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Post by belgiumreporter on Mar 24, 2021 9:24:38 GMT -5
This russian "Start" camera is the latest addition to my pre-60'ties 35mm SLR collection. At first glance it looks like an early Zenith, but it is quite different. The Start was an attempt to create a Russian "PRO" camera wich could compete with the Exakta of that period. production ran from 1958 to 1963. It is well made, has a wide range of shutter speeds up to 1/1000th a removable prism finder, breech lock bayonet lens, and a shutter release coupled to the diafragm so the lens can be used wide open and closed to the selected aperture when pressing the release button, after wich it opened again to full aperture (like some Exakta's and Miranda's). The focussing screen has a split focus central area making the camera easy to focus something wich wasn't common back then. Even so the camera never came to full "maturity" as only one lens was available (Helios-44 58 mm f/2) in the unique breech lock mount, i guess Russian PRO's would have liked a bit wider range in optics.  Amongst some other "senior" SLR's :  |
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Post by hannes on Apr 15, 2021 12:48:06 GMT -5
Hi, Yes, the Start is a very interesting camera. There exists an adaper to mount M39 lenses on the start. I got a set of M39 closeup rings and the matching adapters. Here is my Start with the Zenit M39 Jupiter 9.  and this is the whole M39 Start adapter set  The Start has a knife built in to cut half exposed films, like the Exakta has. When using the takeup casette you can cut and take out half exposed films for developing any time. Here you see the Start and Nikon F with removed backs side by side.  Hannes |
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Post by belgiumreporter on Apr 16, 2021 6:55:26 GMT -5
As the "start" isn't a camera i am planning to use i'm not that worried about lenses, but it's good to know an M42 adapter is available.
I am currently on the look out for a Zenit 4 but so far the right one hasn't come along .The "4" will be the last Russian i will ad to the collection as my interest in ex-soviet gear is limited mainly because they are not good cameras, at best they are weird or interesting (to me).
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Post by hannes on Apr 17, 2021 5:25:35 GMT -5
..., but it's good to know an M42 adapter is available. The adapter is for M39 SLR lenses. So the list of lenses you can use at the Start still is limited.
You should give the Start a try. The viewfinder is superb. And the Helios 44 is not a bad lens.
Hannes
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Post by hannes on Apr 17, 2021 5:40:20 GMT -5
I am currently on the look out for a Zenit 4 but so far the right one hasn't come along .The "4" will be the last Russian i will ad to the collection as my interest in ex-soviet gear is limited mainly because they are not good cameras, at best they are weird or interesting (to me). I have a Zenit 4 with the Rubin-1 zoom lens. I got it from a friend who bought it new in the late 1960ies. He mentioned that he had not much fun with it. It was often broken and he had it at the repair shop for many times. Since the Zenit-4 was officially not bundled with the Rubin-1, only the Zenit-6 was, I assume he bought the Zenit-6 set but got the camera replaced by at Zenit-4 at some repair. What he gave me is the Zenit-6 set including the case for camera with Rubin-1, both finders and the 2 original Filters for the Rubin-1. Unfortunately the previous owner does not remember that detail.
I also had not much luck with this camera. When I got it shutter was not working, what I could fix for about 20 images I could shot on one roll. The set with the Rubin-1 is hevy but it is fun using it when you don't have to carry it far.
Another camera on my whish list ist the Zenit-5 with electric winder. But it is electric only and the accu cells are dead now for sure it would only by a shelf queen. IF you really want a Zenti-4 there is one at eBay in Graz/Austria from Foto Köberl. He sells also a Zenit with the Rubin-1 but for a very high price. Hannes
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