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I am an Soviet and Russian camera collector residing in State of Illinois, USA. I have only somewhat recently started collecting (since May 2007) these fine examples of Soviet and Russian mechanical engineering and design that until late 80s have been closed off to the rest of the world. Now that these cameras have come to light, I want to share them with all of you. Recently I have decided to start cataloging Soviet and Russian cameras online, thus the USSRPhoto.com project was born, which is a Wiki catalog of Russian and Soviet cameras. 		Vlad's Soviet/Russian Photographic Equipment Collection
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Start - Early Version

Vlad's Description
Body Serial #:
Lens Serial #:
Wiki Catalog Entry
Start ..... 35mm Full Frame / Single Lens Reflex ..... lens: Helios 44 - 58mm / f.2.0
Body serial # 5900740 ..... Lens serial # 0012154 ..... year : 1959
factory : KMZ / Krasnogorsk, USSR
production: 76,503 units between 1958-1964 (1104 units in 1958 & 4064 units in 1959)

Notes: Interchangeable pentaprism & waist-level viewfinders; split image focusing screen; self timer; integral film cutter; speeds 1 - 1/1000 sec.; bayonet mounted interchangeable lens (no other lenses produced to fit!).

This example from 1959 is an early version with enlarged control knobs that have plexiglass caps (over the frame counter and rewind knob).

From collection of Bill Parkinson
Wiki Catalog Images
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