Not Logged in.
Click to Login/Register

<< Back to Collections


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

<< Back to List of Items

Komsomolets 1947 w/Frame Counter

Vlad's Description
Body Serial #:
Lens Serial #:

Wiki Catalog Entry

This was the first Soviet TLR produced, starting in 1946. It was in fact the first known camera produced after WWII when the civilian production has resumed at LOMO factory in formerly sieged Leningrad.

This particular early version has a frame counter transitional back panel where the ruby window was moved from the left (old medium format film standard) to the middle of the back panel. You can still see the patch where the old window was.

Produced: 1946-1951
Name: „Комсомолец“
Producer: GOMZ
Frame size: 6x6 cm.
Lens: Triplet-21 6.3/80
Shutter ZT: 1/25, 1/50, 1/100 + B.


Quantity: 306.743 units.
(other resources refers to 25.000–28.000).


Classification of Komsomolets cameras
1st version
Type 1a. Frame counter, 6 screws on the side-plate, film window is left-sided. Leningrad markings. 1st type of shutter design.
Examples known: #472169 (sovietcams), #476444 (Fedka, film window is centered).

Type 1b. Identical to type 1a, but with 2nd type of shutter design.
Examples known: #479208 (Enn), #4713334 (Fedka).

2nd version
No frame counter anymore, 6 screws on the side-plate, film window is centered already. Leningrad markings. 2nd type of shutter design.
Examples known: #4724641 (sovietcams), #4744666 (Enn), #4747241 (Enn).

3rd version
Type 3a. 6 screws on the side-plate, Leningrad markings, 3rd type of shutter design. Has markings “Model A” on the top plate.
Examples known: 4845952 (Enn).

Type 3b. Identical to type 3a, but without "Model A" markings on the top plate.
Examples known: #4828613 (eBay 2008), #4876455 (Fedka), #48126660 (sovietcams), #48128228 (Fedka), #4867204 (David Tomlinson).

Type 3c. Identical to type 3b, but without 6 screws on the side-plate anymore.
Examples known: #48112211 (Enn), #4911579 (Fedka), #4954231 (Fedka).

4th version
3rd type of shutter design, but comes with new T-22 6.3/75 lens.
Examples known: #4958015 (sovietcams), #499994 (Alex-Store 2008).

5th version
Type 5a. 4th type of shutter design, T-22 6.3/75 lens, New shutter sequence added: B, 1/10s, 1/25s, 1/50s, 1/100s and 1/200s. Still Leningrad markings on the frontplate.
Examples known: #5008095 (Enn).

Type 5b. Camera identical to type 5a, but no more Leningrad markings on the fronplate.
Examples known: #5012564 (David Tomlinson), #5023658 (Fedka).

A complete Komsomolets type classification chart can be vewed Sovetcams.com

Wiki Catalog Images


Contact Us