Topic
Topic author: Vlad
Posted on: 20071106134633
That's an interesting piece.. What indication does it have that it was Soviet manufacture? Any writing anywhere?
Vlad.
Vlad.
unknown camera, no lens
Printed from: USSRPhoto Forums
Topic URL: http://localhost:8088/modern/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=150
Printed on: 5/13/2026 2:53:24 AM
Replies
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071106143541
Except that shatter is Moment and story from seller, camera has no indication about it origin. Camera only has few numbers pouched inside, presumably serial number.
The seller story such: in 90-th they bought military warehouse in Moldavia (as I remember). Warehouse was full of old military close. No weapons or other equipment. Only old military uniforms, buckles, shoes(sapogi), coats, heats, etc. On one of the shelves they found 7 cameras as shown. Probably because warehouse belong to Air force they tell me that this cameras from Russian bombers. They move all what they found to US and merely put all on eBay. I lost track of this seller. He probably still selling old military gear from USSR: “pilotki”, “gimnosterki”, “sheneli”... [:)] No more cameras.[:)]
But camera most defiantly Russian. But the way it made and tons of grease("solidol":) I found inside.
I’m only not sure that camera was used on airplane. It was so dirty and it is very heavy - probably 5 kg(10 lb). Better suited for a tank. I was asked on few forums about this camera. Have no replays. May be someone here can put a light?
I have question to the experts who may read this post: why this camera designed only for round pictures? And why it has red glass permanently installed behind the shatter?
The seller story such: in 90-th they bought military warehouse in Moldavia (as I remember). Warehouse was full of old military close. No weapons or other equipment. Only old military uniforms, buckles, shoes(sapogi), coats, heats, etc. On one of the shelves they found 7 cameras as shown. Probably because warehouse belong to Air force they tell me that this cameras from Russian bombers. They move all what they found to US and merely put all on eBay. I lost track of this seller. He probably still selling old military gear from USSR: “pilotki”, “gimnosterki”, “sheneli”... [:)] No more cameras.[:)]
But camera most defiantly Russian. But the way it made and tons of grease("solidol":) I found inside.
I’m only not sure that camera was used on airplane. It was so dirty and it is very heavy - probably 5 kg(10 lb). Better suited for a tank. I was asked on few forums about this camera. Have no replays. May be someone here can put a light?
I have question to the experts who may read this post: why this camera designed only for round pictures? And why it has red glass permanently installed behind the shatter?
Reply author: Luiz Paracampo
Replied on: 20071106152739
Okynek
Welcome to our group! This camera is really unknown to me! Very interesting. Moment shutter and red filter. The red filter means that this camera was designed for red and infra-red photography spectrum. - Pehaps a life surveying camera meant to discover hidden people or special vegetals. This same technique is still used by police to denote cocaine or merijuana fields. These emits particular infra red wave lengths and it is always used through flight research method, so this stresses the camera possibilities to be used on planes. Acording to the pictures I did see no film advance control so this probably should be coupled in an external motor drive for cadence serial pictures.
LP
Welcome to our group! This camera is really unknown to me! Very interesting. Moment shutter and red filter. The red filter means that this camera was designed for red and infra-red photography spectrum. - Pehaps a life surveying camera meant to discover hidden people or special vegetals. This same technique is still used by police to denote cocaine or merijuana fields. These emits particular infra red wave lengths and it is always used through flight research method, so this stresses the camera possibilities to be used on planes. Acording to the pictures I did see no film advance control so this probably should be coupled in an external motor drive for cadence serial pictures.
LP
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071106163225
Yes, you right, on the front of the camera special coupling for electric drive or handle. I made primitive handle for this coupling. So when you move handle down it advance the film, and on the way back it cocked the shatter and fire. Shatter is modified a little to fire right after it cocked. On the bottom of the camera special gear to change shatter speed. And on the side is frame counter, up to 50 frames. Mechanically camera pretty simple, it literally has 10 gears and pulleys. Probably to be easy to serve on the field. Round pictures maybe for fisheye lense. It all I can say.
Reply author: Luiz Paracampo
Replied on: 20071106193530
Round picture cameras not necessary for fish eye.
Ophtalmologig cameras, Microscope cameras, Powerfull telephoto for observation, Astronomic cameras, Endoscopic cameras for medical and metallurgical research, also used to take round pictures. When kodak put in the market its first camera, it also took round pictures, so the photogapher had no needs to exact frame the picture. Our eyes also have a round field of vision.
LP
Ophtalmologig cameras, Microscope cameras, Powerfull telephoto for observation, Astronomic cameras, Endoscopic cameras for medical and metallurgical research, also used to take round pictures. When kodak put in the market its first camera, it also took round pictures, so the photogapher had no needs to exact frame the picture. Our eyes also have a round field of vision.
LP
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071106213234
It’s so true. But it put me back on squire one in my investigation. Actually on squire two, because now we know that camera was used for infra red photography.
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20071107153058
This isn't the camera is it? Shape looks similar
Photo courtesy of Georgiy Abramov (www.photohistory.ru), page http://www.photohistory.ru/AirCameras.html
http://www.photohistory.ru/Pictures/MAFA-13.jpg
Photo courtesy of Georgiy Abramov (www.photohistory.ru), page http://www.photohistory.ru/AirCameras.html
Reply author: Luiz Paracampo
Replied on: 20071107160153
Vlad
At first my congratulations for your "Sherlock" abilities. I believe you are very close to the truth. But....
The camera shown in your picture is a MAFA 13 from the middle of the '30 years- GOMZ production with center lens shutter. The camera of Okinek is clearly much more modern. "MOMENT" shutters begun to be made only after 1950 by KMZ. KMZ might probably be the maker of the "Okinek camera". I can't see the attachment (four screws), the counter and the two levers, but GOMZ produced in the pre-war period a very similar shutter to MOMENT I can't remember the name now.
The "Okinek camera" might be a more modern but similar production.
At first my congratulations for your "Sherlock" abilities. I believe you are very close to the truth. But....
The camera shown in your picture is a MAFA 13 from the middle of the '30 years- GOMZ production with center lens shutter. The camera of Okinek is clearly much more modern. "MOMENT" shutters begun to be made only after 1950 by KMZ. KMZ might probably be the maker of the "Okinek camera". I can't see the attachment (four screws), the counter and the two levers, but GOMZ produced in the pre-war period a very similar shutter to MOMENT I can't remember the name now.
The "Okinek camera" might be a more modern but similar production.
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20071107160809
Thanks Luiz! I always love when you congratulate me [;)]! Are you thinking of the GOMZ shutter on Fotokors?
Yes you are right if it is a moment shutter, but this may be a new model of this GOI camera... just a thought...
Vlad
Yes you are right if it is a moment shutter, but this may be a new model of this GOI camera... just a thought...
Vlad
Reply author: Luiz Paracampo
Replied on: 20071107161903
No! It is a shutter from 1 to 250 exactly the same manner of Moment. Both derived from The Rim-set Compur. I must re-read my Spravochnik Fotoliubiteliya....
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071108101837
I have many more pictures of the internal parts of the camera if anybody interesting. I made them when I did complete overhaul of the camera.
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20071108102103
Post them if you can! I'm very intrigued about this camera!
But can you resize them to 800x600 first? Thanks!
Vlad.
But can you resize them to 800x600 first? Thanks!
Vlad.
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071108110645
Vlad I'm not sure how to post pictures? How to put pictures inside the message? Or should I put them somewhere else and provide link?
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20071108111236
Just edit your catalog entry that your posted for this camera and upload more images there.
So click on this:
http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=19&ParentID=1&ContentID=387&Item=unknown+camera%2C+no+lens
Then Click on Edit this Entry on the top right
Thanks,
Vlad
So click on this:
http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=19&ParentID=1&ContentID=387&Item=unknown+camera%2C+no+lens
Then Click on Edit this Entry on the top right
Thanks,
Vlad
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071108111917
I can do this. Only one objection, are you sure Wiki catalog should have pictures of all this gears and internal parts and insides of the camera?
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20071108112223
I got one answer for that Okynek - HECK YEAH! The more details we have about the camera in catalog the better!!!
Thanks,
Vlad
Thanks,
Vlad
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071108162147
I put more pictures. Just for you [:)]
Reply author: Vlad
Replied on: 20071108163545
Wow! Very nice thank you! It IS a very simple camera mechanically, but I am amazed how mechanically complex the moment shutter is! I've never seen it disassembled.
Reply author: Luiz Paracampo
Replied on: 20071108184008
Moment 24-S denotes production pf 1958/1959
Reply author: Luiz Paracampo
Replied on: 20071108184614
Now it is clear why round pictures. The shutter stays in the path of light rays coming from the lens so this limit the coverage. The red filter in inbuilt in the shutter.
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071108225825
Two other cameras what I poses have Moment 1 shatter. Other then this they are the same. Red filter go when lens should be on Moskva camera.
This camera definitely just a piece of the bigger system. I believe camera was interchangeable. After all film exposed you put new camera in and old go to the lab for processing and reloading. Kind like one-time cameras for military [:)]
This camera definitely just a piece of the bigger system. I believe camera was interchangeable. After all film exposed you put new camera in and old go to the lab for processing and reloading. Kind like one-time cameras for military [:)]
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071208161956
I just putting this thread on the top because we have many new members now and maybe someone will open lid of the mystery of this camera? I actually surprise that this camera can not be found anywhere in books or on the Net. When I bought it, I was sure that many cameras like this laying around; probably because I got 3 of them so easy.
Reply author: nightphoto
Replied on: 20071208164234
Probably the red filter is for use with infra-red film, often used for surveillance or damage assessment photographs from heavy planes such as bombers. These kind of photographs are also often seen in round format for some reason.
A camera like this, even if heavy, is no problem for a bomber that carries many tons of bombs. Even some cameras made for fighters are quite heavy. I have seen other cameras like this and similar and they have been always identified as military use, for aero-photography.
Regards, Bill
A camera like this, even if heavy, is no problem for a bomber that carries many tons of bombs. Even some cameras made for fighters are quite heavy. I have seen other cameras like this and similar and they have been always identified as military use, for aero-photography.
Regards, Bill
Reply author: sovietcam
Replied on: 20071208180628
okynek
how big is the length, the width and the height for the camera?
how big is the length, the width and the height for the camera?
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071208181030
It’s not a big camera. Little bit bigger and wider then Zenit E, let say.
I will make exact measurements if necessary.
I will make exact measurements if necessary.
Reply author: sovietcam
Replied on: 20071208181324
thanks
will see in my books for aerial cameras!
will see in my books for aerial cameras!
Reply author: sovietcam
Replied on: 20071208182209
and bill
a question for you!
all my aerial cameras have cassettes, give it others?
i find the camera is to little for a bomber ( when i see my farm-2 from a tu-16)!
regards, mike
a question for you!
all my aerial cameras have cassettes, give it others?
i find the camera is to little for a bomber ( when i see my farm-2 from a tu-16)!
regards, mike
Reply author: nightphoto
Replied on: 20071208194438
I don't really know, but the camera looks to be Military in some way. Maybe for a tank or smaller plane where 50 photos is enough and the camera is easily accessible to remove the film? These are only guesses on my part, from others I have seen like this one. There is even a similar camera in Princelle (page 203) but it seems to take a cassette and Princelle does not seem to know the exact use. Also, the other similar camera that I have seen did look like they took a cassette, so not exactly the same as this one.
I only said that the weight was nothing for a bomber because Okynek said, in his description of the camera in the WIKI that it seemed to heavy for an airplane to him.
The round film format is unusual and to me points to a type of photograph where the overall scene is not important, only the subject that is in the middle (like an aircraft or submarine sight with cross hairs). Also I would be pretty sure that the red filter is for infra-red photography, so that may be some clue.
Regards, Bill
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20071208220119
I agree with Bill about red filter for infrared photography. I also agreed that it can be used with periscope or shooting scope to verify target destroyed. I also think that this camera can be used with fish eye lens what make round pictures, like Peleng. I have some objection for using this camera on the airplane because it can be easily made much lighter then it is. I do not think Air force would accept such camera for serves. Also when I receive cameras they were literally full of dirt. Air planes usually much cleaner places. Camera most likely was forgotten in warehouse for many years so dirt may came from there. Seller insisted that cameras are from airplane. So I have to go with it, because no other information exists at this time.
Reply author: okynek
Replied on: 20080629220147
Looks like forth camera shows up on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Russian-35mm-Periscope-Camera_W0QQitemZ180257066115QQihZ008QQcategoryZ67380QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I wonder if member of our forum is a lucky new owner?
Interesting to see pictures. It seems this camera is a little bit different then what I poses.
And still no any definitive information where it was used.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Russian-35mm-Periscope-Camera_W0QQitemZ180257066115QQihZ008QQcategoryZ67380QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I wonder if member of our forum is a lucky new owner?
Interesting to see pictures. It seems this camera is a little bit different then what I poses.
And still no any definitive information where it was used.