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First Post and Curious Moskva 5

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Printed on: 5/7/2026 2:42:04 PM


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Topic author: Mael

Posted on: 20200419042820

Hello.

I'm from France and a reader of this nice forum for a while now, and I wanted to share some of my archives, as I have been a camera repair technician for some years. [:)]

I worked a lot on russian cameras. [|)]

I had the chance some 10 years ago to buy this strange Moskva 5 (unfortunately resold since) which was modified with a combined rangefinder/viewfinder. I don't know if this was a prototype or a custom modification, but the whole top of the camera is different. The original top cover has been cut, brazed, and rechromed. A beam splitter and a simple mirror were installed. The right rear rangefinder eyepiece was painted black inside, and was used as a plug.

If you have any idea of where does this camera comes from, I'd be happy to read you.

Thank you.

https://i.ibb.co/5k9mp3b/moskva5-kulibin-5701853-1.jpg


https://i.ibb.co/pWsZZJp/moskva5-kulibin-5701853-2.jpg


https://i.ibb.co/DwcrL9D/moskva5-kulibin-5701853-3.jpg


https://i.ibb.co/VmCFLwD/moskva5-kulibin-5701853-4.jpg


https://i.ibb.co/JvRzDTs/moskva5-kulibin-5701853-5.jpg


https://i.ibb.co/PgwnBJy/moskva5-kulibin-5701853-6.jpg


https://i.ibb.co/tKb2jsh/moskva5-kulibin-5701853-7.jpg


https://i.ibb.co/DGMYfDy/moskva5-kulibin-5701853-8.jpg

Replies

Reply author: Jacques M.

Replied on: 20200420090032


Bienvenue, Maël!
Perhaps you remember a TSVVS you had to repair, years ago now...
Really delighted you join us. No doubt you will help to solve some difficult questions!

About your Moskva 5, I wonder too where it comes from...

Amitiés. Jacques.

Reply author: Mael

Replied on: 20200420092039

I remember the TSVVS ! Nice to see you here. [8D]

Reply author: seany65

Replied on: 20200427131218

Hello and welcome to the forum, Mael. The eypiece of the viewfinder looks tiny. Is that the normal size for them? How easy are they to see through, especially if someone is wearing glasses?

Reply author: Zoom

Replied on: 20200427174041

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Mael</i>
<br />I don't know if this was a prototype or a custom modification...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The second: a custom (self-made) modification. "Kulibin"...

Reply author: Mael

Replied on: 20200506053245

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by seany65</i>
<br />Hello and welcome to the forum, Mael. The eypiece of the viewfinder looks tiny. Is that the normal size for them? How easy are they to see through, especially if someone is wearing glasses?


<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

[:D]If you are wearing glasses you could not get the entire framed image. Otherwise it is ok.

Reply author: Mael

Replied on: 20200506053442

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Zoom</i>
<br /><blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Mael</i>
<br />I don't know if this was a prototype or a custom modification...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The second: a custom (self-made) modification. "Kulibin"...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

These were pictures from the seller that described it as "kulibin camera" so yes for him it was custom modification.

But sometimes it is difficult to see difference between a custom made camera and a factory test prototype or upgrade.[;)]

Reply author: Zoom

Replied on: 20200507071059

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="MS Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Mael</i>
<br />But sometimes it is difficult to see difference between a custom made camera and a factory test prototype or upgrade.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Btw, how many factory test prototypes or upgrades of German, Japan, etc. (so: not KMZ) camera brands have you seen? Especially those that are difficult to distinguish from custom cameras, made by a hammer and a file... ;)