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1000 Cameras from USSR by Viktor Suglob

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T O P I C R E V I E W
Vlad	Posted - Sep 14 2007 : 1:06:12 PM Wow, look at that weird Foton on the cover! Vlad.
26 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
cedricfan	Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 12:52:19 PM Oh, there is one Zorki-12 for sale here now, I think I should buy it... Best regards, Juhani
nightphoto	Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 09:45:20 AM Well, it is unfortunate that so many cameras were stolen from all of the large factory collections, including KMZ, LOMO, Arsenal, FED, and GOI, as well as from the KGB and other agencies such as the police and military. I know that my own collection and the inventories of other collectors now are the home for many of these cameras that were taken. Of course they were mostly taken by people on the inside, who were working for the factory, or had been recently laid off from the factory, and the motive to take these things was money, offered mostly by dealers of cameras who were selling them to collectors, both inside the former soviet countries and to Europe, America, Japan and other places. It is a complex issue, and, as Juhani has brought up when speaking about Egyptian antiquities and the Louvre. Of course these and many other things, including many rare Soviet cameras, were stolen. No doubt about it. But what to do? Many times, in the case of the cameras which had been taken from the factories, the items passed through many hands before going to the eventual owner (and will probably change many hands again in the future). Also, in this case, some of the factories did not take good care of their collections, both in the matter of securing, curating, and maintenence of the cameras, lenses, etc. Possibly KMZ was somewhat of an exception to this and of course Zoom has done an excellent job of curating or documenting what is in the collection, as far as I can tell. No doubt much is due to the changeover of these places from Soviet State owned to private ownership, during the 1990s and up until even now. Lots of confusion, access to the collections, motives of money and the new interest in collecting these suddenly available cameras and lenses. I think it goes on to this day, but maybe a little less than was happening a few years ago. The present owner of the camera is not always (usually) the guilty party, just the same as how it is very easy to buy an antiquity on Ebay or Molotok and become the owner. Of course if an item has been stolen from a collection recently, then it may not always the safest place for it, since there are thefts still happening and the collection is not secure. Since I myself an an art and antiques dealer for a living, and an honest one, I have thought about this subject many times and read quite a bit about the situation as it concerns art and antiques, so I could go on and on with different view points and situations that have come to pass ... but for now I will end with the thought that it will be in everyones best interest if the objects themselves, in this case cameras, lenses, accessories, and documents about them, are at least preserved safely! Regards, Bill
Zoom	Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 06:23:54 AM quote: Originally posted by nightphoto ...It is my understanding that Viktor Suglub does not own all, or even most of the cameras shown... Of course. I did not mean Victor. But on this pages below the text there is written, who is owned the camera. ZENIT-9: A. Kamynin... You may see this ZENIT-9 No. 6900001 (shots made in 2004 before it has been stolen) there: http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/zenit-7/index.html#zenit-9
cedricfan	Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 01:24:07 AM Exactly, even though Victor does have an amazing collection, he does not possess all of those in the book. His speciality is in the Belomo production. Also I might ask are the items in Louvre also stolen, eg the Egyptians didn't certainly give any permision to export all the mummies and casks we found there... Best regards, Juhani
nightphoto	Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 12:42:11 AM Zoom, I think that just because these cameras that you are referring to as stolen are shown in this book, does not mean that you know where they are now located. It is my understanding that Viktor Suglub does not own all, or even most of the cameras shown, and that he has collected photos of these cameras from many collectors all over the world. I know I sent him some photos of cameras that he may or may not have used. I also have heard that some of the photos were even sent to him without him knowing where the actual cameras are or even the identity of the person who sent the photos... from anonymous sources! Regards, Bill
Vlad	Posted - Jul 22 2009 : 7:30:39 PM Wow! HA! Zoom I almost choked on my beer here.. seriously?!
Zoom	Posted - Jul 22 2009 : 6:27:06 PM quote: Originally posted by Vlad ...try not to cry... Thank you. Now I know where are the some stolen cameras from the KMZ R&D center collection...
Vlad	Posted - Jul 22 2009 : 1:25:10 PM Hello everyone! Thought I'd update you on the book. Viktor had wrote me today that book has a scheduled release date now of September 30, 2009. He also had sent me a few pages from the book to post here. Enjoy and try not to cry because I think I did a little... http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1028.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1029.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1030.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1031.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1032.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1033.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1034.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1035.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1036.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1037.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1038.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1039.jpg http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/2272009_1040.jpg Vlad
nightphoto	Posted - May 06 2009 : 6:46:35 PM I don't know why you would doubt his statement about thanks to contributors. Regards, Bill
Zoom	Posted - May 06 2009 : 5:18:23 PM quote: Originally posted by Vlad � �� , �� , �� ... �� , �� -�� ... ��...
Vlad	Posted - May 06 2009 : 10:09:18 AM Viktor sent me email today asking to post this addendum to the article I've posted earlier (it's addressed to me so any "you" in it is me. ) : ��-�� . � ��, �� , �� �� . � �� , �� , �� , ��, �� , �� -�� , � �� . � ��, ��. Regarding the book: In the text that you've translated not all the people were mentioned and thanked. In the book itself, there will be thanks mentioned for Milos Mladek, Alain Berry, G. Abramov, Balashevich and all the others who had ever provided any information for the book and of course you. Best regards, Viktor.
Poolhall	Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 2:06:25 PM Absolutely fascinating, looks to be a superb book, by a great photogropher too, I would love to see it Samsung GX-10,too many Russian Lenses, A lot of Zenit, some Yashica,and a Pentax Body also finally a Minox35GT
Vlad	Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 12:06:10 PM Russian original of this article is attached as a file to the entry. (if anyone is interested) Vlad
Vlad	Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 12:02:53 PM I've just pasted a large article that I've translated for Viktor into to the Wiki entry for the book. It's about the creation of this book that just went to print(!!!). Just click on entry link on top of this thread. Vlad.
cedricfan	Posted - Jan 06 2008 : 11:26:42 AM I have just proudly sent my modest contributions to the book. I was very pleased and amazed to get an email from him for a couple of camera pictures http://www.cedricfan.sivut.ws/Juhani's%20website%20ORIGINAALIT/
Zoom	Posted - Nov 20 2007 : 09:18:06 AM quote: Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo Yes this camera is a rare "FOTON 23". This is "Foton-Super-1" (1978), see http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/foton/index.html#foton-super-1 quote: Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo Differently from previous "FOTONS" and the original "MOMENT" from LOMO, this camera was developed to use original Polaroid films. No. All Fotons developed to use an original Polaroid films/packs. P.S. ...some cameras -- in addition to the Soviet-made packs. quote: Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo Polaroid had a great success in Russia in the end '80 years. Yes. quote: Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo This happened after an American exhibition in Moscow where the Polaroid firm gave one camera free to whose who bought three rolls of film. No. And nothing was sold on this exhibitions. quote: Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo in the begining of the '90 years, it was formed in Moscow a joint venture enterprise called "Svetozor JSC" aimed to produce and sell Polaroid products. SP "Svetozor" based on the "Signal" plant in Obninsk and made "Polaroid Supercolor 635CL". P.S. ... and refurbish Polaroids and promote a Polaroid-made technics (like scanners, special scientific cameras, etc.) quote: Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo KMZ produced at his own expenses these new FOTON camera models for using those "Zero Delay" films . KMZ produced only Foton(-1) in 1969--1976 years. quote: Originally posted by Luiz Paracampo Due unknown reasons, the firm "Svetozor" went bankrupt before they sold the first film pack and everything was a great loss. "Svetozor" was closed, as I know, in 1998--1999 years, of course, not "before they sold the first film pack"... ;)
okynek	Posted - Nov 16 2007 : 9:01:11 PM Amazing cameras!!!! While I have to wonder if Moskva was built like this by KMZ or it - how to put it - after market upgrade?
Vlad	Posted - Nov 16 2007 : 1:00:14 PM No, but I doubt that it'll be this year... hopefully next year.
okynek	Posted - Nov 16 2007 : 12:51:59 PM Did he mention how soon his book will be in stores?
Vlad	Posted - Nov 16 2007 : 11:02:12 AM Hi everyone, Viktor dropped me a note today - he was sick for a while and then frantically working on his book, so had no time to answer our emails, but he said that if book was called "1000 cameras from USSR", it is now more like "1200 cameras from USSR".. he told me that he has tons of new material and tries to add it to the book. As a preview he had sent me a few interesting cameras: A handmade Lomo equivalent of the FED OneShot? Moskva 3 with redwood body devoted to the fifth anniversary of a victory over Germany Some school paper-made camera Another Vileika venture? I'll add these to the catalog at some point. Posting these here as a preview. Vlad
AidasCams	Posted - Sep 17 2007 : 02:35:42 AM Hello friends, I was succeeded to visit Viktor's museum a few months ago. Although trip to Lukashenka's Belarus is always some kind of exotic, it was worth anyway as the new good friend was found in Minsk. Viktor Suglob is very friendly person, totally "sick" by camera collecting, very informative and competent. I was allowed to touch all these ultra rare items, as well as a draft copy of his new book. Beeing very communicative and with a lot of friends worldwide, Viktor assembled the huge amount of information about cameras never seen before. So I'm sure his book will be the "Event of Century" in our community for sure! Regards, Aidas
Vlad	Posted - Sep 16 2007 : 11:29:57 PM And here's Viktor's amazing Photography work: http://mirfoto.by/gal_suglob/index.htm Vlad.
Vlad	Posted - Sep 16 2007 : 11:28:46 PM Regarding Viktor, here's an article in Russian about the opening of his Photo Museum in 2004. It's quite old, but I doubt a lot of people saw it. http://www.photohunt.by/names/event/museum/ Vlad.
Vlad	Posted - Sep 16 2007 : 2:15:42 PM I would imagine that in early 90s Russia started heavily importing foreign photographic equipment including Polaroid instant cameras, and Polaroid brand was so popular that no one wanted a domestically produced Foton. That's what probably bankrupted Svetozor, the funding was most likely reconsidered after the actual market research.. I'm just guessing, but it's probably most likely scenario. Also in 90s Russia all the start up businesses had to have very heavy criminal connections in order to survive. You had to pay a good chunk of your income to the organized crime. That may have been a factor too, but who knows... Vlad
Luiz Paracampo	Posted - Sep 16 2007 : 11:56:13 AM Viktor sent me the cover of the book, various camera photos and his own site. I did see in the chests of the museum an enormous amount of prototypes which I think will be included in the book. This huge number of prototypes comes mainly from BelOMO. I feel this should be an extaordinary book and the best on Russian cameras up to this days. Viktor Suglob is also a great photographer using as he says -Only film cameras- which give more freedom for his kind of works. He awarded the best "Neighbourhood of Lithuania and Kaunas Master Photograper" with his work "Steps over Earth". I believe each of the members should own one "1000 cameras from URSS" LP
Luiz Paracampo	Posted - Sep 15 2007 : 4:58:51 PM Yes this camera is a rare "FOTON 23". a redesigned "Polaroid One-Step". Differently from previous "FOTONS" and the original "MOMENT" from LOMO, this camera was developed to use original Polaroid films. Polaroid had a great success in Russia in the end '80 years. This happened after an American exhibition in Moscow where the Polaroid firm gave one camera free to whose who bought three rolls of film. The success was such, that in the begining of the '90 years, it was formed in Moscow a joint venture enterprise called "Svetozor JSC" aimed to produce and sell Polaroid products. KMZ produced at his own expenses these new FOTON camera models for using those "Zero Delay" films . Due unknown reasons, the firm "Svetozor" went bankrupt before they sold the first film pack and everything was a great loss. LP

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