Full-frame 35 mm rangefinder camera ..... Prototype ... No Serial Number
Lens: T-48 - 45mm / f. 3.5 - f. 22 ... Factory : GOMZ / Leningrad, USSR ...... year : circa 1969

notes: This camera is one of several (3 or 4 according to one source) known examples of this camera. It is pictured on page 235 of the 2nd edition of Princelle, although wrongly classified as MMZ-BeLOMO.
It is, in reality, a prototype made by GOMZ, as can clearly be seen in the details of the body shape, construction, and parts, as well as the GOMZ logo on the T-48 lens.

Measurements: 5.5" wide x 3.5" tall x 3.25" deep (including the non-removeable lens). Weight: 32.7 oz.

This prototype has the film advance on the bottom of the back, the film counter next to it, and a recessed film rewind knob on the top plate. The shutter release is on the lens (large black-painted metal triangular shape) and the Etude has an automatic central shutter which is coupled to the selenium meter which surrounds the front of lens. The camera has two sets of film speed settings, GOST and DIN, using a ring at the front of the lens. There are three exposure modes, also set by a ring on the lens: Automatic, Flash/Strobe, and "B". When set at "B" the f-stops can be manually adjusted and read through a small window at the top of the lens.

The lens focuses from 1 meter to infinity, and also has figural distance icons on the focusing ring which is mounted on the lens. The camera has a rangefinder with super-imposed images in a central circle of the viewfinder. There is a central bright-line frame with automatic parallax adjustment and extra room around the frame (possibly for an added wide angle lens attachment?). At the top of the viewfinder, above the image frame, there is an exposure indicator that turns green or orange.

This is a beautiful camera in both its elegant modernist design, as well as its range of function and ease of use. I can only guess that it was not produced in series because it was made at about the time that smaller, lighter cds meters became possible and were becoming the standard.