras made in Belarus, but there is an optical factory, and I believe enlargers were made there as well.
Latvia had Minox didn't it? (Originally and then some variations post-war in Germany).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minox
Yep, Minox originally produced in Latvia before and during the war (under different occupation regimes), then Germany after the war.
But Latvia should not be considered FSU.
I don't know of any cameras made in Belarus, but there is an optical factory, and I believe enlargers were made there as well.
Latvia had Minox didn't it? (Originally and then some variations post-war in Germany).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minox
Yep, Minox originally produced in Latvia before and during the war (under different occupation regimes), then Germany after the war.
But Latvia should not be considered FSU.
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peter_n
Veteran
Apparently Zenits were (are) produced in Belarus. "Founded in early 1969/70 in Vilejka, approximately 50 miles NW of Minsk, as a joint venture by MMZ and KMZ to produce Zenit cameras. The Vilejka Zenits were apparently intended primarily for home consumption, and earned a poor reputation for quality." (Logos and factories)
I remember being in Minsk with my (export) Zenit and they couldn't believe it was made in the USSR.
I remember being in Minsk with my (export) Zenit and they couldn't believe it was made in the USSR.
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rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
I may be misremembering it but I think Princelle's book has the FKD large format cameras being made in Moscow? Don't have my copy handy at the moment to check.
I got another email from Arax with more info on December 2nd:
I got another email from Arax with more info on December 2nd:
Rob
dexdog
Veteran
I think that the Leningrad and Lomo cameras were made in or near Leningrad/St. Petersburg (probably not a big shock, given the names)