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Juhani Halmeenmaki
cedricfan
Finland
1019 Posts
My Collection
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 Posted - Jan 07 2009 : 3:10:40 PM
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My latest crazy idea 
We have an extra tiny Canon Ixus, and I would like to shoot digital with an old looking FSU-camera. So why not take a Smena and cut it so that the Ixus can be fitted into it 
I have done some measuring, and the best body donor would be a Smena-8, but I am afraid that the hard bakelite can crack when cutting? Or can I cut it with a Dremel? Anyone ever tried? Or do I have to try and possibly ruin one of the zillion manufactured?
Next one is 8M, but it looks too dull, not FSU-like enough 
And hardest to fit is Symbol, as the body is not thick enough. But looks OK 
Just so that you get the idea, it is not impossible sizewise:
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/SmenaDigi.JPG
Naturally I have to add two pushbuttons on top for ON/OFF and release, but that is not a hard thing to do. Zoom I can leave out, this Ixus has only 2x zoom and I can do with a fixed 38mm equivalent.
All other controls are in the back, so I will cut a large opening in the Smena back cover and case to get access to them.
Smena lens & shutter I will disassemble away.
Best regards,
Juhani |
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4251 Posts
My Collection
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Aidas Pikiotas
AidasCams
Lithuania
973 Posts
My Collection
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Juhani Halmeenmaki
cedricfan
Finland
1019 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 08 2009 : 03:56:35 AM
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Well, if I am insane then Aidas is beyond any help
What camera is it inside? |
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Aidas Pikiotas
AidasCams
Lithuania
973 Posts
My Collection
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4251 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 08 2009 : 09:12:02 AM
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 Oh boy! This is completely crazy, hehehhehehehhe! Very cool though! Didn't think anyone would actually attempt it. |
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Juhani Halmeenmaki
cedricfan
Finland
1019 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 08 2009 : 09:58:44 AM
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Now I will HAVE to make mine, no going back 
Best regards,
Juhani |
Edited by - cedricfan on Jan 08 2009 09:59:27 AM |
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4251 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 08 2009 : 10:36:24 AM
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I am curious on how they managed to connect that mode dial on top to the camera inside.. very interesting... Everything else is more or less easy.
Vlad |
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BERRY alain
mermoz37
France
814 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2009 : 11:43:59 AM
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| that's seemed to be easy : just a thick rubber whasher ...isn't it ? |
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4251 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 08 2009 : 11:57:52 AM
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| So you think it's mechanically connected? They didn't move the electronics contacts out to the top? |
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Aidas Pikiotas
AidasCams
Lithuania
973 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 08 2009 : 3:38:38 PM
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Hi,
tomorrow morning i will place here the rest photographs I have of particular "digital" Smena 
Best Regards,
Aidas |
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Aidas Pikiotas
AidasCams
Lithuania
973 Posts
My Collection
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BERRY alain
mermoz37
France
814 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2009 : 07:15:01 AM
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| nice work indeed ...must be fun on other common cameras . |
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4251 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Jan 10 2009 : 1:11:37 PM
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| wow!! The Smena body is completely altered! Someone did an excellent job on it! AND It has the LCD on the back! really nice work indeed! |
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Juhani Halmeenmaki
cedricfan
Finland
1019 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Feb 24 2009 : 11:10:59 AM
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Some major drawbacks...
The original idea of using Smena-8 will have to be postponed, the smell of cutting the hard plastic is so terrible that it needs to be done outside!
Plan B was to use an 8M body, but I haven't got the donor. Seems that pre-1990 were with hard inside and later ones with soft plastic inside. And my usual version is old, hard plastic. The later ones suitable for cutting are special versions, so I won't use them!
Now I will search a cheap normal version of later 8M and then we go further!
Best regards,
Juhani |
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Juhani Halmeenmaki
cedricfan
Finland
1019 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Mar 04 2009 : 2:52:24 PM
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Okay, now getting finally done! But with "plan C"...
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/L1020167.JPG
http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/L1020168.JPG
So the original Smena-shell, but with a much easier slim cheapie digital for 9 euros. Needing much less cutting & glueing! Still needs painting black the lens hood = "lens" with no lens and shutter any more, and adding the front ring (previous focus ring). But it needs shortening to avoid vignetting.
But the idea that from front it looks almost like an old Soviet camera is done and that ws my intention!
And I will show the inside when finished, still testing the combo!
Best regards,
Juhani |
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Christian
chrgod
Norway
8 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2009 : 09:44:24 AM
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Cool work!
I am thinking about a home made digital back for a Kiev 88.. But this seems like a much easier starter project!
Keep it going! :)
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4251 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Mar 10 2009 : 10:04:55 AM
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Wow nice job Juhani! Somehow I missed your post.. Show us the final piece when you paint it, right now it does look a bit rough .
Christian - LOL! You can file down the Hasselblad digital back to fit the Kiev, but it'll cost you about $20,000 to do that  .. 6x6 sensor is quite amazing.. with such a long body I have no idea what small pocket cam would even be able to get correct focus if mounted on the back.. this reminds me of a thread here from some time ago that someone mounted a flat bed scanner on the back of a wooden view camera to scan the glass thus getting like ridiculous resolutions of an excess 30MP.. .
Vlad |
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4251 Posts
My Collection
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Juhani Halmeenmaki
cedricfan
Finland
1019 Posts
My Collection
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Vladislav Kern
Vlad
USA
4251 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Mar 10 2009 : 2:45:52 PM
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hehhehehehehe.. nice! I give you an "A" for creativity! The best part is that you can change backs
Vlad |
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Luiz Paracampo
Luiz Paracampo
Brazil
1997 Posts
My Collection
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Posted - Mar 11 2009 : 07:07:22 AM
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Excellent in every sense but the front finishings where we have the lens deserves a better appearance.
LP |
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Topic |
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Smena goes digital!
